Wise men say only fools rush in. Who: Ethan Smalls, Evangeline Tyrion Where: Primo When: January 24 Rating: PG? Summary: Ethan and Evie meet to have lunch and get to know one another before all this marriage business takes over.
Ethan Smalls had never been so nervous in his life, and over the course of his twenty-six years, he'd had more than one instance where he'd been nervous. First dates, first kisses, first days of class; first anythings, really, tended to tie his stomach in knots and drop it somewhere between his feet. However, no matter how anxious he'd felt at all the previous milestones of his life, he was fairly certain none of them could compare to his utter trepidation about meeting his wife-to-be face to face for the first time.
She seemed very nice. At least the government had heeded his request to pair him with someone who seemed to want a family, which relieved him more than a little bit. The situation was poor no matter what perspective it was viewed from, but at least the two of them wouldn't attempt to enter into the marriage with a hostile attitude.
Holding the photograph of her in one hand, his thumb resting just below her chin, he studied the lines of her face. Evie really was very young. He could recall on his preferences form asking for someone closer to his own age, but that had been out of consideration for himself as well as the lady. How must she have felt, having her entire life ahead of her, still in college, realizing that she was engaged to be married to a man who had begun the second leg of his life's journey?
Surely she had friends and prospects for boyfriends. She'd said that she had no real experience dating, but someone as young and lovely as her, and a cheerleader at that, had to at least have admirers, and probably a crush or two. Ethan knew he was far from most people's ideal when it came to a mate, and the more he considered their situation, the more unfair it seemed to her.
Tugging on the cuff of his sleeve, the gesture a little nervous, he looked up at the sign gracing the front of the building. It was Primo, and he was a little bit early. He preferred it that way, though, because it gave him some time to calm himself and hopefully not make a complete spectacle of himself on their first real meeting.
Well, that, and he could look at the menu before she arrived.
Stepping inside, casting a glance around the restaurant, he noted that there weren't too many people around. The casual atmosphere made him feel a little more at ease, and the set of his shoulders relaxed a little.
In the end, he looked a lot more formal than the other patrons did. He'd opted for a button-down shirt, and had agonized over color choice until he finally settled on a pale pink that worked well with his skin tone. His slacks were black and simple, his shoes matching. He hadn't considered that Evie might be one of the majority who considered a man wearing pink odd until he was most of the way to Primo, and by that time, it was too late. He could only hope for the best.
Glancing down at the picture again, he breathed in softly, comforted by the friendly expression on her face. The more he looked at her picture, the more he realized how pretty she really was, which would normally make him rather nervous. He had to keep reminding himself that she was pretty but also kind, and seemed patient, if her responses to him were any indication of things.
Selecting a seat by the window, he lowered himself to the chair, expression solemn as he waited for a menu.