The Flames of Amarra - DR STRANGE x OC - COMPLETE

REALITY HITS HARD

Nora couldn’t believe she accepted it. She didn’t want to go on that date. The memory of the last time Kelly tried to set her up with a man was still way too present. ‘Not enough boobs.’ She didn’t know what kind of man the new chef was, but Nora was sure of one thing. If he even dared to tell her anything about her body, she’d burn him. For real, this time. 

She however took the time to look pretty. She didn’t remember the last time she looked that good. The black dress was a nice change from the countless pairs of jeans she was always wearing in Kamar-Taj, and she even let her brown locks fall down her shoulders. She gave up on trying to get an even eyeliner and walked out of her apartment.

When she entered the restaurant, she felt like she was cheating on her brother. For one, because she didn’t want to be there. Second, because she was always eating from her brother’s restaurant. Not to mention that everyone knew she was Ethan Keller’s sister. In no time, her mother would call her, asking if there was something wrong between her children.

She sat down and ordered a glass of wine while she was waiting for her date to get here. She was early, and she didn’t mind that he wasn’t. He was however perfectly on time and Nora was pleasantly surprised when she saw him standing next to her. 

Short blond hair, perfectly shaved, and kind blue eyes. Kelly was always setting her up with decent looking men. That was the only reason why Nora kept accepting these dates. Even if it never went anywhere, she was spending a rather nice evening with a good looking man. In Nora’s book, it was considered a win. 

“It’s nice to meet you,” the man said with a smile. A very nice smile, Nora had to admit. “Have you been waiting for long ?”

She tried to remember his name. “Paul, right ?” He nodded and she kept on smiling. “Just enough to be ready for another drink.” He sat down and politely waited for the waitress to notice him and quickly ordered two glasses of wine. “How long have you been working with Ethan ?”

“Just enough to know that he has a sister and she’s single. He didn’t mention she was a very beautiful woman too.”

“He always fails to mention that. I’ll remind him that I’m the good looking one in the family,” she said with a laugh. She enjoyed laughing and she didn’t have a lot of reasons to laugh lately. “So you’ve been working with him for what, a week ?”

“A month.”

“They usually try to set me up on a date faster than that.”

Paul smiled. "Ethan said you were busy with work. Something about books ? You’re a librarian ?”

“I’m studying old pieces and translating them for big libraries. A few textual analysis, but nothing too fancy,” she replied, taking a sip from her glass. 

“New translations or second opinions ?”

Surprised by the genuine interest in her job he was showing, Nora relaxed a bit. “It depends on the job, but I have to admit I like giving a second opinion. Even more when no one asked for it.”

They both laughed and ordered their meals. And for a while, Nora thought that it was going well. The food was delicious, and the company was just as great. Paul seemed like the most decent man she’d met in a long time, he was nice, pleasant to look at, and funny. 

“Do you have plans ? Except giving people your opinion when they don’t ask for it, I mean,” Paul asked after they were served dessert. 

“In life ?” she asked with a tint of fear in the voice. Paul nodded and she tried to hide her embarrassment. “Well, work is taking me a lot of time and…” And my insides will melt in twenty years. She stopped and decided not to go there. “You’re dreaming of getting your own restaurant, I bet.”