Chapter 9

"Wait, you're serious?!" Laura gasped, predictably. "You really made out with a complete stranger?! I'm shocked."

I laughed as we walked to the elevator. Regrettably, I couldn't back out of the double date, since Hank had already accepted. Thankfully, Chris was out with some co-workers, so I didn't need to give any explanations. I know, I know, he's not supposed to control who I date or not, but he always wants to know everything. "I wouldn't say we made out," I pointed out, my lips still tingling at the thought of Sebastian, "it was a quick kiss."

"You said he kissed you deep, and you reciprocated." Laura resumed. "Isn't that making out?"

"Not really, it lasted only a few seconds." I shrugged as we stepped in the elevator.

"Don't tell me you chickened out." She laughed.

I heaved a deep sigh. "I got a call I needed to answer to."

Laura stared at me, well, pretty much shot me such a disappointed glare that I kind of felt sorry for the kids she teaches to if they get her mad. "Let me guess, Mr. Painfully Oblivious called his kitten back to him."

I rolled my eyes. "You know I hate it when you say such things."

"I mean, you are his pet, Vivian, let's be honest." Laura grumbled. "You do everything together, you never do what you want if he disagrees. You spend an abominably high amount of time literally on his lap. If that's not a pet, I don't know what is."

I would have been offended, but I knew what she meant. It's not like I don't do pretty much everything Chris wants. "He doesn't boss me around," I sighed, having to repeat the same thing over and over again with her, since she accuses him of that a lot. According to Laura, Chris knows he's my weak spot, and sometimes he exploits it.

"Sure, no, he just convinces you to agree with him."

I sent her a dirty look. "Are you saying Chris manipulates me?"

Laura sighed, probably have noticed I was getting mad. Just as the elevator door opened, since we'd reached the ground floor, she placed her hands on my shoulders, looking straight into my eyes as she spoke: "Viv, I'm sorry if I'm harsh sometimes, okay? I don't hate Chris, we're friends, and I understand he means a lot to you," she paused, pursing her lips, "but the way you live for him more than just with him, it's not healthy, and you know that."

"We're ..."

"More than friends but less than lovers," she rolled her eyes, "yeah, I know. You keep saying that. It doesn't mean you should save yourself for him."

"I don't, I didn't, I ... there was Brian, and ..."

"And nobody else." Laura pulled back, and we got out of the elevator, but she went on, grabbing my arm to stop me from walking as well. "Viv, I love you, and I'm worried about you." She said sincerely, then pointed at Nick's car waiting for us not too far away. "But this is your first date in years."

"Well, I took a break, it's normal," I tried to justify, but I didn't really believe it myself.

"This is not a break, Viv, and you know that." Laura sighed, hinting at my heart. "This is you unconsciously sitting there, waiting, hoping Chris will make up his mind." She braced herself, as if those words hurt her more than me. "In the meantime, he's had his experiences."

"Lala ..."

"You said it yourself, how many girls in 10 years?"

I sighed, looking away. "Seventeen."

"And that's only the relationships. Let's not even count the hook-ups."

"He's not that kind of guy." I defended weakly, but remembering the Cherise thing way too clearly. He didn't want to tell me details, but the way he talked about her, and the fact that she called him late at night ... not even I am that dumb.

Laura rolled her eyes. "You don't really assume he's chaste guy saving himself for the right woman, do you?"

"No, but ... I'm just saying he's not a player."

"I didn't say he was. But he's certainly not above one-night-stands, Vivian, it's time you realize that."

"There's nothing wrong about hooking up with a stranger."

She heaved a deep sigh. "Viv, I'm not insulting him or saying he's a degenerate guy. He does what's perfectly normal for just anyone. Including you." Before I could argue, she continued: "You need to live a little, Vivian. And if that entails having a sexy stranger rock your world for just one night, then so be it." She shrugged, then hooked her arm in mine. "Now, let's get this over with."

I frowned as we walked to Nick's car. "I thought you said Hank was a nice guy."

"He is, but ..." she pursed her lips, "I mean, he's a 38-year-old man working in a bar that's not even his and that doesn't have the slightest intention to do something different." She shrugged. "You're not that desperate."

"Then why are we here?" I asked for the billionth time in one night before getting into Nick's car.

"Because you need something, Vivian." Laura huffed. "You can do way better than Hank, I just wanted to remind you."

That was a bit insensitive from her part, but I didn't say anything, I just got in. On one thing she's right, I need to start looking around. At this point, it's clear that Chris will never wake up out of the blue and realize I'm his one and only. Do I really want to spend the rest of my days in an unforgiving pain by his side?

✨✨

"This is a whole new level of low." I groaned, taking off my heels. "Stood up by someone I didn't even want to go out with in the first place." I grumbled, sitting on a bench. I can't believe Hank seriously didn't show up. "To think I even dressed up for this." I'd have thrown my shoes into the water out of anger, but they cost way too much to waste them on an idiot.

"I'm sorry, Viv." Nick apologized, his face reverberating his sense of guilt. "He chickened out."

"Right." I scoffed. He probably saw me and ran away. What was it that Chris said? Men don't care about sizes, they like skinny, curvy, plus size, whichever. Bullshit, Chris, all bullshit. First date I get in years, and he doesn't show up, if that's not a sign, I don't know what is.

"I'm serious." Nick continued, standing in front of me, hands stuffed in his pocket. "Hank is ... well, he's an insecure guy, you know. He probably saw you," he pointed at my attire, "so classy, so beautiful, he freaked out."

"If you're trying to make me feel better, it's not working." I grumbled, inching my coat closer to my skin.

