Military Romance

Chapter 4

A week after meeting Matt, we are finally going to go on a date. My work schedule was crazy last week but we talked everyday. One day he even brought dinner to my apartment when he knew that I was too tired to make dinner after a busy day at work.

I go into my bathroom and start to get ready. I put makeup on, do my hair, and put on a sundress. Butterflies start to grow in my stomach and I consider backing out.

I think about when he brought over dinner. By the end of that short encounter, he admitted to wanting to see me even for just a little bit. The melted my heart a little bit.

I heard from  everyday last week and eventually got his number blocked from my phone. Each day the text messages because more and more angry. I had started to become scared.  I still watch my surrounding just to see if he is going to try to talk to me in person.

I hear a knock on my door and I jump up to answer it. Matt is standing there with colorful roses in his hand and a nervous smile on his face. At least I'm not the only person nervous, I think to myself. 

"Hi" I say

"Hey" he says and I open my door more to let him come inside.

"I just have to grab my things and I am ready."

"Take your time. I brought you these flowers." He says.

I look down and pretend that I just saw them. "They are beautiful! Thank you so much!"

I go into the kitchen and put them in a vase that I keep under my sink. I smell the flowers and they look so nice. I smile to myself, grab my purse, and walk to the door. 

He is wearing a navy polo shirt and khaki shorts. My heart flutters when he watches me lock my door. I turn around and we walk to his vehicle.

He starts to drive and then I realize that I don't know where we are going. "What are we doing tonight?"

"You'll see." He said with a smile.

My stomach jumped a little bit. How nice of him to have something planned already. I am definitely not used to this. 

When he stopped driving I looked around and realized that we were at a restaurant on the beach that I had mentioned before that I hadn't been to in awhile. He gets out of the car and before I could get my purse and open the door, he is opening the door for me.

"I hope this restaurant is okay." He says, his voice sounds little nervous. 

"It is great. Thank you." I smiled up at him. We walk in and the hostess brings us to our table that is looking out onto the water. The restaurant was becoming full. A band was playing outside on the deck and there are people listening and dancing along to the music. It seems to be a very relaxed place. It helps me calm down a little bit. 

"Tell me something about yourself." He says.

I turn to him and suddenly my nerves rush back to me. What if he thinks I am not interesting and that I am too boring. Why would he want to hang out with someone that it boring? 

"I am a relatively new nurse. I graduated two years ago and I like where I work, for the most part. It is very busy and very challenging but rewarding at the same time. I hope to eventually be able to become and Emergency Room nurse. What made you join the Air Force?"

"It runs in my family. My father and my uncle have retired from the Air Force. My grandfather retired from the Air Force. I grew up with this idea in my mind that I should follow their footsteps. It was a way for me to get hands on experience and get education."

During dinner, the conversation seemed to flow easily. We talked about his family and his career. We described our friends and shared a few funny childhood stories. 

"Would you dance with me?" He asks when he catches me looking at the band and the couples dancing. 

"Sure, but I dont dance good at all."

"Then its probably a good things that I will be leading the dance." He says while laughing.

He takes me hand and we walk to the dance floor. He turns to me and his other hand goes on my waste. He starts off slow and after tripping a few times, I start to follow along. I have to practice dancing when I get home, I think to myself with embarrassment.

"Relax, I have you. I would not let you fall." He laughs again. His laugh is intoxicating and contagious. I end up laughing too and before I now it, more songs have pasted and I am thirsty. We walk off the stage and go to the bar to get a drink. I order a glass of wine and he gets a beer. 

Once our drinks arrive, he takes my hand again and leads me to the beach, where the sun is starting the set and the sky has turned shades of purple and pink. I sip on my wine and I cant tell whether the lightness I am feeling is from the wine or from this date. Either way, I am just happy to be feeling it. 

We sit on the sand and watch the sun continue to set. 

"Tonight was a lot of fun." I say. 

"It was. We should do it again."

Is he going to kiss me? I think to myself. I really hope he does. I look over at him and he is already looking at me. I quickly turn away and I can feel my cheeks turn red from blushing. 

He moves closer to me and puts his arm around me and I lean in to rest my head on his shoulder.