Cassie:Since we are doing the basics, what about you?
Luke: Nearly 5 years, partner with my friend Blake in a cyber security company called Cybersec Corporation, Upper East Side, no.
Cassie:Lol. And I’m impressed, I’ve heard Cybersec mentioned. I’ve got many more questions now.
Luke: Ask away.
This is going way better than I had hoped for, given how last night ended.
Cassie:Can I start with a personal question?
Luke:My favorite type of question. I have to say, though, I don’t sext on the first night.
Cassie: Not that sort of a personal question. You dirty boy.
Luke: Damn. Disappointed emojis from me. Ask any way!
Cassie: Will you tell me more about what happened to your hand?
Shit, not a question I expected. How do I tell her about my injuries?
Maybe it is easier to tell her via text than in person. I’ve only ever talked to my therapist and the guys about that night, and obviously, they remember more about what happened than I do.
Cassie: You still there?
Luke: Yep, I’m here. I guess I’m a bit surprised by the question, and I don’t know where to start.
Cassie: Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.
Luke:No, it’s okay I want to tell you. It was just over 5 years ago on a night mission in Afghanistan. Turns out it was an ambush, a setup. A rocket hit us. Killed two of my teammates. Another guy and I were injured. I don’t remember much from the night. Just bits and pieces. They got us out on a chinook, and I woke up in the hospital in Kabul.
I know I’ve given Cassie a heavily edited account of what happened. Downplayed the injuries, I guess. It’s tough to talk about this stuff, even when it’s via text. Maybe one day, I'll get to tell her the full story. In person.
Cassie:I’m sorry for your loss and thank you for your service too. It sounds like empty words, but I truly mean them. You're all heroes.
Luke: Thanks, Cass, I appreciate your words.
I don’t know how to continue after such a heavy subject, but I want to keep texting with her. Even though I can tell she's holding back I like this connection and I want to ask to see her again.
Luke: I now have a personal question for you, and before your dirty mind goes there, it’s not sex related.
Cassie: Ha, ha. Just for the record, I don’t remember it being me with the dirty mind. Ask your question!
Luke: Okay, here goes. Would you like to try meeting again? Maybe dinner one night this week?
A few minutes slip by before she responds.
Cassie: I guess we could meet.
Luke:You don’t sound so sure. Too soon?
I’m worried I may have pushed too hard in my eagerness to see Cassie again. I want to hear more about her life now. We have a lot of missing years to cover, and I’d rather do it sitting opposite her so I can catch the expressions on her beautiful face. Fate has given me a second chance and I'll stop at nothing to get her back.
Cassie:Maybe a little, but I guess if we met, say Wednesday after work, I could get used to the idea.
Luke:Wednesday is good with me. Do you want to choose where, so it feels more comfortable?
I expect I may be sounding a bit too keen to pin down the details of our date.
