Learning How to Bend

NaNo Day 7 - Look, I've made it a week!

To say the least, I was shocked when I got a phone call a couple weeks later from Thaddeus, telling me to expect something later that afternoon. He refused to tell me what it was. We talked almost daily on the phone about subjects related to Andino Incorporated, but our conversations often shifted to me lecturing him. He took it well, which was another shock. He was surprising me, practically every hour of every day...and I did not know how to feel about that.

My doorbell rang. I did not open the door; I never did unless I was expecting someone. The footsteps slowly disappeared as the individual moved away. That was my signal to unlock the deadbolts and grab the paper which was stuck in the clip on the right side of my door. I unclipped it and pulled it inside.

Running my hand over the cover of the envelope, I gasped in surprise; it was embossed with my name in Braille. I tore open the envelope and ran my hand over the card which was inside. An invitation from Thaddeus to join him for a business discussion over dinner. He had always called me in the past or sent an email; this was a more formal invitation, and by the looks of it, this seemed like far more than a job talk like he was making it out to be.

This was a date.

He did not say as much, but that was what this was. A date. I had not been on a date in over a year. I suddenly felt absolutely terrified. I dropped the card on my kitchen table like it was on fire. I did not want to go on a date with this man...did I?

I swallowed. Oh, but I did want to give this a chance. I wanted to try. For his sake...and for mine, too. I would never hear the end of this from Katherine.

Kat! I needed to call her.

Leaving the card on the table, I grabbed my flip phone off the coffee table and pressed the speed-dial for her number. The invitation was for tomorrow night. I needed her advice on what to wear, on how to act...I needed her advice on everything.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up," I muttered.

"Lily?"

"Kat, I need you to come over right now."

"Is something wrong?!"

"Yes? Maybe? No. I don't think so." I paused. "He asked me out."

"Who?"

"Thaddeus."

"About time! You spend enough time together as it is."

"What am I going to do? What am I going to wear?" I started pacing in my living room. "I'm freaking out."

"Just breathe, Lil." Kat laughed. "I'll be over there in a while. And I'll be there to help you get ready, too. You can count on me."

"Thank you." I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. "I don't know what I'm doing."

"You're going to go and enjoy yourself. That's what you're going to do."

I sighed. "Okay."

"Joe can survive for another night without me. I'm coming over, and you can't tell me otherwise."

"How long have you been on shift?" I frowned.

"I worked last night and slept until three o'clock this afternoon. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. I'm coming over, and you're telling me what on this earth I've missed. Because you haven't told me a word how you two transitioned from business associates to potentially something more. You're holding out on me."

"I didn't mean to, I swear. I just...didn't really think there was anything to say." I rubbed behind my neck with my hand. "He's a good man. Some of his priorities aren't in the right place, but I think there's more to him than what people see. I'm finding myself believing in him. I don't know why, but I'm willing to give all of this a chance. Even if we just spend the entire meal talking about AI."