You Love Somebody

33 (Eddie)

He couldn't help but feel a sting of disappointment. He had hoped to take her out to a nice dinner without being swamped by fans. She would get all dolled up, and he would wear a nice suit. He'd hold the door for her going into the restaurant, and he'd pull the chair out for her, helping her sit down. He'd hold her hand across the table, drowning in her dark-brown eyes in the candle light. 

He got his phone out and sent Alex a message. 

'Is there any possibility I can take Anna out for dinner?' 

Anna was sitting in the window, speaking to her dad on the phone. She perched on the window sill, her legs drawn up, so she could rest her arms on her knees. She was laughing at something her dad was saying, and his heart beat a little faster. There was something so incredibly endearing about her face when she laughed. 

'It can be arranged.' Alex wrote back. 

Eddie smiled to himself. He knew Ben could help him get a reservation at a Michelin star restaurant, and it would be perfect and intimate. 

'I'll get back to you with details.' He wrote to Alex. 

He stepped into the bedroom and called Ben. 

"Eddie? Everything okay?" Ben said when he answered the phone. 

"Yeah, everything is fine. How are you?" Eddie was happy to hear Ben's voice. It felt like all the drama about Anna was a distant memory and his friend was back. 

"Yeah not too bad. Life on a tour bus, you know," he chuckled. 

"I really appreciate that you arranged for us to have this time on our own," Eddie said, feeling the need to thank Ben for all he did for him. "Can I ask another favour?" 

"Sure, what's up?" Ben sounded cheerful, probably happy that Eddie was asking for his help. 

Eddie peaked out and saw Anna still deep in conversation with her dad. Her Jersey accent really came out when she spoke to him. He admired her for a second, before he returned to his conversation with Ben. 

"I'd really like to take Anna out for dinner. Like a proper place. Do you think you can get us a table at Silvio's?" He asked. 

"Yeah sure, let me make a few calls and I'll text you," Ben said. 

"Thanks Ben, you are a great friend," Eddie said and hung up, feeling hopeful that he could get to take her out the way he wanted to.

He stepped back into the sitting room and sat down on the couch, scrolling his phone while he waited for Ben to text back.

Anna was still on the phone with her dad.
"Daddy, it's important," she had her doctor voice on now. "I know you don't like broccoli, but you have to eat vegetables. Did Alice drop off a glass of vitamines?"

She was a caretaker; she looked out for people.

"I'm not nagging you old fart, you need it." She shook her head at the phone, and Eddie chuckled. She looked over and smiled at him while she rolled her eyes at the phone.

"If you don't take care of yourself daddy, I'm coming home" she threatened.

Selfishly Eddie felt a sting to the chest. He really didn't like the thought of her going anywhere. He couldn't help but look at her to decipher if she was serious. She caught him checking, and shook her head and smiled. "I'm not going anywhere," she mouthed and winked.

He chuckled and made a gesture of relief, wiping his forehead. It was an unbearable thought having to see her off on a plane to New York. Just thinking about it made his heart feel heavy.