Chapter Seven
Olivia
Dax called me later that day, after he’d gotten discharged from the hospital. He told me what happened at their family talk. I was grateful he waited to bring it up after I’d left. I didn’t even know what to say, but at least he knew the daughter of a Meth-Lab king wasn’t going to judge. We were quite the pair.
“Hey, enough about all of that nonsense,” he said. “Let’s plan a night out.”
“A night out, really?”
“Yep, let’s go to Mel’s and have dinner and do some dancing.”
“You just had major surgery,” I told him.
“Okay then, not tonight.”
“When?” I asked, expecting next week or the week after next. No, this was Dax I was talking to. For a few seconds I had forgotten.
“Tomorrow night. I’ll sleep all day and rest up for it. We’ll take your car instead of the bike and I’ll only dance to the slow songs.”
I laughed. He had known exactly the questions I was going to ask, except one. “Are you even on a regular diet yet?”
“My mom’s making lasagna tonight. I’ll see how that stays down and let you know.” He really was crazy, but after the other day, I wasn’t going to say so.
“Okay, let me know what time. I’m up for it.”
“Pick me up at eight,” he said. “Hey Liv.”
“Yeah.”
“Our lives aren’t always going to be like this. We’re going to be completely happy one day.”
“I believe it,” I told him, and I did believe it. I just hoped it would happen soon.
I was in front of his parent’s house at eight. I started to get out of the car when I saw him coming out the front door. He had on a rust colored long sleeve shirt. The way it fit him made me want to take off the wrapper and get to the candy.
His blue jeans looked brand new and fit just as nice. He had on a pair of brown boots and when he got closer and I stepped out of the car, I swear I could see his green eyes glitter in the moonlight. I’d known Dax for quite a few years, and it still never failed to amaze me how just the sight of him could take my breath away.
“Wow,” he said when he saw me. I had used most of my paycheck to buy a new outfit for that night and after I saw the look in his eyes, I was glad I did. I was wearing a green dress that was made out of clingy material. The neckline was cut low enough to be sexy but not low enough to reach the slut level and the same with the bottom hem, only the opposite. It fell to the tops of my thighs but it covered everything that I didn’t want to share with just anyone.
I had also bought a new pair of boots. They were tan and came up to just below my knee. They were super soft leather and super expensive, but once I tried them on, I was hooked. They had a two-inch heel on them so they gave me a little bit of height but I could still walk a straight line in them. I had left my hair down and curled it just on the ends so it lay softly across my shoulders and back.
“Thank you,” I said. “Wow yourself.” He grinned and bowed slightly at the waist. Then he took my hands and pulled me in close and kissed me. It was another thing about him that always took my breath away. When we broke the kiss it took me a full minute to even remember my own name, every single time.
“You ready?” he asked. I still couldn’t really speak, so I nodded. He got in the passenger seat and I drove.
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked him.
“Good as new,” he said.
“Really, new?”
“Okay, day old, but I’m getting there. I only took two Ibuprofens all day and I can walk upright. I’m wearing the girdle thingy they gave me though so don’t judge.”
“I’ll try not to,” I told him and we both laughed.
When we got to the restaurant, I parked and he said, “Before we go in, I just wanted to clarify the rules of the date.”
“There are rules?” I asked, amused.
“Oh yeah, there are rules. First of all, this is a date. I am the man. I open doors, I pay for drinks and meals, and I lead on the dance floor. Second of all, no talking about any drama tonight.”
I giggled and said, “So what will we talk about?”
“I thought of that,” he said. “I made a mental list of things.”
“They don’t all involve sex, do they?”
“No, I can think of other things to talk about, thank you very much.”
“Of course you can,” I told him. “Can we go in now, I’m hungry?”
“Okay, but don’t touch that door, I’ll be right there.” I felt kind of silly sitting there waiting for him to open the door but it made him happy. He pulled it open and took my hand, making me feel like a VIP as he gently helped me step out. Then he closed it and held my hand on the way into the restaurant. He had thought to call ahead for reservations, so we were shown right to our table. When the waitress came to take our drink orders, she lit a candle in the middle of the table. It was really nice and it reminded me of old times, good times.
