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“No. Everything is fine.” Oh, two fines in as many comments. I’m smart enough to know it’s anything but fine at this point.
“If everything is fine, what would you like for dinner?” I ask her. I refuse to feed into this crap. It’s one of the lessons I was hoping we wouldn’t have to talk about yet, but I guess we are.
“If there is something on your mind, we should discuss it. In all relationships, whether work or personal, communication is key.”
“About that,” she begins, then takes a deep breath. I’m shocked that she hasn’t put on her courtroom face or maybe she has if she’s that angry with me. “I agree, communication is important, but it goes both ways.”
Nodding, I don’t comment, only acknowledge that we are on the same page.
“There are quite a few things I’d like to discuss with you tonight, but since you allowed me to choose what we ate last night, how about you pick tonight. Then I can get out of this apartment before I lose my mind.”
Well fuck. I didn’t even consider that she would stay inside all day. The doorman is aware that she’s staying with me and would help her with anything she needs.
“Great idea. There is a place called The Mad Chicken not far from here and they have great food.”
“I need to grab my purse, then I’ll be ready.” She says, turning to walk away, and I take my jacket off, placing it on the back of the chair and rolling up my sleeves. Summer is sneaking her way into the city and I’m going to relax tonight.
When Kollyns walks out in her granny pumps I hold in a chuckle. Tomorrow, this woman is going shopping.
We take the elevator down to the lobby and I decide that walking will be good for us since it’s only a couple blocks over. “If you don’t mind, we’ll walk.”
I don’t wait for a response, just guide her into the flow of people walking by.
“The weather has warmed up today,” she comments. Opening and closing my hands, I allow her to rattle on, even though small talk is the bane of my existence. I decide I’m going to have to up my game while we’re going through this process because she is totally clueless on how to read people.
“Yeah, summer has settled upon us and I expect it’s going to be a hot one.” As the words tumble from my lips, I try not to roll my eyes. Instead, I change the subject.
“What do you like to do when you’re not working?” We have to start somewhere and these are the basics.
We stop at a corner and wait for the green crossing light when she looks at me with a slight grin. “Is working a hobby? Outside of that, I sleep, take long luxurious baths, and talk to Mr. Big mostly.” We begin walking again and then her face lights up. “Oh, and I chat with Henley.”
As though that’s a hobby. Shit, this girl needs to get a life outside of work. I assumed this from the beginning, but now it’s even more obvious. Who considers long baths and talking to their cat as hobbies unless they’re crazy?
“Okay. Sounds like we need to make a list of things you want to try because I wouldn’t call any of those basic life functions hobbies. I expected you to say you like to read, travel, or even crochet.”
She laughs and snorts, then slaps her hand over her face and snorts again. “Crochet? You really don’t know me. Hen and I are exact opposites. She has a ton of hobbies which is how the Hen House came to be and I work all the time.”
Instead of interrupting and making judgments, I allow her to keep rambling as we walk into the restaurant. We’re the only ones waiting and the hostess takes us to a small table by the kitchen in the back.
I pull out her chair, and she gives me a shocked look before she sits down. Walking around to the other side I take my seat as the hostess leaves the menus on the table for us. Kollyns picks up the menu and begins perusing it, not realizing all they serve is fried chicken and sides. I should have probably told her, but she needs to live a little.
“Wow, I didn’t know there were this many ways to make fried chicken.”
“I had the same thought the first time I came here, but now it’s my secret place. I usually come here alone so I don’t have to worry about how messy I get.”
Nik has been here with me, but it’s kind of like Fight Club for us. We don’t tell anyone about it and we don’t discuss it with or in front of anyone else. So, why did I decide to bring Kollyns here tonight?
“What is your favorite?”
I don’t even have to think about it. Once I find something I like at a restaurant I have a hard time changing or trying something else. “I either get the Spicy with mac and cheese and cucumber salad or barbecue, potato salad and watermelon.”
“Both sound really good. Have you had parmesan before? I’m trying to decide between that and the regular.”
This is good. She is deciding what she wants, not copying what I am ordering. “I haven’t had the parmesan, but Nik likes it. He calls it the Hen repellent because there is so much garlic in it.”
A flash of humor crosses her face and she giggles just like Henley’s little girl, Harris, does when I tickle her belly.
“But if you order the basics, it’s good, but there is so much more to their chicken that I’d recommend anything else.”
