March typically brought plenty of snow in Denver, yet the night was a warm one, almost with a summer-like vibe as families strolled down the sidewalk, walking their dogs and kids beneath the trees showing first signs of green life on their bare branches.
Chopper’s was a sports bar hidden within the residential area of Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood. Its clay-colored siding made the building stick out among the surrounding brick homes that had gone up years after Chopper’s had first opened its doors, yet it remained a staple and local favorite.
A few minutes before six, Natalia arrived at Chopper’s and waited in her parked car for ten minutes as the nerves took a grasp of her mind and body. Adrian had only taken two weeks to supposedly figure out what he wanted moving forward. Was that all it really took? Did he ask her to dinner to let her know his future didn’t include her, and that Vegas was all a massive mistake? He had sounded too excited on the phone for that to be the case, but was she not equally overjoyed after her phone call to Brett to tell him the same thing?
That was different. I was in an actual relationship with Brett. Me and Adrian barely have a friendship. Not exactly the same thing. He could be ending all contact with me. But if he wants to explore going further, can I actually date someone I once hated?
Natalia then spotted Adrian’s car parked along the curb, four spaces in front of her. The questions still swirled within her car and she forced herself to step out before going down any more mental rabbit holes.
Okay, she thought. He’s in there waiting for me. Stop worrying about will happen and just go with it.
She drew a deep breath before strolling to the front doors and pulling them open. The bar was packed with the dinner rush, but she easily found Adrian on the left section behind the host stand, waving her over from a booth.
He stood up and gave her a quick hug before she slid into her seat. “Thank you for joining me.”
Within that brief exchange, Natalia immediately knew Adrian didn’t ask her to dinner to tell her off. His energy radiated with delight.
“Of course, thanks for thinking of me.” They settled into the booth across from each other, menus splayed out on the table along with a couple of glasses of water.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Adrian said, shifting in his seat. “But I ordered us some drinks already. Got your favorite.”
“Well, thank you,” Natalia replied, that flutter that was becoming so familiar returning to her chest. “You said you have fifty dollars on the gift card?”
“Yeah, won it for selling the most spring training tickets last week. And it’s a gift certificate, so it has to all be used in one visit. Figured we can have dinner, a couple drinks, and a dessert if you feel up to it.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Their server dropped off the drinks, and Adrian ordered mozzarella sticks while Natalia took the first sip of her vodka and Sprite.
“So,” Natalia said. “If you asked me to dinner, I assume you’re done figuring things out with your life.”
Adrian grinned, taking a sip of his rum and Coke. “That’s fair to say. And thank you for giving me the space over the past couple of weeks. It really is easy to sit down and think through everything, soul search, when there are zero distractions. Outside of talking to people at work, I think I’ve spoken to my roommate twice over the past couple of weeks. It’s truly been an eye-opening experience.”
“And what did you find?” Natalia leaned forward.
“Well,” Adrian said, folding his hands on the table in front of him. “A good portion of my reflection was about my breakup. Why did it happen? What really was the driving force behind it? Was it my fault, aside from initiating it? It was difficult to come to terms, but the relationship just died. We both turned twenty-one, yet our relationship didn’t grow with us, so it got left behind. We were high school sweethearts, but that’s all it was ever going to be, I suppose. My next relationship will be much more adult, and I think I’m ready for that.”
“I see.” Natalia really wanted to ask, Is that with me?
“Also, I don’t think I’m going to try for that job in San Diego. I want to give one more shot here with the Rockies. Winning this gift certificate was a good start. Over two hundred tickets sold in a week. I just need to buckle down and get serious, and show them I mean business.”
“Is that right?” Natalia raised her eyebrows. “Why not even entertain the San Diego job?”
The server brought the plate of mozzarella sticks, Adrian quickly grabbing one to put on his plate. “My life is here. I don’t see how I can thrive in a different state. I won’t be comfortable. That’s just my personality, and I understand that now. I’m not saying I’d never do something like that, but I want to focus on what I can control here at home. I’ve put in so much time with the Rockies—I deserve a shot.”
“Well, I wish you the best. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
“Thank you.” Adrian took a bite of the deep-fried cheese before shooting a smile across the table. “Did you take some time to reflect on your life?”
Natalia nodded. “Not as extensively as I’m sure you did, but yes. I’m in a good spot right now.”
“That’s great to hear. I’m glad you did it.”
“Me too. Like I told you, I’m done with Brett. That hasn’t changed. But I’ve also expanded my job search. I’ve applied to jobs all over the world, just to see what might come of it.”
“I see.” Adrian sounded rather deflated. “And has anything happened?”
“No calls or anything yet. I still don’t know what I’ll do if I receive an offer from someone out of town. It would have to be a really sweet deal. I’m not going to just jump at the first job I get—Denver shared his insight with me on that approach.”
“Denver is wise.”
“That he is.”
They fell silent for a moment, giving their server a moment to swoop in and take their orders for dinner. Bacon burgers were apparently on both of their minds, causing them to laugh at their identical orders.
“So, have you talked to your ex?” Natalia asked, studying Adrian for any reaction he might show about the mere mention.
