“Ouch, it's that bad?”
“Well, I can't vouch for anyone else, but sadly that has been my experience so far.”
“Think of it this way, if you didn't live in the land of glitter and garbage and hadn’t waited on me that day, we would never have met.”
“Yeah, I suppose you could look at it that way.” Her lips curl up in a cautious smile.
Leaning into the table, I place my hand on top of hers. “You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen—so deep and soulful.”
“Thank you,” she replies, fidgeting in her seat, “must be the eyeliner.”
“No, your eyes reveal your inner soul. I can see the light shining behind them.”
The waitress returns with our food, placing a shrimp salad in front of Val and a bacon cheeseburger in front of me. I look up at her and order two piña coladas before she turns away.
“I believe someone mentioned something about a tropical drink earlier,” I wink at Val.
“Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?”
“Only if you'll allow me to.” I smile devilishly at her.
“So, enough of me,” she says, changing the subject. “Tell me something about you. Any family—brothers or sisters?”
“Nope, I was orphaned at a young age.”
“I’m sorry, do you want to tell me about it.”
“Not really, next question.”
“Have you ever been married?”
Leaning back in my chair, I release a long breath while collecting my thoughts. They all seem to ask me that one.
“I’ve been in a few relationships. Unfortunately, none of them worked out.”
“Oh, why not?”
“It seems I’ve never really had a clear picture of the type of woman I'm looking for.”
“So, you were married then.”
Picking up the burger with one hand, I take a bite of it and flash the peace sign.
“Two times?” her brows knit together. “You’ve been married twice? What happened? Why didn’t they work out?” she glares at me.
“As I said,” taking another bite of my burger, I chew it quickly and swallow. “I haven't found the right woman yet.”
She glances down, and I see her staring at my untouched French fries. I slowly slide the plate closer to her.
“What about you? Have you ever been married?”
She munches a fry and then swipes another one. “Nope, never made that mistake, thankfully.”
“Mistake?” I let out a laugh. “Honestly, I’m surprised someone like you is still on the market.”
She picks up her drink and takes a long sip. I catch her rolling her eyes again.
“Would you please excuse me,” she says, abruptly. “I need to go powder my nose.” Sliding her chair back, she stands up and reaches for her purse.
“The ladies room is behind the bar and on the left,” I add, directing her.
While waiting for Val to return, I gaze out at the harbor, admiring the boats moored in perfect lines. Some of them are yachts, which of course, I can’t afford… yet.
But I’m definitely going to need a boat. It’s always been part of the plan. I’m thinking of a sailboat; it’s more my style anyway. I’ll have to learn to sail it from here and down along the coast. I’m sure it can't be that difficult, as long as I keep the shoreline in view.
Speaking of views, the two blonde girls keep looking my way. Maybe they think I'm looking at them. I'm not, although I used to check out young women like them, wearing high heels and tight-fitting outfits, showing it all off and leaving little to the imagination.
I smile back as the one on the right twirls her long, silky hair while gazing in my direction. I’ve still got it. I know I look good for my age. I eat right, take supplements, and work out every day.
But those young women, while cute, are not what I want. Not this time. Those types of gals wish for someone to pay their bills and keep them accustomed to the highfalutin lifestyles they follow on social media. They’ll whine if they don't get their way or what they want. I don't have time for those types this time around. I've had my fill.
I remind myself that those days are over, a thing of the past. Today I’m on a date with a woman I can talk to, a woman who listens, one I can control—a woman who could be the one.
I gaze over at the gals one last time. Now they’re both staring in my direction. Focus, you need to focus.
When Val returns, I can see the look in her eye. Unfortunately, it isn’t the look she was giving me before she left the table. No, it’s ‘the look,’ the one that starts arguments. I know it all too well because I’ve seen it too many times before. Why are women so damn insecure?
But I’m not going there today. Nope, I’m not going to do it. Today of all days, I’m not in the mood to argue.
As I reach into my pocket for my wallet, I see Val chewing the tip of the plastic straw in her now empty piña colada.
“Are you ready to go?” I ask, throwing a fifty dollar bill on the table.
3
Valerie
Although I had planned to stay in California for the long weekend, I only stayed one night. When we arrived back at David's condo, I told him I wasn’t feeling well—that the food didn't agree with me. I slept in the spare room and left, sneaking out early the next morning, so he wouldn’t hear me leave. He was passed out and snoring so loud that the sounds of him sawing wood filled the whole house.
Once out the door, I grabbed a coffee at a little cafe two blocks from his condo and then headed for home.
I don't think he realized how long I was standing behind him in the restaurant. I saw everything—the
