Friends With Benefits

Chapter Five

~~ Eva ~~

I shove aside hangers of clothes as I comb through my closet looking for the perfect outfit. My heart's pounding, I feel like it always is as of late. I'm always thinking of her now. It's making me sick. I'm always craving her face, her words, her touch. I want Amanda to want me just as much as I want her.

Slice of Italy isn't insanely fancy, but it's not like I can dress like a bum either. It's hard. What is the perfect outfit? Something to just enchant her? Finally my fingers land on a crimson red dress. Fancy, but not too much so. It's nothing that would get me an unwanted kind of attention from anyone I don't think. I pull it on and lace up my black boots before looking at myself in the mirror.

I swallow as I look at myself twisting from side to side to check I do in fact look okay. I suppose that this will do. I grab my purse and hurry out the door to my car. I sing along to my favorite songs as I make my way to the restaurant.

I arrive fifteen minutes before our agreed upon time and pull out my phone to text her, realizing again that I do not have her number. So many times I've wanted to text her, but of course I never remember to get the information from her.

I sigh as I hop out of the car. I hear the beep as it locks behind me and I enter into the restaurant, thanking the gentleman at the door who holds the door open.

"Hi, table for two, please," I say, greeting the host.

He raises an eyebrow at me as he looks over my shoulder. "Two?"

"Yes, she's not here yet, but she should be here shortly," I say, explaining as to why I'm alone.

"This way," he says, leading me into the restaurant. It's already fairly busy, the clattering of utensils on dishes and the chatter of people layers on top of the classical music being played. "Here are the menus and your server shall be with you in a bit."

"Thank you very much," I say, smiling.

I glance about the menu, my leg bouncing nervously beneath me. Damn, when's the last time I've even had a legit date? Not that this is a date anyway . . .

Five minutes pass and the waiter arrives. "Good evening, my name is Michael and I'll be your server today. Can I start you with something to drink?"

"Ah, hi," I say, leg bouncing faster now. "I'm actually waiting for someone right now," I start, trailing off as I speak.

"Oh, no problem, would you like for me to check back in with you in a few?"

"Yes, that'd be lovely, thank you," I say, sighing in relief.

The waiter leaves, tending to their other tables and I fiddle with my phone. I keep switching between looking at the time and the weather. Occasionally I look at the door. What if she doesn't even show up? I swallow and look out the window, heart freezing at that thought.

Five more minutes pass and I notice the waiter looking sympathetically at me. Please, don't do that. I chew on my lip and continue looking out the window. There's still five more minutes until the agreed upon time anyway.

"Table for two." Relief floods my body as I look back over to the host stand. There Amanda stands.

"Oh, over here," I say, waving her over.

Warmth spreads throughout me when her eyes move to meet mine. "Oh, nevermind, she's right there," Amanda laughs to the host. "Thank you."

"Well, there you are," I say, sticking my tongue out at her. "I was starting to think you weren't even going to come," I joke, crossing my arms over my chest. But there is a small hint of truth to it. I don't show it of course.