“She called me once. Wanted to see how I was doing. It was nice of her to do that, but the conversation felt so… empty. Weird how quickly we became two strangers—at least, that’s what it felt like to me.”
Natalia gave a slow nod. “I know what you mean. It wasn’t too different for me. I guess people will always come and go through our lives, and we just have to enjoy whatever they provide while they’re in it.”
“That’s deep.” Adrian tossed his hands up. “Life is a mystery. We can sit here and dwell on all the people who have touched our lives, but there’s no point in doing that.”
“I agree. We can only look forward and appreciate the experiences that shape us into who we are.”
Maybe Natalia had reflected more than she realized over the past couple of weeks. Hearing her own words, she realized that she definitely had a new outlook on life.
Their burgers arrived five minutes later, and they both jumped in without hesitation, the conversation taking its first break since she had arrived. They watched basketball on the several TVs hanging around the bar, swapping small talk in between bites.
Once they finished, Adrian leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table. “I’ve had a great time tonight. I enjoy talking to you. It feels like there’s no pressure and I can be myself.”
Natalia smiled, fighting off a blush. “Me too.”
“I’m having a poker night next weekend at my apartment. I’d love for you to come if you’re free. There will be a few people from the call center there, too.”
Natalia chuckled. “You and your poker. What night?”
“Friday, after work.”
“I’ll be there. Hope you’re ready for me to take all your money.”
Adrian threw his head back and laughed. “You tell yourself that. I won my first real tournament in Vegas, or did you forget? I bought us some drinks with those winnings.”
“Oh, I know. I just have a way of getting into people’s heads. You’ll see.”
They locked eyes. That electricity had returned so suddenly, so overwhelmingly, Natalia thought it might push her to leap over the table. She wanted him and thought maybe he felt the same.
“Well, I wish you luck,” he finally said, blushing.
Oh, he definitely feels the same.
“Shall we order some dessert?” Natalia asked, hoping to ease the intensity.
Adrian leaned back, the tension lingering but cooling off a little. “Yes. I saw that double chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Please tell me that’s something you’d like.”
Natalia nodded.
“Of course it is,” Adrian said. “Because you’re incredible.”
Natalia’s heart skipped at least five beats at the compliment. They ordered dessert. “So I’m coming over next Friday for poker night,” Natalia said. “But when will we get to do something like this again?”
“What, dinner? I can do that any time. I mean, we work together. It’s no issue to grab a bite downtown after work.”
The date tonight had gone well enough to warrant a second date, and she found herself eager to know when that would be.
The poker night would be fun and all, but nowhere near the level of privacy or intimacy she hoped for. Adrian may only be weeks removed from his long-term relationship, but he seemed in a sound mental space. He had confidence, no more self-loathing, and was excited about the future.
“Well, that sounds great,” she said, unable to help her fingers twirling her hair. “We should plan for a night out soon.”
Their dessert arrived. A towering three-layer chocolate cake with two spoons sticking out of the mound of vanilla ice cream.
“Death by chocolate,” Adrian said, cackling at himself. His green eyes bulged at the colossal dessert, sizing it up to see if he could actually overthrow the beast made of chocolate.
They both chipped away over the next fifteen minutes, leaving nothing but a couple of bites of cake swimming in the melted remains of ice cream.
“You should’ve told me I needed my stretchy pants tonight,” Natalia said, leaning back in the booth, Adrian doing the same.
He shook his head. “I knew we were going to feast, but I didn’t know dinner would end like that. Absolutely fantastic.”
Their server dropped off the check, and Adrian paid with the gift certificate, leaving some cash for a tip.
“Think I’m ready for bed after that meal,” Natalia said, standing up from the booth and stretching her arms high above her head.
“Same. Let me walk you to your car.”
Adrian hurried around the table, gently grabbing Natalia’s arm as they exited the restaurant.
They welcomed the cool evening air after sitting in the stuffy restaurant for the past hour. They strolled to Natalia’s car, stopping at the door.
“I had so much fun,” she said, staring deep into Adrian’s eyes. “Thank you again for inviting me.”
His gaze was locked onto her. She thought it looked as if he was trying to get lost in her soul. “There’s no one else I’d rather have dinner with. We’ll definitely do it again.”
Adrian grinned, looking down at his shoes before meeting Natalia’s stare again.
She wanted to pull him in and kiss him, but still didn’t know if it was too soon. All signs suggested it would have been totally fine. The tension was mutual. But not understanding entirely where Adrian was mentally, she needed him to make the first move. Natalia was ready for anything he might throw her way.
“Well, I guess this is good night,” Adrian said. “See you at work?”
The words deflated Natalia, but that brief sorrow quickly vanished when Adrian reached out and wrapped her in a tight hug. She felt his heart hammering against her chest, his arms tense around her back. The skin of his cheek rubbed against her neck, and she leaned into it, wanting to feel more.
He pulled back just enough to plant a kiss on her cheek, his hands releasing their grip from her back and gliding along her arms where he held both of her hands in his. “Good night. Call me when you get home?”
Natalia nodded, her mouth turning to cotton while her legs grew weak. Adrian smiled one more time before letting her hands go and starting toward his car.
Natalia forced herself into her driver’s seat and needed a minute to gather herself. Her soul was on fire.