The Full Glass

It was 9:46pm and I looked at my watch two minutes later to see 9:48pm. I sighed in disbelief. “Was I really getting stood up today? I can’t possibly be. I did myself up, made the effort, ugh I even bothered to do my hair!” I sighed as I watched ripples in my glass of Merlot from someone walking past.

This wasn’t my plan tonight. It’s the bustling city of New York, I could be doing 101 things right about now. Not really though, I’m a self proclaimed homebody that spends her nights playing with her cats and watching Korean dramas. I looked down at my phone. No missed calls, no text messages. What a surprise.

I took a deep breath and sighed softly. It’s been years since I’ve felt good about myself. I haven’t felt like myself in so long. Tonight was the first time I loved my reflection in the mirror. My makeup came out flawless, and my hair decided to stay perfectly curled since I walked out of the house. Completing just these steps were a huge feat for me.

“This is so stupid.” I said as I went to stand up.

“Hey! Excuse me?” I turned around to a deep but soft voice calling to me.

There he was. My goodness. He was so much better looking than I remembered. His black hair neatly combed with almost a Superman flick towards the front. Cheesy I know, but he made it look flawless.

“Hey..” I said weakly. I could feel my voice coming out low and squeaky like a mouse. It wasn’t attractive at all.

“I’m so sorry, you wouldn’t believe what it took for me to get here.” He brushed his hair back with his hand shyly as he gave me a coy smile.

“It’s okay, I swear. It’s only been 47 minutes and 24 seconds.” I said as I stared at my watch. Immediately I regretted the words. I sounded like someone with a stick up their ass.

He chuckled softly. “I promise, I would never keep someone like you waiting, trust me.” He sat down at the table, and briefly looked at the menu. He looked nervous, almost like he was the one who was waiting impatiently this whole time.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” I smiled and brushed my hair behind my ear. “Honestly, I figured I was being stood up.” I sat down and stared harder at the deep red wine swimming around softly, waiting eagerly to be sipped. I hadn’t drank or eaten since I had arrived. The last thing I wanted was to be the sad girl who drowns herself in her despair. Not that I haven’t done that plenty of times prior.

“So, I’ve heard a lot about you, I honestly wasn’t expecting you to be so young and well.. stunning.” He said as he stared at me. I could feel my face turning red. It burned as I tried to hide my smile. His piercing gaze was drilling a hole through me, it was strong, but curious. I had seen his pictures in magazines and even seen him briefly from afar at his exhibits, but I never had the chance to meet him one on one.

“Well, I’ve heard a ton about you as well”. I was lying through my teeth. No one had told me anything, I had read nearly all his interviews and studied his art pieces like I was taking the SATs. “I’m actually really excited for you to see my pieces.” Ah, yes the truth comes out. This isn’t a date. It’s a work related meeting. A big one. The man I’m meeting is Aidan Drakor, the curator of an exclusive art gallery in New York. It took me tons of begging of a very good friend to reach this point. She definitely pulled through.

“Hello, I’ll be your server this evening! Can I start you off with some appetizers?” A giddy young waitress bubbled up simply out of thin air to take our orders. “Hi, I’m good with my drink at the moment.” I said as I looked over at Aidan. He smiled at me and then addressed the waitress. “Normally I only drink once a year, but no one should ever drink alone, I’ll have whatever she’s having, maybe we can get to the menu after a drink or two.”

“Absolutely!” She said, she walked away briskly and let us to our conversations. I wondered about him, every little thing. I wanted to know him inside and out. It felt like he was his own art piece and I needed to analyze him.

“So about your work.. I’m actually very excited to have your pieces join the new exhibit. I honestly haven’t seen anything quite like yours as of yet.”

“Damn it. Why did he have to be so attractive, I can’t even concentrate. I have no proper responses. I can’t even look at him for more than a second at a time.” My thoughts were racing rapidly. I haven’t felt this flustered around a man in forever. Could it be his shared love of art? Or just that he’s an actual god?This is terrible.” My thoughts amplified in my head.

“You have no idea how honored I am that you are even considering putting my work up. I couldn’t possibly thank you enough for even meeting me. I have been to your gallery and admired your work fully. And the pieces from other artists are so well done.”

He smiled to the side as if he were smirking. “Well two things I would like to think I know well, are art... and the art of seduction. He trailed his sentence slowly and gazed at me intently. I stared at him blankly. “I’m joking!” He laughed as he saw my serious expression. “It was a cheesy joke, I know.” The waitress came around with his glass and poured him a very generous amount of wine. He picked it up and swished it around for a few seconds and drank a full gulp.

