"Are you serious? Lacey said as smiled back.
"Yes and I'm sorry. I realize how forward I sounded and I want to apologize. Please forgive me, but I didn't know of any other way than to just come right out and ask you. You wait on tables here 5 and ½ days a week. I would like to take you out to dinner and then to the symphony," he said rather apologetically.
At first Lacey didn't say anything. She stood there studying the expressions on his face.
"Just a minute, I'll be right back," she said as she went in the back of the café.
Lacey thought about his boldness in asking her out. This was only the second time they had met. He was a smart dresser, well mannered and going to the Symphony at the Sydney Opera House showed this gentleman had class. She hadn't been on a date in so long she convinced herself she deserved a night out.
Arflin thought she might be mad at him for making a pass at her and possibly would just ignore him. Or maybe she went to get the owner of the café and get him thrown out. He was surprised when she returned a few minutes later and handed him a slip of paper.
"This is my address. I'll admit I was surprised by your boldness, but you were very sincere. How could I refuse? I have not been anywhere but here and to school in such a long time, I think I would really enjoy a night out," she told him.
This was quite a surprise to Arflin. It was not what he had expected at all, but he was glad she said yes. Arflin had never taken the time to really get to know any of his past victims. Would Lacey be his next victim or was she really different he thought to himself?
"Thank you. I'll pick you up around 7 pm tomorrow if that will be ok," Arflin said as he paid for the lunch and left another sizeable tip on the table.
"Yes we have a date," she said as she waved good-bye.
That night Arflin thought a lot about Lacey. He thought about the other women in his past and how he planned their deaths. Why wasn't he thinking about murdering her? He didn't have an answer only that this lady was somehow special. He watched a soccer game on TV then went to bed.
The next morning he was up early. It was Saturday and he walked outside. Most of the neighborhood appeared to be asleep. There were a few lights on, but many were taking advantage of their time off from work and sleeping in. He could hear a dog barking and the sound of someone revving their car engine. Probably warming it up to go to work, he thought to himself.