chapter 5

“Bro,” Mateo laughed, “I honestly can’t believe you actually ended up finding those girls!”

“So wait,” Luca said, “we’re talking about the, like, the thicker one, right?”

“Dude, so fine…” Mateo confirmed.

“I don’t know why you gotta talk about her body like that, bro.” Eddie cut in.

“For real, no disrespect, just wanted to make sure I knew who you’re talking about.” Luca apologized.

“Well yeah, she was the one in the striped shorts. And like, it’s crazy bro, it’s so easy with her. We had a blast today.”

“I can see it in your face, man.” Mateo said, in a rare moment of sincerity. He reached out and palmed the back of Eddie’s neck and shook him around. “For real, I’m happy for you. I hope it works out. You deserve someone like that.”

“Thanks, bro.” Eddie beamed and looked down at the table in front of them.

Luca shifted in his seat. “...she IS fine, though…”

The three laughed and Mateo nodded.

“So are you not going out with us, then?” Luca asked.

“Man, I’m zonked. Hit the gym real early this morning. I probably wouldn’t be any fun for you guys to be honest.”

“And because our guy is in love!” Mateo teased.

--

Later that evening, Eddie sat on his couch, flipping through the channels. He settled on the Yankees, who were on late playing in Oakland.

He scrolled through his text chain with Ava and smiled. He flicked his thumb and marveled at the volume of messages screaming by on his screen. He again looked at all the gifs they sent back and forth, and his heart fluttered as his eyes fixed at the top of his screen.

‘Ava’

The butterflies intensified as he debated whether or not he should shoot her a text.

“Don’t be clingy. Be a man…” he grumbled to himself.

“Although…” he reasoned with himself, “I think she likes me because I’ve been genuine. And I want her to like me for me…”

After a few more moments of internal debate, he put his phone down on the couch next to him.

In between innings, he felt his stomach grumble as late night commercials about beer and chicken wings rolled.

‘Why do I always have to be so hungry?’ he thought. ‘All those drinks, street food, snacks and beers with the boys...I should just go to bed.’

A few minutes later, his stomach grumbled again. He sighed and retrieved a bag of chips from the cupboard.

--

Eddie slid his feet into shiny chestnut shoes. His cropped navy chinos hiked up his leg as he stood up and walked to his mirror for one last check. He felt his confidence boost with each snappish click of his heel against his hardwood floor. With his fade and beard on point, he traced down the front of his body. For the first time in a while, even the apparent roundness of his belly pushing against his tucked-in shirt failed to knock him too far down.

‘You’re a hunk.’ he recalled. A wide smile spread across his face as he shut his lights off and walked out the door.

--

Eddie puffed his chest to avoid from melting in his shoes as Ava answered the door.

“Look at you!” she gloated, white smile glistening between lips painted wine-red. Her face was framed by a mane of glistening, tight curls falling to her shoulders. “Looks like I’ve got the hottest date in the city on this lovely Friday evening.”

“Me!?” he replied, “look at you!”

He mostly kept his gaze to himself, but couldn’t help but notice how her plum purple dress clung to her wide, curved hips.

“Shall we?” he continued, staring deep into her dark eyes.

The two walked slowly in the mild Summer air, a relief to them both from the oppressive stretch of the last few weeks. They caught up on their work week as they walked, Ava hugging Eddie’s arm with their fingers locked.

Ava put her hand on her chest and looked at Eddie, overflowing in approval as she scooted her chair closer to the dimly lit table, soft music playing in the background.

“How fancy!” she giggled.

“I hoped you’d like this place.” he exhaled. “Menu looks great, had to give it a little looksie earlier today.”

“That’s my guy! I love doing that. I want to know what’s on the menu before I show up. There’s a few things I was excited over but I haven’t picked quite yet.”

Their conversation flowed back and forth over a small dancing flame placed at the center of the small wooden table. The restaurant moved at a wild pace around him as he was unable to rip his eyes from her radiant smile and rich skin. As she sipped her wine, Eddie’s eyes darted to her chest, soft cleavage in the open between the low cut of her dress.

A comforting silence fell as she placed her glass down, chin in her hand, eyes locked with his.

“And are you two ready to order?” their server broke the silence.

“Oh!” Ava hopped in her seat, eyes darting from the server back to Eddie, “I forgot to ask you about this, but do you want to get an appetizer? The roasted eggplant looks amazing.”

“That sounds great to me.” Eddie nodded, lookin at the server.

“And are you ready to order your entrees as well?” he asked.

“I am!” Ava jumped in. “I’m going to go with the chicken linguine, please.”

“Excellent choice.” the server noted. “And for you?”

“Wow, that does look good.” Eddie ageed. “I can’t pass up the ribeye, though. I’ll take that, medium-rare, please.”

“Phew!” Ava sighed, passing the menu to the server, “he likes it red!”

The server smiled as he walked towards the kitchen.

--

Ava took a labored breath as she leaned back into her chair.

“That was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long damn time.” she smiled before taking a long sip of her wine.

Eddie looked at both of their plates, practically licked clean.

“Same, I am totally stuffed. You might have to roll me home.” he laughed.

She lunged forward in her seat, and with a playful grin proclaimed, “Well, we’re not done yet. Never go home without dessert!”

“Now, how am I going to get that Summer bod?” Eddie quipped.

“Fuck a Summer bod.” Ava cursed, bringing the glass back up to her mouth.

“Fair enough!” Eddie laughed “I have to admit, the peanutbutter chocolate cake looks incredible. Do you like peanutbutter chocolate?”

“Who doesn’t! That sounds amazing.”

A few moments later, the server came back to collect their emptied plates.

“And, can I interest you two in some dessert?”

“Please!” Ava jumped in. “We’ll go with the peanutbutter chocolate cake, and the raspberry cheesecake.”

“What?” Eddie laughed, “I thought you said the peanutbutter chocolate sounded good!?”

“I thought it sounded great...for you.” she smirked.