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seventy-four f

Nicholas

T he next three years flew by. Bella’s provided me with a good living. Warren became the father I never had. Sobriety became my new way of life.

And then I met Nick at an AA meeting.

“My name is Nicholas, and I’m an alcoholic.” The older man’s voice trembled as he made his testimony.

I’d rarely dated since I’d become sober. I wasn’t afraid of dating; I just wasn’t interested. I loved my work, and my life was full of wonderful people. What more did I need?

Apparently, Nick was exactly who or what I needed. He was tall and lean, with thinning gray hair tied in a ponytail, and kind, green eyes. He reminded me of a poet.

Nick chatted me up after the meeting. Before we knew it, we were the last two in the building.

“Would you like to go for coffee?” he asked.

“I’d like that.” Something about his invitation felt like the right thing to do.

We took separate cars to the nearest diner and grabbed a booth. I began the conversation. “Are you looking for a sponsor?”

“I have one.”

“Tell me about yourself.”

“Well,” he began, “as I said at the meeting, I’m fresh out of rehab, and I’m determined to make it stick this time.”

“This time?” I asked.

“It’s my fourth rehab in the last ten years.”

I struggled to hide my surprise. Maybe coming here with him wasn’t such a good idea.

“Does this time feel different?”

“Kind of. My sister and her husband have been real supportive. I can’t let them down.”

I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, my past was littered with flaws.

“You’ve got them, your sponsor,” I reached across the table and took his hand, “and me. Call me anytime.”

“Thanks.” His deep green eyes locked onto mine.

We exchanged phone numbers and talked for nearly two hours. I learned Nick had been a freelance reporter for years. Since his release from rehab, he had secured a permanent job at the Princeton Packet .

Nick consumed my thoughts on my ride home and my dreams that night. It’ll pass , I told myself.

But it didn’t.

I saw Nick at several AA meetings over the next few weeks. He’d break into the sexiest grin whenever he caught my eye. I was falling hard for the guy even though we’d never exchanged last names.

I arrived early to my regular Tuesday evening meeting and was chatting with Chad and Gloria Peterson, one of my favorite AA couples, when Nick walked in. He waved and approached us.

“Hey,” he said to all of us, “I see you’ve met Ava.”

I looked at him, confused. How did he know Chad and Gloria?

“ This is the Ava you’ve been talking about?” Gloria asked.

“Ava, meet my sister and brother-in-law.”

I wanted to melt into the linoleum.

Chad and Gloria appeared as surprised by his announcement as I was. I had no idea what he’d told them. At that point, we were only a couple in my mind. I was determined to take it no further.

Nick took a seat next to Gloria and patted the seat next to him. I shook my head and sat in the back of the room, hoping to make my exit once the meeting ended. He joined me.

“Gloria and Chad are cool,” he whispered. “I told them I met someone special, but I didn’t have the nerve to ask her out on a real date. They told me to go for it.”

That was before they knew it was me.

“I really like you, but I’m an alcoholic,” I said. “You should be with someone outside of AA.”

“That’s what makes it all so perfect. So, how about it—would you go on a real date with me?”

I nodded and turned my attention to the speaker. The meeting had come to order.