The couple went to a little bistro under her apartment and the smells of food cooking wafted through the air, making Cyrus’s stomach growl.
Mia giggled. “Sounds like you are hungry. Hope you like it. It’s an eccentric place, but they have fantastic food.”
Cyrus pulled out her chair. “I’m sure it’ll be great. I can eat roadkill if it’s prepared well enough.” He sat across from her, taking in the room's ambiance. “Mia, I hate to sound rude, but you don’t seem like you belong in this little town. It’s sort of behind the times, and you seem to be more city life and worldly when we talk.”
“Not offended at all. I always felt this place was not where I am supposed to be. This little river town is sure not my idea of the life I want. It’s nice here and is semi-city life for being such a small place. People know the town for being a big art community, and I think that’s what has allowed me to be okay with it. I just feel like I need more, ya know.”
“Why do you stay? Your talents seem to be more than what this town can offer.”
He looked up as the server filled their water glass. Mia giggled, noticing the girl knew who he was. The server almost spilled the water while filling Mia’s glass, looking at Cyrus.
“I’m so sorry.” The girl tried to recover.
“It’s fine. No worries.” Mia helped the girl with the pitcher. “You’re new here, right? Here, let me get that. It’s fine. No damage done. Can we get the appetizer medley? Give us time to look over the menu.”
The girl smiled in agreement and rushed away.
Cyrus smiled with pride, watching how understanding Mia was. His ex-wife would have screamed at the girl for messing up. Over the past few weeks, talking to his sweet online crush, he was seeing she was more than he pictured in his mind. Gentle and sweet and her voice was calming with the sweetest smile. She was almost too good to be true, but here she was, and he loved every moment in her presence.
A bright red blush arose across his face.
“What?” She said shyly, noticing him staring at her.
“Mia, that was sweet. Ordering something so she could get over her embarrassment and helping her with the water glasses. Most people would have snapped at her.”
“Well, I used to work here when I went to beauty school. That’s something easy she can do to compose herself. I bet giddy girls losing their minds over you is everyday life in your world. Like me screaming like an idiot earlier. I’ve never fangirled out like that before, but you shocked me,” Mia said as she laughed at herself.
“Your expression was priceless. I thought you were going to faint,” he said, joining in the laugher.
“I thought so too.”
They ordered their food and had some casual conversation that seemed to flow throughout dinner. Laughing and enjoying their chat just as they did online. It was so effortless and felt like they had known each other for years.
“Flower, I want to see you again. Are you free tomorrow night?” Cyrus asked.
“I would love to, but I’m going to be singing at a Jazz club in downtown Louisville. It would be late before I could go out. I promised my friend I would help.” She took a bite of her food.
“Great. It’s a date. I’ll meet you there. What time do you go on?” Cyrus smirked, looking down at his plate.
“Oh, no, Mr. Man! You are not going to that club. I’m not telling you which one either. I would die. Just die,” she said, in a panic.
“Why? You’re good and I want to see you perform live. I have ways of finding out which club. You can’t stop me from going, you know,” he teased.
“Why? Because... I don’t know… just... it makes me nervous.” She giggled awkwardly.
“Well, I’ll meet you there. We can have a late-night dinner and you can come to my hotel and watch a movie or something with me afterward.”
Cyrus looked at her with determination, and Mia knew she wouldn’t get out of it.
“Okay. If you find the club. Then it’s a date. Good luck though.” She said smugly, thinking he would never figure out her stage name, Anastasia Wild. She had never told him. “Keep in mind. It’s a burlesque night. It’s a modest show, though. No topless stuff like in regular burlesque clubs. Just so you know, my routine is sexy. I’m not a total prude.”
“It should be easy to find you then. How many jazz clubs could have a burlesque night?” he asked.
She sat back with a smirk, crossing her arms over her chest. “It won’t be easy. The whole city has clubs that are doing it. It’s a bar-hop theme night.”
“Damn it. Well… I love a challenge. I’ll find you. You already told me you know some people at the wrestling training center I’m heading to when we chatted online. I’ll just ask around,” he said with a satisfied wink.
“Crap.” She laughed, putting her head on the table. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Game on, pretty girl.”
***
After dinner, Cyrus walked her back to her apartment. “I had a nice time, Mia. I have an early day tomorrow, so I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Can I finally get your cell number so I can text you?”
“Of course, Fake Cyrus. You know you sure have a huge resemblance to that guy on TV… what was his name?” She put her number in his phone under the name U R going 2 love me.
He took it back and rang her number. “I don’t doubt that… I had to make sure it was a real number and you’re not blowing me off.”
“You’re kidding, right? I wouldn’t miss seeing you again for a second. I hope you find me tomorrow, and if not, I’ll text you where to find me after the show.” She got onto her tippy toes to peck a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for everything. This was the best surprise I could have ever asked for.”
Pulling her in for a hug Cyrus asked, “So you’re going to make me work for it, huh?”
“I am. This gal doesn’t come easy. Sadly, that’s why I’m thirty with no man.” She scrunched up her nose. “Geez. That sounds so lame.”
“The best things are worth waiting for.” He kissed her on her nose and turned to leave.
“Cyrus…!”
He turned back to face her. “Yes?”
“I hope you see I am worth waiting for.”
“You already are Mia.” He grinned with a wink. “You already are.”