FERRY-LOVE-BOAT

Chapter 13

Carina's POV:

-I thought you were spending the night at home. - Andrea looked at me curiously as I finished putting on my makeup.

He had arrived about an hour ago, was talking about his work day, and was confident that he might be chosen to be chief resident in the upcoming months - and I was too oblivious to the competencies of the other residents and too excited about the possibility of the position being Andrea's to question anything - and again he circled back to talking about how wonderful Meredith Grey was - and I still hadn't decided if all this admiration he had was actually healthy.

-You spent an entire month in Seattle without leaving the house of your own free will, I practically had to drag you out of the house. - He continued when there was no response, and the truth was that I didn't know how to explain to him that I was going to a bar with Maya and her friends that night without arousing suspicion.

I remembered the unfamiliar – but amazing – feeling in my chest earlier when I received Maya's message.

"Vic, Andy and I are going to a new bar that opened downtown. Do you want to go with us?"

The idea of making new friends was quite nice, because Andrea was right, I had wasted enough time cooped up indoors for a month. But the truth was that the idea of meeting Maya excited me much more than the idea of having a few drinks outside the house.

I would invite her over to share a bottle of wine with me, but I was afraid I'd make her think I was being too forward - after all, although she would get nervous and blush around me, it could be just a mere natural response to my bolder lines, I knew how Americans could be such prudes - and I was trying to lower my expectations because I was more interested in a calm and careful approach, cultivating a real friendship with Maya, than to rush into things with her and end up screwing this up – also, I didn't even know if I was her type.

"Sure, just tell me when and where." - That's what I replied.

-I thought you would be happy to see me leave home on my own accord. Isn't that what you wanted? - I ran a few coats of mascara over my eyelashes, trying to divert from the subject.

-And where are you going? Who are you going out with? - He asked, finally stopping beating around the bush and asking exactly what he wanted to know. Andrea had always been very curious.

-Andrea, I am an adult, older than you, and have lived by myself for many years. I don't need to explain myself to you. - I answered, now with lipstick in my hand.

-What if something happens? - He asked back.

-If something happens, I'll text or call you. - I shrugged and went back to looking at my reflection in front of the large mirror that faced my king-size bed. - Don't worry, go have fun tonight.

-Okay, if you want to go all mysterious and stuff, I don't care. - I knew he was dying to know where I was going and who'd accompany me, he wasn't that good of an actor. - I think I'll go home, I'm not really in the mood for drinking tonight.

-Okay. - I answered and he got out of my bed.

-I'll have my cell phone near me all night. - He said and kissed me on the top of my head before leaving my room.

I heard Andrea slam the front door and I sighed heavily.

Now that I was alone my nerves were acting up again and I looked at the time on my phone to make sure I was on schedule. I called a car by app, made sure the backyard door was locked, and waited on my porch until the car arrived.

-Good evening! Ruby's Bar, please. - I confirmed the address I had put in the app.

-Right. - The guy was brief in his reply and remained silent the whole way.

"We're here" - Maya's message popped up on my cell phone when I was halfway there.

"I'm on my way, I'll be there in 5 minutes" - I replied.