“Are you sure you’re over Max?” Jake lamented, “Do I want to know?”
“Last night, Max apologized for hurting me. He reassured me that he loved me as much as I loved him while we were dating, and that I wasn’t the only one hurting after the breakup. His apology came off a bit contrived since he started dating Jennifer within a month of our breakup. I accepted his apology and decided that this finally closed the Max and Emily chapter. So to answer your question, yes I am over him, but four years is hard to erase.”
Initially, Jake looked wholly tentative. He still didn’t quite believe I was over Max. After last night, he had credible reason not trust me. Still, I hoped he would want to give me and us a chance. With Max, as much as I’d hoped, I never truly believed that we would be together till the very end. But with Jake, there was an inexplicable sense of completeness, an unbreakable connection, like he was meant to be in my life—like he would always be a part of my life.
Attempting to take the spotlight off myself, I asked Jake about some of the girls he’d dated. This would also give me a chance to eat my dessert—a hot, creamy chocolate cake sitting atop a pool of bittersweet dark chocolate sauce, and below a house made cinnamon ice cream. What decadence!
“It seems hardly fair that I’ve given you details of my one love yet I haven’t heard any details of the loves in your life. I’m sure there have been many women in your life. Tell me everything.”
“I had a few girlfriends, but I haven’t dated much since I got to General Hospital.”
“Oh, that doesn’t surprise me. With your insane schedule, how could you have a life? I’m surprised we’ve come this far.”
“Kelley and I dated on and off for years. Our families knew each other since we were little, because both our dads were doctors at the same hospital. It seemed a bit incestuous since our families were such close friends. I think our parents thought we’d get married.”
“So what happened?”
“I went off to med school, she went off to business school, and it was too difficult to have a long-distance relationship. We tried several times to get back together but failed.”
“I assume she went to school with you? Did you date her all throughout undergrad?”
“Actually, she didn’t, and even during undergrad she and I dated on and off.”
“What made your relationship so tentative?”
“I liked her very much and I suppose I loved her at one point but I never thought that she was the one.”
“What does she look like?” I immediately regretted asking this, as it seemed like a petty question, but curiosity got the better of me.
“She’s not nearly as beautiful as you are,” Jake said with the most adoring look. I blushed and changed the subject.
After two amuse bouches, nine courses of gastronomic extravagance, and free-flowing wine, we were done with our meal. Time had sped by. With each course, I fell deeper and deeper for a man whose candor and sincerity proved a reciprocity of feelings. In a matter of three hours there was no doubt we would be in a solid relationship.
To my utter delight, the chef and owner graciously visited our table and talked with us about our meal and his restaurant. Asking what my favorite dish was during lunch, I happily answered, “Moulard duck foie gras, the kuroge sirloin and risotto with white truffles…mmm. Anything with white truffles!”
Both men laughed as Jake was warned, “She’s got expensive taste.”
“Don’t I know it!” he answered with a wink.
We got an inspiring tour of the restaurant. It’s all about finesse emblazoned the walls of his spotless kitchen with copper pots hanging from the ceiling. All the chefs and sous chefs worked busily to prepare each course with seamless effort and efficiency. The attention to detail marked this restaurant as the top dining place in the world. Every dish that went out looked spotless. My eyes darted from the salad station to the meat station to the pastry station. I wanted to jump in and work with them but Jake pulled me in his arms and led me out of the kitchen so they could continue working. We thanked the staff for an incredible meal, and Jake mentioned visiting his New York restaurant next time he was there. Secretly, I hoped I would be there as well.
We headed down Highway 29 toward the city for the second half of our day. It was probably 2:00p.m. or so, and I felt this lazy urge to take a nap. Jake pulled into a high rise and parked the car. I wondered where we were, but got no explanation. Staring at him gave no clues, but there was only that knowing and annoying grin. Jake opened the door to a beautiful apartment overlooking the San Francisco Bay, juxtaposed between the Ferry building and AT&T Park. It was furnished in a comfortable shabby chic style. I looked at him again for an explanation.