well it’s official.
damon and i are actually dating.
and it was quite romantic how it happened.
friday afternoon, damon was in my office waiting for me to return from a meeting.
it was a nice surprise to see him.
damon: hello beautiful.
flo: damon.
damon: what? that’s it?
flo: well it sounds weird if i said “hello beautiful”
damon: i’ll settle for sexy.
flo: well the moment’s gone now.
damon: boo… so anyway what are you doing tonight?
flo: um, no plans so far, did you want to hang out?
it sounded so casual, and even though i wanted it to be more than just a casual thing, i wasn’t sure how to put it out there.
he took hold of my hands and kissed me.
it was the only time he’d kissed me in a non sexual way.
can you kiss someone in a non sexual way?
*shrug*
flo: what was that for?
damon: go out with me.
flo: i go out with you all the time.
damon: no, we hang out, we fuck, we hang out some more. go out on a date with me.
flo: a date?
damon: the kind of date we would have gone on, if we didn’t fall apart.
flo: i don’t know damon… i’m not sure if i’m ready to do dates.
damon: please? just one, and then you can decide if you’re not ready for any more dates.
flo: and what will be doing on this date.
damon: we’ll do dinner, a movie and take a walk on the beach.
flo: it’s winter.
damon: ok, we’ll skip the beach and stay in. maybe some old school movies, we can do chick flicks if you like, anything, just one date.
flo: ok, one date.
damon: ok good, are you planning anything tomorrow?
flo: not from memory… is this going to be a long date?
damon: i can’t put a time frame but i just want to make sure you’re free so we can go with the flow.
flo: that sounds dangerous.
damon: i promise – it’ll be fun.
that evening damon picked me up and instead of taking me out to dinner, he drove back to his apartment.
there we were greeted by sam, a friend of his that had just finished culinary school was keen to show off his talent and had asked damon to be his first guest.
i was more than happy to try his 3 course menu of cherry tomato and water chestnut tartlets, grilled garlic and sage roasted chicken with blue cheese stuffed mushrooms and of course dessert – chocolate cheesecake truffles with malt chocolate ganache.
i had to say, i was in culinary heaven.
for the 3 hours while sam cooked, served and cleaned damon and i laughed and joked.
it was different than the other times we went out to dinner.
we had a good laugh, drank a few glasses of wine, sat out on the balcony after sam had left, talked about everything possible.
at one point i went quiet.
damon: what’s wrong?
flo: nothing.
damon: are you sure? you look upset.
flo: oh, no no. i promise. dinner was really beautiful – he’s a great cook.
damon: yeah he is. i should hire him as a fulltime chef – but then i’d never leave my apartment.
flo: thank you… for tonight.
damon: it’s not over yet.
flo: not over?
damon: we’re watching some movies – big night ahead!
flo: nothing scary i hope.
damon: of course not.
we’d gone back into the lounge and watched number of chick flicks – ‘clueless’, ‘beaches’ and one of my favorites – ‘little women’.
we drank wine and snacked on the hors d’oeuvres sam left for us.
we both fell asleep on the couch together not long before 4am.
damon woke up first the next morning, and cooked a simple bacon and egg on toast breakfast.
damon: good morning
flo: hi.
damon: how did you sleep?
flo: surprisingly… very comfortably.
damon: i’m a pretty good pillow.
flo: you’re not too bad.
damon: please, i know you’d love to sleep with me every night.
flo: no comment!
damon: hehe. so are you ready for today?
flo: today?
damon: yeah, our date is still going!
flo: what? you mean there’s more?
damon: oh yeah… lots more.
i was a little worried to be honest.
but he assured me that there was nothing to be worried about.
he rushed dropped me off home to get changed before arriving back at my apartment with the most gorgeous labrador puppy.
damon: don’t worry, we’re not keeping him. we are going to take him for a walk in central park. since it’s winter it’s the closest we’ll get to a walk on the beach.
i had to admit – that was a pretty good idea.
but we didn’t end up staying in the park too long as it was rather cold.
we went back to damon’s apartment with the puppy and just watched more movies.
i was enjoying my time with him.
at lunch time i went home unaware that i was going out again.
damon: this time… it’s a real date.
flo: what makes this one a real date?
damon: you’ll see.
at 6.30pm damon knocked on the door.
i was nervous.
even though i’d seen him the night before and also during the day, i was still nervous.
he kissed me hello and handed me a rose.
flo: aww how sweet.
damon: you know me, i’m the romantic type.
flo: you’re full of shit too.
we laughed as we made our way downstairs to a waiting car.
no horse and carriages like i was imagining, no limos or hummers.
just a simple black mercedes, chauffeur driven of course.
we had dinner at “le bernardin restaurant” on west 51st and a few drinks before the car picked us up again for the ride home.
a simple dinner date ending with damon walking me up to my apartment.
i was going to do the next most predictable thing (which was to invite him in) but he said that he’ll give me the night/day off from him.
we stood at the door to say goodbye.
flo: thank you damon, i had a lot of fun the last few days.
damon: did you really?
flo: i did, did you?
damon: i was with you.
flo: that doesn’t answer the question.
damon: i always enjoy the time i spend with you.
he took my face in his hands and kissed me.
i was starting to fall in love with his kisses – not just lusting for them.
we pulled away and looked at each other.
he wrapped his arms around me to hug me as i buried my face in chest smelling ‘issey miyake l’eau d’issey’ on his shirt.
i breathed in deeply, squeezing him tighter.
i didn’t want the night to end.
it wasn’t like he was leaving or anything (or at least i was hoping) but i just wanted him to stay.
damon: i…better go. i’ll call you?
flo: sure.
damon: goodnight florence.
flo: goodnight damon.
and just like in fairytales, prince charming left me with a single kiss.
ok maybe not but it was a nice thought.
on valentine’s morning there was a knock at my door.
it was damon.
he sounded… nervous or upset, i couldn’t tell.
i let him in and sat with him in the lounge.
he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me close.
flo: what’s wrong?
damon: i’ve been thinking, nothing bad i swear.
flo: you look worried… or something.
damon: i wanted to ask you something the other night but i just had to think about it first.
flo: what is it?
he kissed me softly and whispered exactly what i was hoping for.
damon: be with me. be my girlfriend. be mine.
i felt like my heart stopped.
not in a bad way – but i was just… excited.
flo: can i be honest with you?
damon: oh no… you’re going to say no.
he suddenly looked really upset.
flo: no no, i want to be with you. more than anything. in fact, i’ve wanted to be more than just friends with you for a while now.
damon: why didn’t you say anything?
flo: you know me – old fashioned nature.
damon: so you make me do all the hard work.
flo: yes. that’s how it is.
and it was as simple as that – i was officially dating damon.
we spent all of valentine’s day together, our first day as a couple.
i teased him about being corny and asking me out on valentine’s day.
he blushed many times.
we had a late lunch at ‘le cirque restaurant; before heading off to watch ‘no strings attached’ at the ‘amc’ on west 42nd.
we just hung out.
this time, all strings attached.
i texted madz and keeley and told them the news.
it wasn’t like i was announcing my wedding but for me it was a big deal considering the shit damon and i went through.
and it was what i was hoping for.
exactly what i was hoping for.
- love flo.
