He smiled and looked up from his glass. “Only on weekends. Although with my voice, that would probably be considered elder abuse.”
The waiter appeared and rattled off the specials. I couldn’t really focus though. All I could think about was how this date had really turned around. The conversation felt natural. He laughed at my dumb jokes. He was possibly a real-life superhero. Who knew dating would be so easy? I was hardly even sweating anymore. Which was really saying something, because soon I’d have to talk to the waiter to give him my order, a thing I’d hated ever since I was a child. You can’t tell someone not to speak to strangers and then throw out the rules when a stranger shows up at your table with an apron. Just thinking about it made me start sweating again.
But then something wonderful happened.
“I think we’re ready to order,” said Dr. Lyons. “Ash will have the shrimp and grits and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.”
Oh my God.Did he really just order for me? That was like…a dream come true. Best. Date. Ever.
“Ow ow,” said Chastity. She knew how much I hated ordering.
I tried to give her a subtle thumbs up. But I got distracted by the fact that her copy of Twilight was upside down in her hands. She was being so obvious.Scram!
“That was what you wanted, right?” asked Dr. Lyons when the waiter walked away.
“Uh, yes. Hell, you could have ordered me anything and I would have eaten it. I freaking hate ordering. Wait…how’d you know to do that?”
Dr. Lyons looked down and straightened his placemat, a hint of red coming to his cheeks. “Lucky guess?” He was definitely lying.
“Oh my God! You Facebook stalked me.”
He scrunched up his face. “Maybe?”
“You totally did. You must have seen my post about Chastity ordering for me at Wendy’s.”
“So what’s your favorite color?” he asked.
“Nope. You’re not changing the topic on me. Out with it. Admit you stalked me.” Since when did so many hot guys stalk me?
He mumbled something.
“Say it.”
“I stalked you.” He did his best ashamed face. “Please don’t be mad.”
“Mad? Quite the opposite. I’m honored that you took the time to stalk me. In fact, I feel a little bad that I didn’t return the favor.”
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Chastity trying to get my attention.
Girl, can’t you see that I’m nailing this date?
The conversation continued from there. I learned all about how he had grown up in a military family. His dad was the stereotypical gruff drill sergeant, while his mom was sweet and gentle. The yin to his dad’s yang.
“I also had a little brother,” he said.
Had?I couldn’t think of the right words to ask if his little brother was dead, so I just stayed silent and let him continue.
“Mikey left us when he was five. Leukemia.” He looked away and blinked, almost like he was holding back tears. “He was the reason why I decided to become a pediatrician.”
“Dr. Lyons,” I said. “I’m so sorry.” Tears filled my eyes as I pictured Rosalie. And I could feel my throat getting tight as I tried not to cry. I knew all too well what it was like to lose a sibling.
He suddenly laughed. “Did you just call me Dr. Lyons?”
“Uh…yes?”
“Do you not know my first name?”
“What? Don’t be crazy. It’s…” I searched my brain for what his first name was. But there was nothing. “Gr…”
