The elevator stopped and everyone exited. Viktor gestured for Randy to go first and he hurried out.
“Nice,” Amanda remarked sarcastically.
“What did I do?” Viktor innocently asked as they began walking to his rental car.
She chuckled. “What I’ve wanted to do nearly every day for the past few weeks,” she admitted.
“You should confront him with it,” Viktor said. “How will he learn otherwise?”
“Yikes. I don’t know if I can do that.”
“You don’t have to be aggressive. Make a joke of it.”
Amanda thought about it for a minute. “I don't know.”
“Are you scared of him?” Viktor asked as he stopped in front of his rental, a red Ford Fusion.
“No. I think he’s harmless, just super socially awkward. Maybe slightly autistic. And I don’t think he had a great upbringing either. Just from some of the things he says.”
“Well, perhaps it would be a kindness to call him out on his behavior,” Viktor reasoned. “Would it not be better if he learned not to do it?”
“A kindness?” she repeated with a dubious smirk.
He gazed at her with a soft smile and then reached his hand up to her chin and gently pulled her towards him so he could kiss her.
“Enough about Randy,” he said. “Let eat.”
She kissed him back. “Agreed.”
The restaurant was quaint with a modest-sized dining room which was already filled when they arrived. They waited 10 minutes for a booth to open up. As Viktor looked over the menu he couldn’t help but think of how uncomfortable he felt about Amanda paying for dinner. It was easier before they were romantically involved. Now, it just felt wrong to be on a date that he wasn’t paying for. He wasn’t used to it and he didn’t like it. He wondered if that was how Amanda felt and began to understand her feelings a little better. Even still, he didn’t like that she was spending her money when he had more than enough.
The waitress came to take their order. Viktor settled on pad thai while Amanda chose a mango curry dish.
“How was your flight?” Amanda asked as the waitress left.
“Good. I slept for a couple hours.”
“That’s good. I was worried you would be terribly jetlagged.”
He laughed. “Still will be. But I’ll manage.”
“You got anymore trips coming up?”
“Nothing planned.”
“So we’ll only have to worry about a 3 hour time difference then.”
He nodded. “For now.”
“What does that mean?” she asked. “You planning a move?”
“At some point, one of us will have to move,” he reasoned. “I don’t expect you to leave your mother.”
“It’s still way too early to think about that.”
“Why not? Wouldn’t it be easier if I was closer?”
“Viktor that is a huge expense … to transplant your entire life to the other side of the continent for something that’s still so new … “ She shook her head. “I don’t want you to do that.”
“What if I’m tired of the West Coast?”
“Let’s talk about this in a few months,” she offered.
“Okay,” he acquiesced. “I won’t make any plans just yet.”
“You’re trouble, you know that?” she teased.
“But I’m your trouble.”
A broad smile crossed her lips. “And I’m yours.”
“Oh, you’re no trouble at all,” he playfully objected.
“That’s a lie.”
He laughed and changed the subject. “When can you come see me?”
“Well, I have Labor Day off from work. I could probably take a couple unpaid days the week before and stay from Thursday to Monday.”
“Okay. Could you fly in Wednesday night?”
“Yeah. That would work.”
“Good. That’s settled.”
“Don’t put me up anywhere expensive,” she warned.
“I know someone who owns a hotel. I can get you a room for free.”
“Oh … Well in that case.”
After dinner, Viktor brought Amanda back to her car and Amanda suggested they could hang out at her apartment for a few hours until she had to go to sleep. He found a spot to park down the street from her building and walked back to meet her at the elevators. She slipped her hand into his as they stepped in.
“I know it’s not the greatest place to live,” she admitted, feeling a little embarrassed by how grungy the hallways and lobby were.
“You don’t own the building,” he reasoned. “I’m sure you would be someplace nicer if you weren’t helping your mother. The sacrifices you make for her are very commendable. But even if this was the only place you could afford, it would not be a reflection of you.”
“Thank you for understanding,” she replied, as the elevator opened on her floor.
“If I thought any different, I wouldn’t deserve you.”
She gave him a smile and then led him down the hall to her apartment. The cleanliness inside made up for the lack of it outside. She stood aside so he could walk in and held her breath as he looked around, wondering what he thought.
“I like how you decorate,” he declared. He turned back to her just in time to see the relief wash over her. He smiled and stepped closer. “Don’t be so nervous.”
“I can’t help it.”
He took her hands and pulled her towards him. “Don’t be nervous,” he repeated.
She raised her arms to hug him and he immediately slipped his arms around her back and pulled her close.
“How did I find you?” she asked rhetorically.
“You didn’t. I found you. Remember?” he teased.
She laughed. “Yes. That’s right.” She pulled back so she could look in his eyes.
As he gazed back softly, all her fears melted away. He leaned in and kissed her.
Free from the eyes of onlookers, she kissed him back. He tightened his grip as their emotions intensified and they spent the next few minutes silently expressing their affection for each other.
“Viktor.” Amanda broke away, trying to catch her breath.
“Yes?” he answered as he tried to kiss her again.
She allowed him for a few brief seconds before breaking off again. “This is a bit much for me.”
With his arms still around her, he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. “Okay.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He kissed her forehead and then took
