BRIAN
I sit back in my chair in my favorite pub next to the base. I have managed to upset a waitress because she has not fallen all over me the first time I saw her. But that is what I like the most. I can see in a woman's eyes when she really wants me and I can tell that this waitress wants me.
"So, what is your next move?"
"The next move is going to involve you"
"I am sorry, what? You did not tell me I am going to do something"
"Just shut up and listen..."
I make sure to glance at the waitress every so often as I can feel her eyes not leaving mine for a second. Then after I have given her a few minutes to cool down I lift up my hand to get her attention. It is not even a minute when she arrives at our table.
"What can I help you with?"
"Can we please have another two beers?"
I see her smile faltering again and then she turns around without saying a word, walking straight to the bar. I look at Jim and then I say.
"You are up"
"I hope your plan works"
I smile and then I say to him.
"It always works"
He stands up and walks to the bar talking to the waitress. It doesn't even take him five minutes when he comes back with the waitress. She stands right in front of me looking into my eyes.
"Is it true?"
"That I had a bet that I lost?"
"Yes and that you had to deny the first girl that you spoke to?"
"Yes and I do not know if I am allowed to say this to you but..."
I see her eyes softening when she looks at me and then she says.
"But what?"
"But I really regret that you are the one that I had to withhold myself from because you are probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life"
I make sure to look down at the table but then she moves closer to me. She put something in my pocket and give me a kiss on my cheek. Then she turns around and goes back to the bar. I sit back in my chair and take out the note in my pocket.
I read it and then I smile. I can see that Jim is almost on the edge of his seat as he is waiting for me to tell him what is on the note.
"So are you going to tell me?!"
"What?"
"Do not be like that! What is the note saying?!"
"Nothing important"
I open it up and throw it on the table. It reads.
"Meet me outside in five minutes"
"No way man!! There is no way that it would have worked?!"
I just smile as I stand up and make my way through the backdoor. Tonight I am going to get lucky.
LISA
I wake up the next morning and I realized that I have a lot to do before Monday. I am fortunate enough to have been an air traffic controller in the Navy before. I started out as one before I decided to become a psychologist. I remember how young and naive I was. My dad was stationed at a different place than what he is now and he wanted me to grow under his wings.
He was just a Lieutenant way back then. I did not know exactly what I wanted to do with my life yet and so I just followed in my dad's footsteps, since my mom was never really around.
But when I saw all the injured soldiers not just physically but also mentally, I found myself wanting to help them. I remember how I would always help my friends sort out their problems between each other and to become a psychologist just seemed like the next logical step.
Of course, I could not handle the soldiers being hurt in that way and soon left the Navy. Now I am going back pretending to be someone that I am not. Then while I am getting dressed my phone lights up. It is a text from Steve.
"Are we still on for lunch today?"
Dammit! I forgot about lunch again but not just that, I forgot that I need to talk to Steve about this change in my life. I am going to have to go to another town and I probably will not see him so much. How could I have forgotten to talk to him first before I make a decision like this? I quickly send him a text back.
"Of course. I can not wait to see you"
I put a reminder on my phone not to forget about our lunch date because I swear if I do not do it I might forget. Then I give Dr. Santana a call. I tell him all about my dilemma and he is too happy to take over my practice. I make sure that he is not going to steal my clients and that I will be sending him a contract soon.
I know that you should trust your fellow doctors but in my case, I was taught not to trust anyone. Having a dad as I did, you learn not to trust anyone. I guess he has taught me a few valuable lessons in life but sometimes I wish he could just have been a loving father.
I am finished with seeing my last client and my phone goes off with an alarm. I look at the phone and then I realized it is my reminder that I set not to forget our lunch date. I could not believe myself for forgetting about it again. I make my way to the hospital where we usually meet for lunch as he only has an hour between his surgeries.
I walk through the cafeteria and as usual, he waits for me at the table. He stands up and gives me a kiss on my lips and then pulls out my chair for me. He is truly a gentleman I do not know why I treat him the way I do.
"How has your day been?"
"Oh, you know, surgery here and surgery there. What about yours?"
"Well, there is something I need to tell you"
He takes my hand and looks deep into my eyes. Then he says.
"What is wrong?"
"I guess that I am going away for a while"
"Where are you going?"
I explain the entire story to him and how my dad was begging me. I also tell him about how he showed me an emotion that I never thought he would and Steve listens to every word I have to say carefully.
"...so this means that I should go to California and stay there for a while. But I could come and visit some weekends and I will skype you as much as I can"
Then I see him smiling at me with his eyes filled with sadness. I know him well because this is the way that he shows me that he is sad. Then he says with the most calming voice.
"I understand that sometimes we do things for family that we do not want to do and since this is so important to your dad, I know that it is important to you too. So I say, go. There are many ways for us to keep contact with each other and still have a healthy relationship"
I just stare in amazement at this wonderful man that is sitting in front of me when I realize how lucky I am to have him in my life.