Rejoicing Hen – 7

[OCTOBER 5, 1990 – Friday, 7:00 pm] 

Peter

When I answered the door, Derek was smiling.  He held out the bottle of wine and tried to act casual as he struggled to catch his breath.

“Hey, thanks, I love red wine,” I stepped aside to let Derek pass me.  “Come on in and have a seat.  You can just toss your coat anywhere.”  I remarked as I headed toward the kitchen area. 

Do I sound casual enough?

I got two wine glasses and a corkscrew from a cabinet above the sink.  When I got back to the sitting room, Derek had flopped on the sofa, his jacket draped over the back of the sofa next to him. I tried not to stare.

He looks so calm and relaxed…and handsome.

I set the wine bottle and glasses on the coffee table.  “The pizza should be ready in a couple of minutes,” I said.  I took a long look at Derek and said, “Are you all right? You’re a little red in the face.”

Derek took a deep breath and tried to laugh.  “You caught me,” he said.  “I’m out of breath from running across the Quad.”

I was surprised, and a little flattered.  “You ran all the way here?”

“I didn’t want to be late,” Derek said with a shrug.  “I wanted to make a good impression on you.”

I smiled and relaxed just a bit.  “You already did that,” I said and pointed to the golden leaf lying on the table next to the phone.  I picked up the bottle and the opener and removed the cork smoothly.  Without looking at Derek, I poured two glasses. 

“It took me almost an hour to get up the courage to call you,” I confessed.  When the glasses were full and I had one in each hand, I turned to him and took a deep breath.  “I wanted to make a good impression on you, too.”

Derek took the wine glass I offered him.  He smiled and said, “You already did.”