The second wife

2. will you be my girl friend?

Zak pov

Three days. That was what it took for me to realise that each time we left each other’s company, I crave to see her again. I start to miss her and wanting to spend more time with her. I end up chatting with her for long hours. Is this wrong for me to feel like this? But she is such an enchantress.

She has become livelier than she was when I first saw her. At least I’m successful in helping her through her dilemma.

I am meeting her again. This time I asked her to go on a real date. Not hanging out like friends would. I brushed my hands over my navy blue shirt. She once had said that this colour looked good on me. I certainly don’t want to be a friend anymore. I want to get out of this friend zone. But I don’t want to loose her completely. I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart before ringing the doorbell.

She opened the door. My jaw dropped open. She always looked good, even in a normal shirt and jeans. But right now, she looks like a runway model. She wore a green dress that came up to her knees with peach coloured flowers printed near the neckline of the dress. Her hair was styled in loose curls which reached up to her shoulders.

I didn’t realise that I was staring at her until she snapped her fingers at me. I managed to shake myself out of the daze I was in and take a deep breath. She smirked at me

“Hey Zak.” She said.

“Hey....Hanna...” I cleared my throat. “Let’s go. I have made a reservation in my favourite restaurant.”

She smiled her million dollar smile. “Let’s go then.”

We went on our way. I actually had made reservations at one restaurant I owned but she doesn’t have to know that yet. I will tell her someday, even if things don’t work out the way I am hoping it would. It is just that I don’t like to brag about how rich I am.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She looked absolutely breath taking. We were shown our table and the waiter arrived. He was a new waiter we had just hired so he most probably didn’t recognise me. That was good. Because I didn’t want her to be suspicious when she sees how they treat me. If the waiter realises that I am the owner, he definitely will try to be overly courteous.

The waiter took our orders and went on his way. But not before he stole a glance at Hanna. I didn’t like it of course. But I knew that I didn’t have any right to be upset about it.

“Is everything ok?” my thoughts were interrupted by her question.

“Yeah...you look different tonight.” I said. What? Different? Is that what I just managed to say? I mentally face palmed.

She furrowed the eyebrows. “Is it too much?”

Oh no!

“No no. That is not what I meant. You look.... great. Absolutely beautiful. I mean you always look great and beautiful, but tonight you look beautiful on a different level.” I said.

Yes. Now that should be better.

She blushed when I said that. Wow. She looked so cute when she blushed.

“Thanks Zak. You look really handsome yourself.” She said and my heart skipped a beat. Girl, what are you doing to my heart?

Just then the waiter came in with our food.

“Steak with salad for the gentleman and the beautiful lady.” He said as he put the plates on the table. She flashed a smile and him. He returned the smile and he winked? Did he just wink at her? This is not ok for me. I don’t expect this from my employee. At least not with my date. But if he knew that I was his boss he most probably won’t do that.

I saw that she looked away from him and looked straight at me. She didn’t seem to be uneasy. Maybe she was ok with the waiter's flirtatious gesture. My heart dropped. She is an exceptionally beautiful woman, why would she settle for and older guy like me? Maybe this was a bad idea. For the rest of the dinner I was silent. I most certainly don’t want loose her friendship.

I dropped her off at Trisha’s apartment and drove off. I no longer had the mood to do anything else.

Hanna pov.

I enjoyed every moment I spent with him. And when he finally asked me to go on a date in was super excited. He maybe older, but I thought the was the best guy I had ever met. He was fun to be with and he had good values instilled in him.

That night, we went to this posh restaurant and that was the last time I saw him. The leave I had taken from work was now over and I had to start going to the hospital where I work as a nurse.

I was still nervous about returning to work since I didn’t know who the stalker was. However the work load soon had me forget about my worries. I didn’t meet Zak too because of the work. I was too tired when I returned home after my shift.

But I missed seeing him. So I texted him. He said that he was in his office trying to catch up with work. Ok. So he too was busy. Maybe that was why he haven’t asked me to go out after that night. This weekend I will ask him out on a date if he doesn’t.

