by Steven Wolff
CHAPTER 3
DINNER DATE
It isn’t long before Anica is at the hotel she is staying at. She's in line to check in, behind a young couple who are making out like crazy. The guy is tall and looks a little bit like Marcus, and Zachary Quinto rolled in one. The gal he's making out with is slender with long brown hair, sporting a leather jacket that has the letters Little Sins sewn onto it.
'Where have I heard that name before?' Anica thinks to herself.
The young couple moans and giggles as their hands wander all over.
'Sheesh, get a room! Wait a minute; they're already working on that. Hahaha! Silly me. I crack myself up sometimes.'
The woman in front of Anica backs up and bumps into her.
“Oh I'm so sorry!” She says, spinning around and then freezing in place like she just saw a ghost. “Wait, you look familiar... Don't I know you from somewhere?”
“I don't think so lady. I'm not from around here, and I’m from the U.S.”
“Me too! Wait, I DO know you! Aren't you Anica Storm?”
“How did you know that?” Anica asked bewildered.
“It's me, Sarah Bailey! We bumped into each other at the library back in Washington State! You were carrying a stack of books and I wasn't looking and we both dropped our books all over the floor.”
“Oh my GOSH... I remember! Wow of all the places!”
Anica and Sarah hug like old friends, bouncing up and down.
“Let me introduce my lover... David Carroll. David, Anica Storm.”
“Nice to meet you Anica,” he says with a warm smile.
“Likewise” She replies, shaking his hand politely.
“You checking in at this place too?” Sarah asks.
“Yep!”
“So are we! The band mates had to postpone one of their gigs so here we are!”
Sarah turns to the hotel clerk. “Can you put Anica in a room near ours?”
“One moment and I'll see what I can do,” The clerk types away on the keyboard.
“That won't be a problem... just let me know Anica if you're okay with me switching the room on your reservation.”
All eyes turn and look at Anica in hopes she'll say YES.
“Sure... Why not,” Anica answers. “I'm on vacation; I can use a little adventure!”
“Yay!” Sarah says, bouncing up and down, clapping her hands like a cheerleader.
“Is she always this happy?” Anica quietly asks David in his ear.
“I have no idea...”
The trio heads upstairs to their rooms, turning to go their separate ways to get settled before heading back out.
“We'll talk more later, Anica,” Sarah says as she slips into her room with David. Anica waves her hand in acknowledgement as she unlocks the door to her room. Once inside, she locks it and leans her back up against the door, taking a deep breath and looking at her spacious room. The room has several large windows with white see thru curtains and a big full size bed with a comforter begging to be laid on. She lets her bags fall to the floor as she flings her body onto the super comfy bed, feeling the soft, thick comforter and pillow top mattress as it springs up and down for a few seconds.
She looks around the room and admires the beautiful French Victorian décor carefully placed throughout the room. 'Wow, this place is beautiful.'
As she lies there, Anica keeps thinking about her upcoming dinner date with Mark. This is still 7 hours away and time now seems to drag on very slowly. Minute by minute, second by second. It's almost a cruel irony when you want to be with someone time speeds by but when you're apart, time drags on forever. Anica ponders while staring up at the ceiling. Then the insecurities start to creep in. Her thoughts and focus now go on the 'what ifs.'
'What if he sees me and doesn’t like my outfit? What if he stands me up? He wouldn't do that… He better not. What if he changes his mind? What if he sees me and thinks I'm ugly or fat? Nonsense! Don't think that way Anica! You're an attractive woman who's deserving of him… OMG, what will I wear?' She thinks to herself as she jumps out of bed, quickly throwing her big suitcase onto the bed. She tears through it like someone looking for a needle in a haystack as she tries to decide what to wear. She tosses several clothes combos across the comforter; a blouse and bottoms, skirts, shorts, and several different in-betweens, but none of them are to her liking.
Frustrated, she scoops them up all at once and throws them back in the suitcase. She stands there for a minute, thinking. She grabs her books she bought and tries to read but she can't focus. Her thoughts are on him and longing for Mark.
'What's wrong with me? I've never felt this way before. It's like he's constantly in my mind and thoughts.' She looks at the alarm clock on the table and time is dragging on. She tries to pass the time by doing random things but nothing seems to help. Her every thought is on this incredibly handsome man and the more she thinks of him, the more butterflies turn in her stomach. She's never longed for someone like this before and it's driving her crazy.
