CHAPTER 95: IRRESISTIBLE BACHELOR

"It was my first time on a cruise, so it was a very new experience for me," I replied while trying my best not to lie to him. The truth was that I didn’t enjoy the cruise, but it was undoubtedly a new experience for me.

"Do you like going on trips? Seeing nature, new views, experiencing new things?" he asked, and I could sense his excitement.

At first, I told myself that I was just misreading the situation because I didn’t want to believe that Daniel was romantically interested in me. However, after hearing his question, which pretty much sounded like an invitation for us to go on a trip together, I realized that Daniel probably didn’t want this to be our first and last date together.

"I’m not so sure. I’ve never really had the opportunity to travel before," I replied honestly. With my mother working so hard to raise me, it never made sense for me to splurge money and go on trips where she couldn’t come along because she had to work.

"Why don’t you give it a try? I know a couple of places that might interest you close by that we could go to for a day trip," Daniel quickly suggested.

I knew very well that I had to turn him down before he started getting the wrong idea about all this. I wasn’t sure what Bennett or my mother told him, but I didn’t think that turning up on this blind date was supposed to be a sign that I was already interested in him. Despite knowing all that, the look of anticipation and the hope glowing in his eyes as he stared directly at me while he waited for my answer to his invitation gave me pause and made me hesitate.

Why is it so hard for me to turn him down?

"I’m very sorry. I’d like to apologize; that must have sounded so rushed and sudden. I know that it’s our first time really meeting and inviting you on a trip might be a bit of a stretch, but what about going out with me sometime soon?" Daniel apologized, and I realized that he must have taken my hesitation the wrong way. I wasn’t hesitating because I didn’t want to go on a day trip with him, but I didn’t want to give him hope that I might be interested in him.

"I’m sorry, but I’m just not sure if..." I said softly before I ended up hesitating.

"Honestly, I think I was interested in you since the first time I saw you at your mother’s wedding. Too bad we didn’t get an opportunity to talk properly then," Daniel said with a wistful look in his eyes.

For a moment, I started to feel even worse than before. How I misjudged the character of my ex-fiancé was a sure proof that I wasn’t the best judge of people’s character, especially when it came to men, but at that moment, I was quite certain that Daniel genuinely liked me. He was perfect in every way, and it didn’t feel like such a leap that I might one day become attracted to him as well. I wondered for the briefest of moments if things might work out with Daniel or if that would help solve the complicated relationship between Raphael and me.

"Is that so? I’m sorry that I honestly don’t remember you from that day," I mumbled apologetically.

"Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to put any pressure on you, but I’m hoping that we can keep on seeing each other," Daniel said as he leaned slightly across the table.

It felt like I had to muster up the courage to turn him down right then and there, or I would find myself going on yet another date with him. I was also certain that my mother would be bombarding me with questions about this date when I got home, and then she would get into her cheerleader mode to make sure that Daniel and I would get together.

"I guess you’re done eating. If you still have time this evening, would you care to accompany me to a jazz bar? I know a place very close to here, and we can practically walk there," Daniel invited me again. Each time, he was clearly making it easier for me to decide, but it ended up putting the pressure on me as well. It wouldn’t hurt for me to accompany him to the jazz bar, and I was definitely free for the evening, but I still found myself hesitating. Just when I couldn’t find the words to reply to his invitation, I felt a presence very close to us.

"It’s getting late, so I think that I should take Abigail home," a very familiar voice said from very close to us. I recognized Raphael’s voice right away, but my mind still struggled to believe that Raphael was practically standing right next to our table as he looked down at both of us. I looked up to find him standing there with a very intimidating aura around him that made me wonder if I had done something to tick him off.

"Raphael," Daniel said with clear surprise.

Being the gentleman that he was, Daniel quickly stood up and offered Raphael his hand.

"Thanks for taking care of Abigail, but it’s getting late, so I’m here to escort her home," Raphael said while sounding like the perfectly overprotective brother. My heart began beating faster in my chest as I felt the atmosphere fill up with tension around the two men who were still holding hands. Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable and compelled to say something to break the tension in the air. I had no idea how Raphael found out where I was meeting Daniel and why he decided to come and pick me up.

Although I was certain that Raphael had his own agenda for coming to pick me up, I had to admit that it gave me the perfect excuse to end my date with Daniel. After all, I was finding it difficult to come up with an excuse to end our date when Daniel was so intent on inviting me to other places to continue our night.

–To be continued...