After she brought our drinks Dax asked, “How was work today?”
“It was good. My uncle wants me to start learning about mechanics and modifications.”
Dax looked at me funny and asked, “Do you want to do that? Work on bikes?”
I laughed. “No, I was actually thinking about being a nurse.”
“Really? That would be cool. Have you checked on programs yet or anything?”
“Well, I never got a chance to tell you when things got so crazy, but I’ve already been accepted for the fall semester. I got financial aid too.”
“That’s fantastic,” he said. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m relieved. We had just got each other back and I was afraid that you’d be upset with me. I’ll be around a lot less.”
“I would never be upset with you for doing something to better yourself or your life. I’m so proud of you for taking that first step. I think you’d make an awesome nurse. Hell, I think you’d make an awesome doctor.”
“Whoa there,” I said with a laugh, “I don’t think I want to look at ten years of school right now. Let’s start with nurse and see where that goes.”
“Well, congratulations,” he said, sincerely. I was so glad I’d finally told him. His reaction just re-enforced why I loved him so much. He picked up his iced tea glass and held it up. “Onward and upward for us both from here on out,” he said.
I clinked my glass with his and said, “Onward and upward.”
The waitress came by and took our orders and then we just listened to the band quietly for a while. Making me giggle again he said, “I think we’ve ran out of safe topics. We’ll have to delve into my mental list.”
“Okay, lets,” I said and laughed.
“Okay, tell me the top three countries you want to visit. Keep in mind that your husband will be a tattoo artist and likely a very successful one, and you’ll be a successful nurse so money for these trips is no object.”
My stomach felt like it was filled with butterflies when he said, your husband. We used to talk like that all the time, but it had been so long ago. I wondered if we’d ever get that back.
I smiled and said, “Ireland, Italy and Egypt.”
“Whew, you were going for all the I countries so there for a minute I thought you were going to say Iraq. But, good choices. Tell me why...”
“Ireland, because I’ve always wanted to stay in a castle for the night where you could wake up and look out on rolling green hills. Italy, for the food and gelato of course and Egypt because…well, Egypt speaks for itself. Who doesn’t want to see giant pyramids and sphinx?”
“I shudder to think there is such a person,” he said with a smile.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Yeah, but just a little. They all sound great. I’m throwing my list away and going with yours.”
“No, you have to tell me yours now,” I told him.
“They sound pathetic next to yours,” he said. “But if you insist…Australia, Russia and Hong Kong.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed.
“Oh now look whose making fun,” he said.
“I’m sorry, but Australia, I get. The other two I’ll need an explanation.”
The waitress brought our food so he waited until she was gone to finish. “Well, Australia’s just cool. The men are all tough and the women are outdoorsy. Russia is old and harsh and I hear everyone drinks Vodka all day long, but only the coolest of the cool drive motorcycles and wear leather jackets and Hong Kong, come on they have even more history than Egypt. Plus, they have some of the hottest clubs in the Eastern hemisphere.”
“Interesting,” I said. I wasn’t being facetious either. If I had picked countries for Dax, not one of those three would have been on the list. It was fun to discover that we didn’t really know everything about each other.
“This steak is so good,” he said as he shoveled in half the cow in one bite.
“Take it easy,” I told him. “You just got back on solids. I don’t want you to get sick.”
“Yes, mother,” he said and grinned.
My dinner was delicious too and after we finished eating, we both decided to splurge on dessert as well. I had a slice of the best cheesecake in the whole world. They made it fresh at Mel’s and I had tried to duplicate the recipe more than once at home. It never came out the same. It was thick and creamy and I wouldn’t tell Dax this but it was a close rival to sex.
After dessert, he asked me to dance. It was a slow song and when we got out to the floor, I tried to get into position to let him lead. Instead, he just wrapped both of his hands around behind my waist and held me like that. I slipped my arms around his neck and while we danced, I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes and let myself revel in being happy. Every time Dax and I were alone together like this, I could completely imagine the life we both wanted that seemed to be eluding us for so long.