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from him.  I didn't want anything to happen, whatever that could possibly be because I had a new life and a new career starting, and my career needed to be my focus in life at the time.

  “Hello?”
  “Hi, Peter.  This is-”
  “Sophie...” He breathed heavily leaving my name just hanging there between us.
  “Um, thank you for the beautiful roses, they were a very kind gesture for my first day at work.  I really appreciate it.  Thank you.”
  “Are you hanging up already?” He asked to my confusion.
  “Yes, I have a big day tomorrow, and I need to read my notes from today.  But I wanted to thank you first before it became too late.  So thank you,” I spoke quickly trying to hang up, but he continued anyway.  
      “Did you like the color?”
  “Yes, actually.  Blue roses are my favorite, though a little difficult to find.”
  “Not when you know where to look.  They're my favorite, too.  Have you been to Bedouins on Cedar?  They always have blue roses.  And obviously they deliver.”
  “Um, no I haven't, but I'll make sure to check it out.  Thank you again, but I really have to go now and get back to my work.”
  “You have to go?  Or you want to go?” He asked simply.
  Exhaling into the phone, I was annoyed by his straightforwardness, but decided on honesty. 
      “Well, both actually.  I do have to look over my notes because this job is important to me, and I don't know you so I would like to go now.  But again, thank you.” 
  “Maybe one day I'll be important to you,” he said so calmly I was immediately confused by him.  Thinking quick about a kind response, I tried to appease him as best as I could.
  “Yes, maybe you will be.  I should go though. Good bye Peter.”
  But again he spoke like he was oblivious to the fact that I was trying to be nice while hanging up quickly.  “Have dinner with me on Friday night to tell me all about your first week.”
      “I can't.  I have plans,” I lied.
  “Then Saturday.”
  “I have to work.”
  “Really?  Where?”
  “I waitress one day on the weekend.”
  “When do you relax?” He asked with a serious tone I was unused to.
  “I don't know.  Whenever I'm not working, I guess.”
  “When do you have fun?”
  “When I do,” I stated a little more than annoyed.
  “Where do you live?” He asked changing the subject quickly.
  “I'm sorry?”
  “Where do you live?  I think you said you were close to the health food store.  Didn't you?”
  “No, I didn't.”
  “Oh, well... do you live close to the store?”
  “No,” I lied again.
  “Okay.  Well, I'll see you on Sunday at noon.  Are you working then?”
  “Yes,” I lied again as I realized dealing with Peter was suddenly making me a pathological liar.
  “Well, you just told me you work one day on the weekend, which is Saturday, so Sunday you're free.  I'll meet you at noon on Sunday at Murphy's in the village.  Have a great week, Sophie,” he said cheerfully as he hung up on me.
  And I remember what the fuck- ing my way to the kitchen for some chips.  Staring at the cordless phone in my hand waiting to call him back when I cooled down, I thought he was insane and annoying and pushy and just totally what the hell?  I also didn't think he would listen to me if I called back to tell him I couldn't meet him on Sunday, so I decided to ignore him completely instead.  I decided to ignore him and stand him up on Sunday because honestly I didn't feel attracted to his behavior, but rather irritated and annoyed by it. 
  Men didn't order me around and men didn't demand things from me. I always led my own life, and I had never let a man bully me or force me into doing anything I didn’t want to do, so I wasn’t starting with him.    
     
      Remembering that Monday in December, it’s almost funny now how I had no idea that that was the first day of my new career, and it