034

Aria's POV

I decide to literally leave Stephen on standby while I receive the third provocative message on my cell phone. I flip the screen down and proceed to ignore him for the rest of the night.

The mood with Max is going way beyond my expectations. The dish, handpicked by me from the menu, the wine, the conversation, the atmosphere, I can't classify which is better. Maybe it's the work as a whole.

Our dialogue is like a roller coaster, between ups and downs of ironic, dramatic moments and also full of provocations. Like a foreplay of foreplay, where we both know where and how the night will end.

I savor Max's words the way I savor a fine meal at Taba's Gourmet: slowly, appreciating every detail, every ingredient. As if it were the last time. Like it was just a good dream and at any moment I was going to wake up.

" Well, you already know my favorite colors, movie, book, pet, place, food… Um… let me see… you know I intend to be a writer. What else am I missing?

" Favorite position?