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have made another person uncomfortable, but Hunter seemed to understand. He looked at his watch. “Well, should we get on with our date?”
     
    “Sure.”
     
    “Great. I Googled the area and found a great little Greek restaurant not far from here. It’s walking distance.”
     
    “I’ve eaten at nearly every restaurant within a ten-mile radius,” she said, walking towards the door. “Is it Mediterranean Nights ?”
     
    He closed the door behind them. “Yes, do you like it?”
     
    Stacey locked the door and looked up at him. “I love Mediterranean food. I know the owners there too - Mr. and Mrs. Santorini.”
     
    “Okay. We’ll, I don’t know them , but if you say it’s nice, I’m sure that it is. Plus, that is an awesome last name. Santorini, Greece is home to one of the deadliest volcano eruptions in history.”
     
    “Outside of being a drink hustler and a doctor, are you also a historian?” she asked amused.
     
    Hunter laughed. “No, but I love Greek history, Greek culture, Greek everything.” His face lit up.
     
    “But not Greek girls?” Stacey asked curiously. Her eyes narrowed at him.
     
    “Oh, I never said that. It’s just that I’m not exclusive to any particular type of woman. I just want a good one.”
     
    “I like that,” Stacey said, adding one more note about him to her mental rolodex. “Proud of who you are but not ethnocentric.”
     
    Hunter chuckled.
     
    “Are you sure that you don’t mind walking?” Stacey asked reluctantly. Her eyes told on her. She wanted him to be happy. “I would normally ride my bike, but I’m sure that with this dress on it would only be more uncomfortable.”
     
    “I don’t mind walking at all. I missed hitting the gym today. I could use a little cardio.”
     
    “So you’re a glass half full kind of guy, huh?” she asked curiously. Their feet echoed as they walked through the lobby.
     
    Hunter opened the door for her and watched her move pass him. “You’re saying this to a man who hasn’t been on a date since he wife died. I totally think it is half-empty.”
     
    She laughed again. “You’ve got a point.”
     
    Hunter was intrigued by how different Stacey was tonight – like she was open to the possibility of them. Yesterday, she was nearly impervious, but now, she was graceful and kind. It was as if he was getting a glimpse of a different person, maybe the person she used to be before her husband’s accident.
     
    ***
     
    Mediterranean Nights was packed. All tables were full with the exception of one near the window facing the street, reserved just for them. Hunter had made sure to ask for that particular seating arrangement to pay homage to their date the day before.
     
    After ordering an exceptional bottle of wine, the two sat at the candlelit table getting to know each other. However, Hunter quietly had to remind himself to focus not on the shape of her lips or the cut of her dress but on her words.
     
    “I have to admit that this feels…strange,” Stacey said, putting her black napkin on her lap. “I don’t even know how to behave on a date.” Her chuckle further expressed her nervousness. “What about you?” She looked up into his green eyes. He seemed distant. “Are you alright?”
     
    Hunter snapped out of his daze. “Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” He cleared his throat. “I just…well…I guess that this is sort of weird for me too. I just…” He stopped mid-sentence, realizing that he was making a fool of himself. “Let me start over,” Hunter said, sipping his wine. “I go to the gym, go to the office, go shopping…do the boring stuff. But I don’t date. It’s too difficult still.”
     
    “Yeah, me too.” Stacey smiled. “I guess my idea of a good night has changed since I’ve been alone.” She looked across the aisle at a couple, who leaned in to kiss each other. Get a room , she thought to herself as she turned back to Hunter.
     
    “What is your idea of a good night?” he asked,