I spent the remaining three days before the weekend arrived as busy as a bee. There seemed to be no news of the stalker, he didn’t call me or text me after that night. Soon I had stopped worrying about it.

The weekend arrived and there was no news from Zak. So it is time for me to call him.

Zak pov.

I had spent every day in my office working until late. I was trying to keep myself away from her. And my mind off her memories. I was trying to forget that I felt like this towards her. She kept texting me and checking out on me every now and then, but she never mentioned that she wanted to go out with me. Or that she enjoyed my company. I was so stupid to think that she would want to be my girlfriend.

My phone rang. It was her. I sighed before answering it.

“Hello. Hanna how are you?” I asked.

“Hey Zak. I’m fine. How about you?” she said. Even her voice was soft and sweet.

“I’m ok” I lied.

I’m not ok. I miss her. I thought.

“Hey I’m free tonight. Can we go out?” she asked casually.

Did she really mean that? “ yeah? I guess.” I replied.

“Are you sure you are ok Zak? You don’t sound fine to me.” I heard her ask. Of course I was not ok. Maybe I should tell her how I really feel. Should I or shouldn’t I?

“I....uh..” I stammered.

“Zak.....tell me...we are friends remember? You can tell me if you are in distress.” She said.

Friends. That is it. I’m going to make my move. If she rejects I’ll just go on with my life and get even busier with my business. If I have to I’ll move to another city. Yeah I’ll do that. I can’t keep torturing my heart like this.

“Hanna I need to talk to you. I’ll be there in a while.....is Trisha there? Because I want to share it with you only.” I told her.

“Trisha's shift just started so she won’t be home for a while.” She replied.

“ok. I’ll be there soon” I ended the call and went on my way.

It is now or never.

Hanna pov.

He was not ok. He was worried about something. I wonder what had happened. I’ll help him in every way I can. I heard the bell ring. I checked through the eyehole to see who it was. I was asked to do that because we can’t really know when that stalker will attack again. It was Zak.

I opened the door. I saw that he looked really down and gloomy. His hair was messy and he looked as if he could use a real motivation boost.

“What happened?” I asked as I furrowed my eyebrows. I expected him to start babbling like he always does. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe behind his happy demeanour, he actually was a depressed soul. I want to help.

“Zak, tell me.” I pleaded as we sat on the sofa in the living room.

I sighed and played with his fingers for a while before looking at me.

“I need to tell you something.” He said.

“I like you.” He spat that out. And took deep breaths as if to calm himself down. “I know you most probably think that I’m stupid and crazy. But I can’t help it. I just fell for you. Maybe you don’t want to do anything about this. And maybe you will want a young and active and sporty guy to spend your life with. But I just don’t want to keep hurting my heart. So I let it out.”

He was breathing hard when he finished. I was too shocked to say anything.

He gulped. “I would make this easy for you now. I understand that you are not interested like that. So I’ll leave.” He gave a blank smile before standing up to leave the apartment.

What. No. He can’t leave like that.

I ran after him. “Zak wait.” I said holding his arm.

He stopped for a while. “Hanna. It hurts so much already. Please let me be.”

“But I like you too.” I said.

“Hanna it’s ok that you don’t like me that way.....” Zak snapped his head towards me. “....wait, what did you say?”

“I like you too. I wouldn’t mind dating you. I don’t care about age. I think you are a great guy.” I told him honestly.

“Don’t lie to me Hanna.” He pleaded.

“I’m not Zak. Why else would I ask you to go out with me tonight?” I pointed out.

He looked at my face. Maybe he was checking out for signs of lying.

“Do you mean that?” he asked. I nodded and hugged him. “I really like you Zak. I think you are fun and handsome and a guy with great values instilled. These things are more important for me than age and sports.”

When I looked at him I noticed the smile I fell for. “and you are very handsome Zak.” I said looking straight on his eyes.

He smirked. “you think so?” I nodded.

“So will you be my girlfriend?” he asked.

I grinned. Well, there can be only one answer for that.