Broken Hearts On Boulevard Unirii novel Chapter 34

"Okay," I said, "I agree."

The color returned to Dorina's face, suddenly she stopped, pulled me towards her and kissed me on my cheek.

"Friends again?" she asked.

"As usual," I replied. "You tried to sting me once; I hope it's the last time."

With a smile on her face, she replied, "That's my nature, I am a scorpion. Forgot?"

We went to the second-floor apartment I just purchased, that was once a lawyer's office. In one room there was an old, large, neglected desk, while in the next room, that probably had been a waiting room, there was a sofa that opened up to a bed. Immediately the idea of sleeping in the apartment entered my mind.

Dorina said she knew a place nearby where I could purchase bedding and other basic necessities for a home.

"I would invite you to sleep at my place, but I don't have two beds," she apologized.

"It's okay, don't worry," I said. "This apartment is good enough, and in a great location. Everything is available just outside my door."

"You will not regret that you bought it. You will see, that it will double in value in no time at all," Dorina said.

"I trust your judgment," I responded.

After having bought sheets, pillows, towels and a light woolen blanket, which I left in the apartment, we went to a nearby restaurant that served homemade authentic Romanian food. As Dorina had warned me that the portions were enormous, I ordered one serving for both of us. Besides, for dessert I wanted warm fresh papanas[ Romanian donut] filled with strawberry jam topped with fresh whipped cream. Dorina just watched and didn't eat. I was left guessing as to the reason, whether it was because of a diet or because of her celiac problem.

"In July or August we are planning a trip to Varna, Bulgaria. Would you like to come along with me?" I asked her.

"Who is 'us', you, Fabrizio and Angelo?" she asked.

"Not just us. Also Gert, Elia and Claudio," I answered.

"Will they be coming with girlfriends?" she asked.

"Well, yes. Some of the same girls who came along with us on the last trip will be coming once again on this trip," I responded.

"I don't think the company of eighteen-year-old students is for me," Dorina answered.

"That's too bad. It would make me very happy if you came along," I said.

"You know that nothing intimate will take place between the two of us," she said. "You may as well invite one of the girls you know and have fun with her. I am really not up to this sort of trip."

"Your opening question was a rather embarrassing one. Especially to a thirty-four year-old girl in Bucharest, whose chances of getting trampled on by a wild horse are greater than finding a husband," Oana said.

"Excuse me, but I had no idea that it was such a problem, after all, everybody is so beautiful and sexy. In my country they wouldn't stay single for too long," I countered.

At this point, Dorina interrupted the conversation and said, "Perhaps Oana would like to go with you on your trip to Varna"

"What trip?" Oana asked.

"I and five more childhood friends are travelling in the spring to Bulgaria. Some girls who came along with us on our last trip will be coming along again this time," I answered.

"If Dorina does not want to go along, I'd be glad to come along if you want me," Oana answered.

Dorina blushed. She didn't believe that her best friend Oana would jump to the offer so quickly. Outwardly, she refrained from showing her irritation, but I guessed deep down inside of her a storm was raging. I could see it on her face, although she tried to hide it with a forced smile.

When it was nearly time to leave, Oana began to loosen up, perhaps due to the two glasses of beer she had consumed. She came up to me and kissed me on my cheek.

"I'll see you soon. Here is my email address and please write to me," she said, handing me a note with her address on it.