Chapter 8: Their first date.

Anabella was standing in her dorm room, a familiar business card in her hand, her thoughts faraway from the present time.

Aldrich had phoned her the night after the championship to congratulate her on her three gold medal wins. He’d wanted to go over, but she hadn’t wanted him at her house. Which was a good thing, since her younger brother had come over with a few friends and seized the living room for themselves. Wild music had filled the air as they played their ‘games’, as he put it. Games he had learned from their parents, just that this time it was with his own friends. Thankfully, they left her alone as she’d made her way to her bedroom.

The house reeked of sweat, beer and dirty socks by the time she walked in. She was incredibly ashamed of her parents’ house, and never allowed any of her friends to visit. Although they weren’t home, the evidence of their lifestyle was everywhere to be seen.

Movies with explicit titles were strewn over the coffee tables and TV cabinet, and the art against the walls depicted their lifestyle. Often, the house would smell of smoke, sweat and sex. Not that they lived in a scruffy place, in fact, it was the biggest house in the neighborhood. They were quite well off.

So, she’d suggested they meet at a restaurant, to which he reluctantly agreed. She was glad he hadn’t pressed for an explanation, though she sensed he wanted to say something. They met outside the establishment, kissed each other on the cheek and walked in together, his hand on the small of her back. Opening the door for her, he smiled when she said thank you, looking at him.

He directed her to a quiet spot toward the back, and they took a seat opposite each other. Some of the guests recognized her and congratulated her on her championship wins. Some wanted to take a photo with her and through it all, Aldrich waited patiently for it to settle down while he smiled delightedly. She appreciated that, not realizing how many people had watched her, in turn apologizing to him. But he placed a finger on her lips, saying softly, “I am proud of you.”

Small talk ensued while they placed their order, and then silence fell between them―a comfortable relaxed silence. He reached over to her, taking her hand into his, and continued to hold it for the rest of the night. His hand was firm, warm and reassuring; clean hands with long, manicured fingers. Definitely an office jock. However, it suited him. He looked handsome, and was casually dressed in a pair of jeans that did his butt justice, the shirt snuggled around his bulky chest, broad shoulders and thick arms.

“You were on my mind the whole day,” he said, his voice proud. “I watched you on TV. You had some stiff competition, but I could see at the last turn of the backstroke event that the other girl was getting tired, and from there on you glided away from her,” he praised. He didn’t mention the fact that he’d looked at her before she dove into the water, admiring her beautiful body, the one he knew was under the dress she’d been wearing the previous night.

“Thanks. We have swum against each other previously, and I knew she would be my only competition. It all worked in my favor in the end,” she said, smiling. She felt good about the championship and the medals; a fitting end to all her hard work.

She managed to steer the conversation away from herself and asked him about his work, which he obviously loved. The evening was pleasant and though they hadn’t many things in common, it struck her how he made an effort to get to know her, avoiding the topic of her parents’ altogether.

At one point, he bent over her hand and kissed her softly on the knuckles, brushing it with a thumb, and she could not help but blush at this tender display. He was different from the men in her family.

Her father was the silent brooding type, she hardly ever saw him with a smile. The only time he was happy, was when their friends were at home. Only then was he the heart of the party, his dirty jokes a turn-on to many of them. Normally, that would be her queue to leave.

Her brother, Roy, was very quiet, barely saying a thing, and when he was not entertaining the guests, he was mostly in his room reading. The few times she’d gone there, financial magazines were strewn over his desk. But he never talked, and she never asked.

One thing their family could do well was not to speak to one another―they were absolute strangers to each other.

Derek was more like their mother, outgoing, flirty, not a care in the world over what anyone thought of him, a smile always present. He loved their parents’ lifestyle and joined eagerly. Roy had to be called before he joined, but Derek was always the one first in line. People loved him.

Their food and drinks arrived, and they enjoyed a pleasant meal together mingled with light bantering.

With dinner finished, they sat back and relaxed, quiet, each busy with their own thoughts. When the waiter returned, he asked if Anabella would like dessert to which she agreed, thanking him. Aldrich then ordered strawberries and cream for both of them.

The conversation continued, and they talked about minute things. Likes and dislikes, books they had read, movies they thought were a mistake to have been made, which ended with them laughing about each other’s comments.

When dessert arrived, Aldrich watched as she ate with a toothy grin. She blushed at his continued stare, not knowing she had a dot of cream on her lips. He bent over, and with his finger removed it from her lips, placing it in his mouth. “Delicious,” he said, and she blushed crimson. He chuckled as he sat back and finished his own.