Sara felt Hank�s hands snake around her waist, "You ready?"
"As ready as I�ll ever be," she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Then let�s go. We�re going to miss our flight." He picked up her carry-on bag and led the way.
Sara sighed. "This is going to be a long weekend."
~*~*~
Sara looked around the restaurant. There were so many happy, smiling couples. It made her sick. Not that she wasn�t happy to be in New York; she was. She had only been to New York once before, and she loved it. It wasn�t Las Vegas, but it was still a great city. She just wished she was there under different circumstances. The plane ride had been one of the longest of her life. Hank hadn�t said a word to her, just put on his headphones and took a nap. She had looked out the window at the clouds and wondered for the zillionth time what she was doing there. What she was doing with her life. She was wasting it away with one of the dullest men she had ever met. Sitting in the restaurant, she had the same thoughts. She fiddled with the edge of the box of chocolates Hank had given her when they arrived at the restaurant, and waited for him to get back from the men�s room. She looked at her watch for the third time. And men thought women took forever.
She looked at the box of chocolates. They weren�t as nice as the ones Nick had given her. Nick�s had been Godiva chocolate. Hank�s were Russell Stover. Godiva was better. She looked over at a couple seated at the table across from theirs. They were smiling and holding hands and talking. He was from Texas. She could tell from his accent. But of course, Nick�s accent was cuter. �God Sara!� she scolded herself, �You�re not with Nick. You�re with Hank. You�re in New York. Nick�s in Las Vegas. And Hank�s in the bathroom. So get over it.�
Suddenly everything made sense. Why she had been so unhappy the past few months. Why whenever Nick walked by her heart rate accelerated. Why she never knew what to say to Hank, but always knew what to say to Nick. Because she didn�t love Hank. She loved Nick.
Sara knew what she had to do. When Hank came out of the bathroom, she would tell him. She would tell him that it wasn�t working out. She would let him off easy. She wouldn�t mention anything about Nick. She would just tell him that she needed some space. That they could still be friends. �Yeah, like that one ever works.�
Three minutes later Hank walked back to the table. "Sorry I took so long," he apologized.
"It�s okay. Hank, we need to talk."
"Sure, baby. One second." he motioned for the waiter to come to the table.
"It�s just that, what I mean is-"
"Yes sir?" the waiter interrupted.
"Could we get another bottle of wine? Thanks." The waiter left, and the two were alone again.
"What were you saying, baby?"
"Hank," she started again, "It�s just that, I mean...it�s not working," she blurted out.
He didn�t look shocked at all. Or upset. He took a sip of his wine, then placed the glass back on the table. Reaching for her hand, he said, "I know, baby. I don�t think it�s working either."
"You don�t?" She was stunned.
"No. I want it to work, but it just isn�t. You always seem to have something else on your mind, well, someone else on you mind."
"It�s that obvious?" she asked, embarrassed that he had know the whole time.
"Yeah. I think he�s the only one who didn�t see it. And you�re the only one who doesn�t see the way he looks at you. And when I�m around? I�m afraid for my life when he shoots me one of those looks." He smiled.
"Really?" If Nick was interested, then she had to catch him before it was too late.
"Really. It�s been fun, Sara, but you know what you have to do. Here," he handed her the plane ticket, "Go get him."
"Thanks Hank," she kissed him on the cheek. "Bye." She started out of the restaurant, then went back to the table. "Forgot something," she said, picking up the chocolates.
~*~*~