"Hi Marta, let me introduce you - Marta - Dominik, Dominik - Marta."
The girl remained mute for five heartbeats, then smiled very politely and invited them inside.
"I'm sorry" sighed Dominik, crossing the threshold "it looks like Andrzej forgot to mention that you are about to meet me."
"Nothing happened," she said, although her nervous tone said otherwise. "I'm very surprised, it's true, but I'm glad. If I had known, I would never have agreed."
"So then maybe ..." he began hesitantly.
Marta realized how he read her words.
"No, no," she said quickly. "I mean, I'd chick out. But now… I think I can do it somehow."
"You would chickened out? Because of me?" Dominik asked, completely surprised.
Her face began to change, and finally Marta struggled to hold back a laugh.
"Sorry, I ... I just really like watching you in the movies and I would never expect ... sorry."
Dominik looked at her confused but at last and he began to smile more and more. It was not his 'lover's' smile but a natural one, a bit shy and absolutely seductive.
"To be honest, I wasn't sure if I should be here tonight either" he admitted. "But if you don't mind, I'd be honored to spend this evening with you," Dominik handed her the rose.
Marta stopped laughing. Her eyes grew larger and larger as they looked at Dominik, and they were filled with delight. She accepted the flower and it wobbled as if from the tremor of her hand. Andrzej knew that she had just been conquered and felt satisfaction with a bit of sadness.
"With… with pleasure," she replied.
"Maybe you'll stop being so official?" Andrzej cut in irritably. "I know you don't know each other much, but don't spoil the atmosphere with gentlemen and ladies. By the way, where is Ewelina?"
"I'm here," she announced, leaving her room, as if just waiting for someone to mention her name. She was wearing a strappy dress with a neckline deep enough to emphasize her feminine qualities.
Andrzej smiled at the sight of her. When a girl puts on something so sexy, she's definitely hoping to seduce her partner.
"Hi, Ewelina. You look deadly gorgeous. Please" she accepted the rose that Andrzej handed her, identical to the one that Marta was holding in her hand. But her eyes were irresistibly drawn to Dominik.
"Thank you" she smiled flirtatiously more towards Śliwiński than Nowicki.
Andrzej suddenly felt that this evening might not be so successful for him. Although he was handsome himself, he was far from the handsomest and sexiest Polish actor in the last two years.
He cursed silently. When Marta told him that Ewelina liked him, he took it for granted that the girl wanted to meet him. He had not thought that she would change the object of her interests so quickly. It was too late now, and all he could do about it was to swallow the bitter pill - or try to fight for it.
Er, no, he thought to himself. Ewelina was sexy, but he lost the desire for an intimate meeting with someone who was acting as frivolously as she was.
With a light heart and without the slightest regret, he made the presentation. Maybe he will not go out with Ewelina today, but it is better to give up before the fact than get a painful burn during attempt that was doomed to failure.
Ewelina was dazzled, of course. Which girl wouldn't be in the company of such a big star? In fact, he even felt sorry for her, because Dominik had shown her nothing but pure politeness. From the very first moment it was obvious that he would not be paying her as much attention as she would expect and her charms did not make the slightest impression on him. Poor girl.
Marta, however, clearly won the actor's sympathy. They were both very uncomfortable, which brought them together and allowed them to break the first ice. Andrzej watched with growing heart as they walked side by side, talking a little shyly, but without too much restrictions.
The show they went to was in its third season, and although it wasn't a hit, the venue was almost full. Nowicki deliberately chose a modernist, intelligent comedy. He, Dominik and Marta had a lot of fun on her, only Ewelina gave the impression that she was not catching the joke. Andrzej felt sorry for the girl again, but not too much. If she remembered who her partner was on this date, he would have made her time pleasant, and she had what she deserved. It might not have been noble of him, but it did give satisfaction to a wounded male pride.
Over the pizza they ate in one of the best Italian restaurants in town, he took pity on Ewelina and involved her in conversation. However, she did not show him due gratitude and interest, so Andrzej definitely put a line on her and began to observe the developing relationship between Dominik and Marta.
They fit together, even physically. Although she was a few centimeters taller than him, it did not make a negative impression, and Dominik was never bothered by his own height. Her hair was shorter than his and a few shades darker. With Śliwiński even beautiful women paled, but knowing that, Marta did not care about her appearance, did not adjust her makeup or hairstyle every now and then, and had a good conversation. The evening, which Andrzej was so afraid of for Dominik, was pleasant and the photographer was really pleased with it - despite the fact that he and Ewelina did not work out.
Theater, dinner and a walk - that was the plan and they managed to complete it to the end. It was almost midnight when they were taking the girls home. It looked like the evening was successful for Dominik and Marta, which meant the success of the mission for Andrzej.
***
"We have a beautiful night tonight" Dominik remarked as they stepped out onto the street.
"It's actually quite pretty," admitted Andrzej. Personally, he did not pay attention to such details, but the company of Śliwiński made him look at the sky. There were no stars to be seen, yet Prague District looked even nice in the lights of neon and street lamps.
"Do trains run at this time?"
"Yes, but less often. Why do you ask?"
"Could we come back by train? You said it was only two stations."
Andrzej looked at him suspiciously.
"You don't have enough impressions for one day?"
"No. I'm a bit tired, but it was a really enjoyable evening. Let's extend it a little longer," Śliwiński asked.
"As you wish. We should have our next train in forty minutes."
How strange it was that Dominik wanted to stay away longer. At first he was very embarrassed by the company of the girls, but he quickly relaxed. Andrzej knew that he didn't allow himself to be completely exposed to them, but the whole date was not just a game on his part.
"Thank you for tonight. And I'm sorry."
"Huh?" Andrzej did not realize what he meant.
"You talked me into today and I had a really good time. It was a completely new, intriguing experience. It is a pity that you ran out of luck with Ewelina."
"Oh, that's what you mean."
They walked side by side without looking in their direction. Nowicki was really sorry that Ewelina was paying attention to Dominik all evening and not to him, but such behavior of the girl only made him lose the desire to have sex with her. He understood that Śliwiński was a star of great caliber, but she could have acted with a little more tact.
"I know you have your needs" Dominik continued, seeming indifferent "and I stood in the way."
"It's not like that" Andrzej did not understand why he felt uncomfortable. "If I wasn't too good for her, I really don't want to deal with her."
"That's because she couldn't see what is really valuable" Dominik noticed.
This simple sentence, uttered under the glare of street lamps and neon lights, made something flutter in Andrzej's heart for some reason.
Why did Nowicki get the impression that they are still on a date?