I had to redeem myself. “I know you were, sorry. I’m actually really nervous to tell you the truth, I haven’t openly shared my work with anyone, so this is a pretty big step for me.”

“I respect that more than you know. I think the most courageous thing an artist can do is let themselves be vulnerable. Putting your work on display for others to scrutinize and pick apart is not for the faint of heart.” He took another gulp of wine.

I couldn’t help myself but laugh. “What’s so funny?” He said with a confused look on his face.

“I’m sorry.” I said as I laughed even more. “The way you’re just downing your wine is funny to me.”

He chuckled softly and gazed at me. “You know.. if I didn’t know any better, I would say we were on a date.”

My back went tight and I looked down at the table, it looked back at me. I’m not good at all this. I’m terrible at flirting. I mean I had my hey day once upon a time. But after my last breakup, I haven’t let myself be approached, let alone go out on a date with anyone.

Two hours flew by and we spent them cracking jokes, talking about the industry, and who was dorkier as a kid. I didn’t want to leave. We didn’t even end up ordering food, we were so engrossed in our conversations, I completely forgot the waitress coming around the past few times. The last thing I expected was to be sitting across Aidan Drakos, drinking and laughing to my hearts content. I felt so alive.

“Listen, I hate to say it but I actually have to head out. I have a meeting in the morning with a close friend. She’s going to be bringing on an investor that we’ve been trying to work with for a while now.” He said as he put his hand in the air to signal the bill.

“She...” I thought to myself. “Close friend?Was I really already getting jealous? Insecure? I literally just had dinner with the man. I cannot be thinking this far ahead.”

“I totally understand.” I said as I reached for my wallet. He put his hand on mine, “No, no. Please. Let me get this. I would pay top dollar for this kind of company and conversation any day.”

His hand rested on mine, it felt soft and warm. I didn’t want him to take it off. “Thank you, I really appreciate it. I had a wonderful time tonight.” I said softly as I stared at his hand. The waitress came back with our bill and bid us good night. As I was putting my pea coat on, I saw him slide a $100 dollar bill in the check book. It made me want him even more.

We walked out of the restaurant together into the cool summer night. “What side of the city did you come from?” He asked me as he waved down a taxi. “I’m actually from Long Island. I drove here.”

“495? Oh lord, good on you.” He said.

“Yes, the worst highway of all New York.” I laughed. “I wouldn’t mind giving you a ride.” I pointed at my 2006 Acura. It’s old and got mileage but it’s cute. It’s my baby. “Yeah, why not?” We walked over to my car and he got into the passenger side. “Where’s your place?” I said as I started the car.

“255 Park Ave.” Of course he lived in the most perfect part of the city. I always dreamed of being able to afford my own apartment near Central Park, or even Soho. Wherever in the city honestly, I would take it.

I drove slowly towards Midtown Manhattan. It was a Thursday evening and the streets were bustling. For whatever reason I couldn’t hear the busy people and streets, my mind was quiet. Sadly it was only a 15 minute drive, I was trying my best to make it last as long as I could.

“I’m truly glad I came out tonight, I actually wasn’t in the mood to do much today. I wasn’t really sure I would even make it.” He said quietly. “I have so much work piled up but I saw your pieces on my desk and Jessie insisted (My wonderful friend that I definitely owe big time) I had to see the face behind the paintings.”

“Well thank you, I truly enjoyed your company. I wasn’t too sure I would come myself.” I tightened my grip on the wheel and breathed slowly. An air of relief came over me.

“It’s right here on your left.” He pointed at a beautiful brownstone apartment. I stared longingly at it. I wanted so badly to have a place like that of my own. They don’t joke when they use the term “struggling artist.”

“Thanks for the ride, I really hope it wasn’t too out of your way.” He collected himself and faced towards me. I smiled and shook my head. “It was no problem at all.” We sat there quietly for a moment, our eyes locked. He leaned in slowly and I felt his warmth inching near. I felt my eyes closing easing in for lips. His fingers took hold of a hair from out of my face and he tucked it behind my ear. He pulled back and smiled. I could feel the sad look of disappointment on my face as I breathed out. I got way too ahead of myself.

“I’ll be seeing you soon D.” That’s all he said as he walked out of my car. He closed the car door and walked to the entrance of his apartment.