Seeking Love *completed*

The Second Date

"So how'd it go?" Lenny was peeking through the window at me.

"How'd what go?" I was busy writing tickets and running the register. Today was busy for a monday.

"The date with Mr.Blue eyes. How'd it go?"

I rolled my eyes and turned to face him. "His name is Larc and it went really well."

I quickly walked off to avoid the rest of his questions. The small diner was full of people for the early part of the day. By the late afternoon the traffic flow had died down to one or two people. I was straightening up behind the counter when I heard the bell above the door ring. I spun around Larc strolling in with his two friends trailing behind.

"Hey, what brings you all the way over here?" I cheerfully followed him to their usual table.

"Just some work stuff." He wrapped me in a hug and planted a kiss on top of my head before sitting down. His friends exchanged looks with one another.

"Vinny. Lance. This is Edith, the girl that I was telling you about."

We exchanged hellos with one another before they fell silent again. I wrote down their usual order and took it to the window. I was about to go read after taking their food to them, but Larc called me over to sit with them. For the rest of the time they were there, we all sat around the booth talking to each other. I didn't realize how late it was until Lenny came to tell us he had to lock the doors. I was enjoying myself so much that I didn't notice the time so Lenny cleaned up and closed by myself. He didn't seem to time as he smiled and winked at me while walking out before turning the lights off. Larc walked me to his car to take me home. Theo and Lance sat quietly in the back seat as Larc got out to walk me to the door.

"I have something I wanted to ask you." I nervously played with a piece of my hair as I asked. "My friend Diana is having an art showing next Friday night. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me. It's okay if you don't want to, it's probably stu-"

"Yes I'd love to." He quickly interrupted me. He pulled me in for a goodnight kiss before heading back to his car. "See you later."

- - -

I was in a hurry to get dressed as I sent Larc a text with the time the gallery started. I couldn't believe that I forgot to tell him. Shortly after I finish my hair, he was knocking on the front door. He looked sexy standing in all black. I refrained from pulling him inside and just forgetting about the show and grabbed my coat.

"I have a surprise for you when we get there." I excitedly told him. There was one detail about the art showing I left out.

"Oh?" He said smirking at me, "What is it?"

"You'll see." I smirked back. He chuckled to himself.

I could hear the thumping of music as we walked up the steps of the warehouse the show was in. When Diana spotted me, she immediately ran up to us.

"You made it!" She flung her arms around me in a tight hug. She stepped back to examine Larc once she let go of me.

"Larc this is Diana. Diana, Larc." I said. Larc stuck his hand out to shake hers.

"Well, hello Larc." Diana glanced over her shoulder and mouthed 'he's hot' at me. I immediately started to blush. After getting acquainted with one another, Diana pulled me off to the side to talk about some of the pieces in the show.

"Sorry Larc, but I need to steal her away for a minute. Look around, enjoy yourself, and have a drink. I promise I'll bring her back. She winked as she pulled me away. "Where did you find him? Why haven't you told me about him? Does he have a single brother? I could double date with you." She sent a flood of questions to me at once.

" we went on a few days so I haven't really taking it serious yet. Yes he has two brothers. I don't know if they're single and no I won't double date with you." I chuckled under my breath at her as she wrinkled her nose at my last answer.

"Girl, you better start taking it serious before some other girl does. He's a bowl of sexiness. Take the opportunity Edie." She nudged me and winked.

I could feel the heat rising on my face. I was blushing like a school girl about her crush. I tried to play it smoothly by scoffing at her and pulling her back to the crowd. Once Diana got distracted in another conversation, I found my way over to Larc.

"That's my favorite." I stepped up beside him as he was studying a painting of a snowy field lined with oak trees.

"Why? What's the story behind it." He asked as he snaked his arm over my shoulders.

" is where we used to go camping as kids with Diana's parents." I thought back to the many Summers we spent there before Diana's mother got sick.
We moved down the room to the other paintings and told each other what we thought of them. Then we stopped at one in the far corner in a group that was by other people besides Diana.

"What do you think about this one?" I asked him. It was a painting of a girl in a straw hat sitting in a field of lavender. I held my breath as I waited for him to answer.

"Its beautiful." He answered back starring at the painting.

"Thank you." I replied back smiling. He glanced at me then back at the painting. That's when he saw my name in the corner.

"You did this?" He pointed a finger at the picture.

"Don't seem so surprised." I said wryly.

"No, I mean I had no idea you painted. Edith this is really good. Do you have anymore?" He pulled me close to him and I rested my head on his chest. I could hear the rhythmic sound of his heart.

"At home I do, but not here. This one is here for the silent auction." I said.

"I'll have to see them one day." He tilted my face up toward him and planted a kiss on my lips. He leaned his head against mine and smiled softly. "Ready?" He asked.

On the way to my apartment, we stopped and got a pizza for a late dinner. After climbing up the steps to my apartment, we sprawled out in front of the TV and ate. Once we finished eating I curled up beside Larc to watch a movie we had decided on. As the credits rolled he pulled me up toward him to say goodnight. He leaned in and kissed me softly. As I ran my fingers through his hair our kiss grew stronger with passion. Larc pulled me into his lap then left me up to carry me toward the bedroom. We quickly undressed one another and crawled under the sheets were we tangled our bodies together.

I woke up to the sun hitting my face through a gap in the curtain. I dug my palms into my eyes and stretched my body. I rolled over to see an empty space beside me. I sat up and looked around slightly confused.

Did he leave last night?

I swung my feet off the bed and made my way to the dresser to dig out clothes. After getting dressed and running a brush through my hair a headed down the hall. I could hear a sizzling sound and smelled bacon in the air.

"You're still here?" I couldn't hide the surprise in my voice.

"Why wouldn't I be? Did you want me to leave?" He said.

"No! I just didn't see you in bed and thought you did. What are you cooking?" I wanted to quickly change the subject before things got more awkward.

"Omelets and bacon" He smiled at me as I sat down at the bar.

"Smells good." My stomach grumbled as Larc handed me a glass of orange juice.

Larc sat down a plate of the food in front of me. He made him one before coming around the counter to join me. We sat silently as we ate then I collected our plates to wash them. Once I was done Larc got his things together and left to run home before going into work. I was sitting on the couch enjoying my favorite TV show when I received a text from Diana:

Your painting raised 10k that was the highest pay out for the night.

I had to read the message twice to make sure I saw the amount correctly. I couldn't believe that someone paid that much to have my painting. I secretly wondered who.

******

Author's Note

Hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Comments are appreciated and don't forget to vote. Until next time ♡