6 - What Do You Do?
1423 Words
~~Quinn's PoV~~
I'm having more fun than I expected to. Once we get past the awkwardness of Jeff not knowing about Rosie, things relax into an easy rhythm. I'm not really feeling attracted to him. It would be hard to be, since I don't even know who he is or what he looks like, not to mention that I haven't felt an attraction to anyone since Ethan. But I'm enjoying our conversation at least. He's easy to talk to and he makes me laugh, and that's not nothing.
“So what do you do?” I ask him once we've ordered and have our drinks. He's drinking wine, like he said, but I've got a diet soda instead. “Other than let your mother run your love life, of course.”
He takes a sip of his wine to hide his smile. “That's a fairly new development, I'll have you know. I'm usually completely capable of running my own love life.”
I'm sure he is. He's charming and he's got a great body. If there's no hideous disfigurement hiding beneath that mask, I'm sure he does quite well for himself.
“But as for work?” he continues. “I'm in the government.”
“That's pretty vague,” I point out. “Care to narrow it down at all?”
He hesitates for just a second before answering. “I work at the palace.”
The palace? My heart hardens for just a second at the thought of it, but I quickly force myself to push that reaction aside. Not everyone who works there is a bad person, I tell myself. I can't judge him for someone else's misdeeds.
“Is that why you need all the secrecy?” I ask, pointing to his mask. “The royal family doesn't want any of their staff to have a private life?”
He smiles at that. “They do run a tight ship, but it's not quite that strict.”
I don't think they run a tight enough ship, at least as far as their own behavior is concerned, but I keep my political views to myself. It's hardly light-hearted first-date conversation. I try to steer us onto safer ground instead.
“Have you always wanted to work in government?”
He smiles again, but this time it's a little wistful. “Actually, when I was a kid, I wanted to be the first werewolf astronaut. I had visions of getting to the space station and shifting when all the other astronauts were asleep and scaring the crap out of them when they woke up and found a wolf in there with them.”
That's so ridiculous that it makes me laugh. “And after they'd all pissed themselves, then what?”
“Then I'd go for a spacewalk and be the first wolf in space. Can you imagine if aliens came along right then and the first creature they met was a wolf?”
“It would be interesting,” I have to agree, even though it's also completely insane. “So what stopped you?”
He shrugs. “My dad had other plans for me. And I suck at science. I almost blew up my high school once during chemistry.”
I make him tell me that story, which has me giggling several times, and then our food arrives. It's been a long time since I've eaten anything this good. Since Rosie was born, half the time I'm too tired to make myself a proper meal. Naya and my mom both bring over batches of things they've made at home, so at least I have leftovers in the freezer I can warm up to keep me going, but it's not the same as a hot, fresh, professionally cooked meal.
“What about you?” he asks as I try to keep from moaning over the way the salmon melts on my tongue. “What do you do?”
“Well, right now, I'm a mom,” I remind him. “But before that, I was in the Empire Defense forces. I plan to go back to it once my daughter's a bit older.”
“You're a warrior?” He sounds surprised and it's all I can do not to roll my eyes.
“There are quite a lot of women in the forces now, you know.”
“Of course, I know that.” Now he looks a little embarrassed, his eyes dropping to his plate. “I guess I just pictured you running your own business, or something like that where you're calling the shots. You don't strike me as the kind of woman who likes taking orders.”
He's got me there. That has definitely been the most difficult part of my job so far. “It is hard sometimes, but I understand why it's necessary. We're all working together to protect the empire so I have to trust that my commanding officers are doing what's best.”
“The empire means that much to you?”
He sounds curious, which confuses me a bit since he's involved in the governing of it. It must mean a lot to him too. “Of course. It's let all of us live in peace for so long. I remember what the wars were like, when I was young. I don't want that kind of life for anyone again, and especially not for my daughter.”
He nods solemnly. “I remember the wars too. It was a hard time for everyone.”
“We were lucky we had the king to lead us through,” I add. “I only hope his son does half as good a job as he has.”
His mouth twitches at that, making me curious what he thinks about the prince, but he keeps his answer short and to the point. “I'm sure he'll do his best.”
We move on to other topics and then to dessert, and before I know it, the date is over.
“Can I take you home?” he asks as we both stand up.
I picture Naya peering out my front window, trying to get a glimpse of him, and I don't think it's the best idea. “No, thank you. I'll get a taxi. Can you even see well enough with that thing on to drive?”
He smiles again. “Actually, I have a driver.”
Seriously? Who is this guy?
“It's okay, but thank you for the offer.”
He doesn't push it, which I appreciate. But he does take my hand, bringing it to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss against the back of it. “It was really nice to meet you, Quinn. I hope you don't hate your friend for making you come tonight?”
I really don't. It was a nice night, far nicer than I could have imagined. “She's safe for now.”
He smiles, his blue eyes looking down on me with satisfaction. “Good. Does that mean you'd like to do this again sometime?”
That's a good question. Part of me thinks it went so well, we shouldn't spoil it through repetition. But on the other hand, it was nice to have someone to talk to, someone who doesn't see me as just the shadow of the woman I used to be before I lost Ethan.
I decide to be as honest with him as I can be. “I'm not looking for a relationship right now. I don't think I'm ready for one, but if you'd like to hang out sometime just as friends, that would be okay.”
“It would be okay?” he repeats. “Well, there's a ringing endorsement if I ever heard one.”
I give his arm a playful nudge and I can't help noticing how strong and firm it is. “I didn't mean it like that. I'd like to see you again, but just as friends. Is that better?”
“It's a little better,” he agrees. “I'm pretty sure my mother has your number, so I'll get in touch with you then. Good night, Quinn.”
“Good night, Jeff.”
I head for the door and as I reach it, I can't help taking one last look back. He hasn't moved, still standing right where he was and watching me go, and something unfamiliar flutters up inside me, just for a second.
It almost feels like hope.
- Writer
