Crash Into Me

Chapter Six: Alli

La Bella is even more beautiful than I imagined it would be. The oversized white fountain is alive, water dancing this way and that and warm white lights accompanying its show. I can't believe that I'm here, and with Eli, for that matter. The whole thing just feels so surreal. He wraps his hand around mine as we walk up to the grand entrance. He walks with this alluring confidence that I only wish I could exude. I'm just trying not to look too much like a newly born fawn in these high heels, steadying myself and trying to balance.

"Signore, signora," the host welcomes us, "Right this way." We make our way to the finely set, candlelit table and he pulls out my chair for me.

"My name is Marco. I will have the pleasure of serving you. Here are your menus," the waiter says with an Italian accent. "Tonight, we have linguine all'aragosta paired with our newly imported Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo as well as our taglionlini ai porcini with our fine Piedirosso."

I gulp, realizing that I have no idea what any of the food he just said is except for the word "linguine." I should have looked up the menu ahead of time.

I look up at Eli, hoping that he will take the lead on this. He grins, apparently aware of my mini-crisis. "Give us a moment," he smiles, charmingly. The waiter nods his head once and walks off.

"What's your favorite Italian dish?" he asks, smiling with his arms folded in front of him.

"Umm...well...I like..." I'm trying to come up with something fancy, but all I can think of spurts out instead, "spaghetti. Pizza is also good," I add.

He laughs sweetly, "Who could turn down some good old fashioned spaghetti and pizza. Classic. I like that." He grins before adding, "So, tell me something about yourself."

"Something interesting?" I start. "Let's see. Well...I'm a sales associate at Dallas Books, but that's not very interesting, is it?" He turns his hand up in a maybe sort of way, so I keep going. "I like to run. Obviously," I laugh nervously, "You've observed that on multiple occasions." He sits there, listening patiently. "I'm twenty-six, and I still haven't ever left the United States."

"We can fix that." He's doing that thing again where he's looking so intently into my eyes that I have to look away.

"How do you mean?" I ask, looking down at the water glass sweating in front of me. I can feel beads of sweat wanting to form on my forehead.

"Just tell me where you want to go."

I laugh incredulously, "If only it was that easy."

"It is. Just say where it is you always dreamed of going." I adjust myself nervously in my seat, getting the sense that he's not kidding.

"You're not serious, are you?"

He raises an eyebrow and nods his head, "Completely."

"I've always wanted to go to Australia. Maybe see the Great Barrier Reef while it's still alive."

He pulls out his phone and starts tapping and typing away. I'm a little confused and start to think I'm boring him. Maybe he has some doctor stuff to attend to.

"Done," he says, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

"What's done?" I feel even more confused.

"Flight is booked, hotel is reserved," he says.

"Wait, what?"

"Signore, are you and the signora ready to place your order?" the waiter comes up and my mind is spinning. I want to ask him if he's joking, but I'm starting to get the impression that he doesn't joke.