"I'm not," Nick laughed, turning back to glance at Laura for a moment, who was by the river, talking to her mother on the phone. "You know she's a really jealous type." He mentioned. "I wouldn't dare in front of her, but Viv, did you even notice the number of men that turned around to look at you? Even only as we walked here."

I mildly blushed. I did see some people looking, but it was just a couple of guys, not this incredible number of admirers he was talking about. You know guys look, especially when you have my cleavage.

"Hank is shy," Nick went on, "he's never been great with ... the female crowd. Clearly, he thought you were way out of his league." He shrugged. "Beautiful girls intimidate him, triggering a fight or flight response, and most of the times he chooses the latter. It's not on you, it's just him."

"If you knew all this, why did you set me up with him in the first place?"

Nick gave out a short laugh, hinting behind him, at his fiancée. "She was worried about you, finding you a date seemed like a good enough temporary solution." He shrugged. "Most guys I know are either married or impenitent players, Viv, Hank seemed a decent option. I wouldn't forgive myself if someone I set you up with broke your heart." That was sweet. "Also, Chris would kick my ass, literally." He laughed. That's also true.

We both laughed for a few moments, until Laura came back, seemingly exhausted – I'm not surprised, her mother is quite the tiresome character. "Well, what now?" She wondered, pocketing her phone.

I sighed, playing with my shoes. "The night's still young, you guys should take the chance."

"We can't leave you alone here." Laura arched an eyebrow.

"I'll go home." I half smiled.

"We can all go to the movies or something," Nick suggested, "I don't know what's new these days, I've become a homebody." He joked.

"Don't I know it." His fiancée murmured, which confirmed my suspects. Their jobs and the wedding preparations are already taking a toll on them.

"Don't be silly, you're here, it's a beautiful night, not even that cold. You guys should go on a date."

"It's not a date when it's your soon-to-be-husband." Laura joked, sticking her tongue out to him, causing him to laugh. "But it's true that it's been a while. We don't go out much anymore, not just the two of us."

Nick nodded, I'd dare say losing himself in gaping at his fiancée for a few moments. In the end, he turned to me. "We still can take you home, then go about out business."

"Nah," I shook my head. "I'll call an Uber."

"You sure?" They asked in unison.

I chuckled, nodding. "I'm sure." They were undecided at first, but finally agreed. I won't deny I kind of needed to remain alone for a bit. Maybe I regretted throwing away Sebastian's number. It'd have been something different, at least. The sole fact that I kissed a complete stranger should tell me that Sebastian – whose last name I don't even know – was no regular guy.

Putting my shoes back on, I heaved a deep sigh. The air was getting colder, might as well go home and console myself with some good old ice cream. Once ready, I stood up, and checked for any kind of dirt on my coat or dress. To think I wasted one of my favorite dresses on this Hank person. Ugh.

"A goddess under Brooklyn Bridge, that's quite the marvelous sight."

I froze, recognizing the voice immediately. How many are the chances? For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating, it wouldn't surprising for me to still be hearing that husky bass speaking softly against my ear. But when I turned around, I got final proof that I wasn't going crazy. "Sebastian?" I called, well, more like gasped, shocked.

He grinned, hand over his heart. "Oh, my, she remembers my name. I must be the luckiest guy in the city."

I giggled, inevitably, shaking my head. "What ... I mean, hi ..." My God, a black suit has never been worn so well.

He smiled, walking closer to me. "Hello, Vivian. What are you doing here all alone?" He looked around. "Don't tell me you're on a date," he brought a hand to his chest, "I'd be heartbroken if you rejected me for someone else."

I blushed, pulling a hair lock behind my ear, eyes on the floor. "Technically, I did have a date, but he stood me up."

"Foolish man."

I chuckled, looking up. "What are you doing here instead?" I eyed him from tip to toe, unable to retain myself. "It's a nice change from dirt and car grease, I must say."

Sebastian grinned, winking. "Maybe I knew I'd find my sweet goddess around here."

"Are you a stalker, Mr. ..." I trailed off, giving him a chance to tell me his full name. That way I can stalk him on social media, at least.

He took a step closer, leaving barely a couple of inches between us. "What if I couldn't stop thinking about you, Miss Vivian?"

I pursed my lips. "I'd say you're pretty smooth, sir." I teased. "But I don't buy it."

He chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, you got me. I was on a date, too. Believe it or not, I got stood up as well."

"Foolish woman." I jokingly repeated his words.

"Yeah, I need a shoulder to cry on ..." he winked, hand on my hip, "maybe you can lend me yours."

"That's my hip, sir, not my shoulder." I teased, my heart beating faster because it's been a long time since I flirted like this, so boldly.

Sebastian licked his lips, his eyes raking my frame. "I'm sorry, I should know better than to throw corny pickup lines at such a goddess."

"Calling me a goddess is also corny."

"Oh, that cannot be changed," his blue eyes insistently traveled up and down, "you're just way too gorgeous and enticing to be human."

I rolled my eyes, albeit smiling. He's smooth, I'll give him that. "Is that what you tell all your girls?" I teased.

"Only the ones named Vivian."

That was original. I chuckled, covering my mouth with my hand. "You got me there." I admitted.

"There's hope for me yet, then." Sebastian grabbed my hand. "Now you really cannot deny me dinner."

"I could ..." I said lowly, half smiling, "but I won't." Strategic pause. "I want to see what can you do on such short notice."

He pointed at the restaurant nearby. "Is that enough?"

"Only one of the most famous places in New York," I laughed, "it's certainly going to be booked until next year."

"They'll do an exception for me." He winked, taking my hand to escort me to said restaurant. Much to my surprise, he was welcomed quite warmly, as if everybody knew him. He didn't even need to say anything, they immediately gave us their best table, with a breathtaking view on Brooklyn Bridge. Just who is this guy?