“I’ll just have the same,” Finley added.
“I guess that means the burger is good. Can I get one, too? No cheese and no onions if they come with it,” Lainey said.
“No problem,” Logan replied and looked at Maisie.
“Sure. Why not?” Maisie said. “Same.”
Logan looked at India.
“Oh, nothing for me.”
“India, the food is good here. I promise,” Finley said.
“It’s fine. I’m not hungry. Just the drink for me; thank you.”
“You don’t like bar food, either?” Maisie asked her.
“I don’t usually eat at bars, no. Drinks, yes. Dinner elsewhere.”
“You don’t want to try it, even though we all are?”
“I’m okay,” India insisted.
“Do you only eat at super fancy places?”
“No,” India replied, turning a little toward her. “Why are you so concerned about where I eat?”
“Because I suggested a place and told you that the food was good, and you looked down at me.”
“I didn’t look down at you.”
“You lifted your nose up. That’s literally looking down at me,” Maisie argued.
“I didn’t lift my nose up. If I did, it wasn’t because of that.”
“Then, why would you lift your nose up at me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I just wanted to lift my damn nose, Maisie,” India said a little louder. “Do I really have to apologize for not wanting to sit on some picnic table and eat whatever that place sells for my first date with a woman?”
“Did you really have to make it sound like the world would end if you did?” she asked back.
“What is so wrong with wanting to take you to a nice place for dinner?”
“Nothing. It’s notwhatyou suggested. It washowyou suggested it.”
“I was drinking peach iced tea that I brought for your employee to be nice, after I got you and Lainey here both coffee… to be nice.”
“You’re right,” Maisie said.
“About what? Why are we even fighting about this?”
“You’ve been wiping the table off with that napkin since before I got here. You had to order something fancy to drink. You won’t order food, even though you’re probably hungry.”
“Hey, Maise,” Lainey said. “Maybe she just doesn’t want to eat right now. She could’ve had a late lunch or something. No big deal.”
“For your information, Maisie Lincoln, I was wiping the table off repeatedly to have something to do with my hands because I’ve been a little anxious tonight. My ex and her new girlfriend are sitting right across from me, and they’re clearly in love. It’s awkward, and not because I still want to be with her. I don’t. Sorry, Fin.”
“No need to apologize for that,” Finley said.
