We met Jackie and Bruce at Alfred’s at six. Eric insisted on stopping to buy Jackie a bouquet of flowers. When we walked into the lobby, they were waiting for us.
Standing next to Bruce, who was the size of a defensive lineman, Jackie looked like a child. She was a foot shorter than Bruce so closed the gap by wearing six-inch heels. She looked stunning in her mid-length red dress that accentuated her curves. And Bruce didn’t look too bad either. I wasn’t used to seeing him in a coat and tie, but Alfred’s was the kind of place you had to dress up for.
Jackie hugged me. ‘You look beautiful. Is that new?’
I wore a simple yet elegant black dress with cap sleeves and a flared shirt. I whispered in Jackie’s ear. ‘Found it on the sales rack at Piccolo’s. Paid ten bucks!’
‘Nice.’ Jackie nodded. ‘And the ring.’ She lifted my hand to get a closer look. ‘It’s beautiful.’
‘Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it.’ Eric kissed my cheek.
‘On that, we can agree,’ Jackie said, taking the bouquet of flowers Eric had handed to her. ‘They’re beautiful. Thank you.’
After introductions, we followed the maître d’ to our seats, through a maze of tables dressed in white linen to the far corner. Eric pulled out my chair and I sat down. Jackie stood at her chair waiting for Bruce to follow suit. Instead, he pulled out his chair and sat down.
Jackie looked at me and sighed, mumbling something that I couldn’t make out but imagined was more than a few choice words for Bruce.
Eric ordered a bottle of champagne. It was expensive and I could tell by the way Jackie’s eyes jumped she was surprised he’d spend so much on one bottle.
‘So, Eric,’ Bruce said. ‘What kind of sales are you in?’
‘I sell electronic interface equipment for automotive computer networks.’ He opened his menu.
‘How’s business been?’
Eric looked up. ‘Great. What about you?’
‘I own a roofing company. And we’ve been busy, too. We had one heck of a hailstorm come through two months ago, and a lot of roofs were damaged.’
‘Guess the storm was good for business then,’ Eric said.
‘Very good.’
I felt relieved that Bruce and Eric were bonding. If Eric was going to be in my life, it was important to me that he got along with my friends.
The waiter opened the bottle of champagne and poured each of us a glass. Eric raised his glass. ‘A toast to great friends, great times and many more to come!’
After appetizers of shrimp cocktail, Jackie and I excused ourselves to go to the restroom.
I opened my purse and took out my lip gloss. ‘So, what do you think?’
‘He’s incredible,’ Jackie said, powdering her forehead. ‘I can certainly see why you’re falling in love with him. He’s so generous and has great manners.’
I hugged Jackie. ‘I can’t believe he chose me. Out of all the women on that online dating website, why me?’
‘What do you mean, why you?’ Jackie put her compact back into her purse. ‘You’re a wonderful human being. You’re gorgeous inside and out.’
Tears formed in the corner of my eyes. ‘I haven’t felt this special in a long time. I don’t want to lose him.’
She rubbed my shoulder. ‘What makes you think you will?’
‘Nothing he’s done, that’s for sure. I guess I don’t have the confidence I once had.’
Jackie grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face the mirror. ‘Look at you. Radiant smile, glowing skin, happy eyes. You’ve never looked more beautiful or seemed so happy. Enjoy every moment. You deserve it.’
When we returned to the table, Eric and Bruce were talking college football. They were laughing and very animated, pretending to throw and catch the football. Eric ordered a bottle of wine to accompany our dinner and after the first glass, I felt a bit tipsy.
‘This is delicious,’ Eric said as he cut another piece of his prime rib. ‘So tender and tasty. How’s the crab cake?’
‘Very good,’ I said. ‘Alfred’s never disappoints.’
We talked through the meal about sports, our jobs, Bruce and Jackie’s kids and other topics that bubbled to the top. By the end of the meal, I was feeling a bit lightheaded and stuffed.
‘Would anyone like an after-dinner cocktail?’ Eric asked.
Jackie and I declined but the men ordered a glass of Sambuca. When the check came, the waiter handed it to Eric like he’d instructed him to do when we arrived at the restaurant.
Bruce pulled out his wallet.
Eric held up his hand. ‘I got it.’
Bruce laid out a few bills. ‘Let me help.’
Eric shook his head. ‘This one’s on me. I insist.’
Bruce looked at Jackie who shrugged, before he tucked the bills back in his wallet. ‘Thanks, I’ll get the next one.’
We walked out of the restaurant. ‘Thanks for inviting us,’ Jackie said, hugging me and then Eric.
Bruce shook Eric’s hand. ‘Yes, thanks again for dinner,’ and then he hugged me.
‘See you soon.’ I waved goodbye to Bruce and Jackie, and Eric and I walked to his car.
‘I really like Jackie and Bruce,’ Eric said as he opened the car door for me. ‘They’re fun.’
Eric got into the car. ‘Is there anywhere you’d like to stop on the way home?’
I shook my head. ‘I figured we could go home and watch one of the movies you sent.’
‘That sounds like a perfect ending to a perfect night.’
When we got home, we changed into more comfortable clothes. Eric put on sweatpants and a T-shirt and I slipped on a pair of yoga pants and a top.
‘Which movie do you want to watch?’ I laid them on the coffee table so he could pick.
‘That one.’
I picked up Citizen Kane and put it in the DVD player. ‘Have you seen this before?’
‘No.’
‘I’ll warn you it’s sad, but it’s one of the best movies ever made.’ I snuggled on the couch beside Eric, burying my head into his chest.
‘What makes it so sad?’
I looked up at Eric. ‘Orson Welles plays a character unable to feel empathy for other people. He craves and demands attention from the entire world, abusing both his wealth and his power. He’s a narcissist who goes into rages when he doesn’t get what he wants. And he dies alone.’
‘You know what?’ Eric said. ‘I don’t want to watch a sad movie. Do you mind if we watch something else?’
We watched Roman Holiday instead.