Last Olive Bistro ✓

Chapter 18: Downpour

Jacob and I sat near a fountain that was surrounded with all colors of wildflowers. It was quiet that Saturday morning with only the gentle hum of light traffic, the pitter patter of runners' footsteps, and birds waking up in the trees chirping above us. The sky was overcast with heavy gray clouds that looked like they could burst open at any moment. I forgot my umbrella.

"Did you enjoy our date?" he asked with a sliver of uncertainty in his tone.

"Of course," I said. "I had a really nice time."

He breathed out, "But it didn't end too well, did it?" His change in tone fell several octaves.

My eyes studied his dark pools briefly before I looked away. "I'm sorry that I got upset. I allowed my emotions to be out of control."

"No, not at all," he said. His voice was tight with concern, like absolutely nothing could ever be my fault. "Don't ever apologize for how you feel. Your emotions can do whatever they want."

I looked back at him, particularly how his hair was combed back, freshly out of the shower. He still didn't wear anything different than a tailored suit, and as I sat beside him in a pair of white jean shorts, a black striped t-shirt, and low-top Converse, I felt uncomfortable that anyone walking past us would think I was his juvenile daughter. But the beauty of New York was that there was an unfathomable amount of different people—and no one noticed nor had time to pick out one from another.

Stupid anxiety again.

"It's something I did a few times—years ago," he admitted. He shook his head as if he couldn't believe he had done something he regretted, more than once. "I took some women out just to have someone to spend time with, and I thought it was appropriate to compensate them. I mean, I never expected a stunning, young woman to go out with an old man for free."

The extra humid air was tough enough to breathe, but it was even more strenuous from the restlessness in my chest.

"I'm not like that," I told him, quickly resenting the unintentional offended tone. I hurried to correct it. "I wanted to go out with you."

Neither of us said a word in the minute that went by. Jacob stole glances at me, but like a professional outfielder I always caught them because I was always anticipating them. His face was flush from embarrassment.

"Why?" I asked, breaking the silence that was slowly turning awkward.

He shook his head again, still unsure of himself. "I was trying to slap a bandage on years and years of grief. I feel so ashamed."

"Now wait, that's not something to be ashamed of."

His chocolate eyes flickered up towards the antagonistic clouds then back down to the pavement. "It is a shameful thing. There's no good reason for it."

I quietly accepted how he processed his past. I understood mutually beneficial relationships, and I felt indifferent about the people who were involved in them. It wasn't my business. Getting paid for your time is only fair—after all, there's no chance I'd ever step foot inside the Last Olive Bistro if they didn't pay me.

"Yeah, you don't need to do that with me moving forward," I said. He finally looked at me, a subtle, hopeful smile crossed his mouth and his eyes widened a little bit. "Anything I want from you, I'll straight out tell you."

His surprised expression relaxed and he crossed his legs. A smug look replaced his tension. "What is it that you want from me?"

A chuckled once, finding such a question trivial. He was the one who chased me; I just quit walking to let him catch up. Now we were going at the same pace.

"Another date."

He laughed and clasped his hands together. "I can do that."

I bit my bottom lip to hide too much of a smile from my own blatant honesty. Jacob moved closer to me so that our legs were brushing against each other.

"I meant it when I kissed you," he said, his voice lower as to not attract an eavesdropper, but no one sat near us.

I nervously tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "I know," I replied, letting go of my lip.

"Would you mind if I did it again right now?"

My heart did a somersault. I'd never known of a gentleman to exist in the modern world, but here he was politely asking to kiss me. I was dumbfounded at the maturity of such a single man; a rarity of their species.

"I wouldn't."

He smiled in the genuine way of his that made his eyes squint ever so slightly that it revealed the aged lines around his eyes.

We met each other in the middle, and pressed our lips together harder than the first time. The taste of him on me ignited a fire in my soul. The way he kissed with passion yet didn't overdo it made me crave more.

When we pulled apart after a few more seconds, we both laughed with relief that things were sorted out between us. Neither of us was sore towards the other, and we agreed to put the minor roadblock in the past.

"You really would like to go out with me again?" Jacob inquired.

I chuckled once, nodding a 'yes' with a cheeky smirk.

A few light raindrops tickled my arm and I ran my fingers over the sensations to be sure of what it was. Jacob noticed the first few rain drops too. We stood up together, then headed towards the edge of the park. With his hand gently on my back, he guided me at a quicker pace because the dooming clouds were turning black. It wasn't fast enough—the sky erupted into a monsoon-like downpour.

"Hurry, get in!" Jacob shouted when his Bentley came into view. He was parked only a few feet from the park's exit.

He held the door for me as I climbed in, then rushed around the front to the driver's side. Once we were safe inside, I observed everyone running for cover too. It felt surreal yet again as I sat inside the noise-cancelling interior of the luxury car. The rain sounded muffled, like marshmallows falling down, as it smacked against the Bentley's exquisite bodywork.

"Do you have a towel or anything? I'm soaked," I asked. I felt awful that we drenched the superior leather upholstery.

"No," he chuckled, amused. "Don't worry about it. It can be detailed."

The rain kept pummelling the city for several minutes without letting up; it was no random cloud burst. Umbrellas danced everywhere over the top of people's heads as they scurried about and struggled to keep them right side out.

"Do you have work today?" Jacob asked.

"Yep." I sealed my lips and shrugged at him. "Not until three."

He started the car and the smooth growl of the engine roared to life.

"I'll get you home. I'm really sorry the day has begun so badly," he said. He pulled away and we set off for my apartment, only a couple blocks away.

"Don't apologize for the weather. It does what it wants."

He quickly glanced over to me once then returned his attention to a cab that cut him off.

Then another glance.

I took in the soaked chaos of outside's storm from the comfort of the Bentley. I pretended that I didn't notice Jacob eyeing my wet clothes up and down, and pretended that I didn't personally enjoy his more obvious desire for me.