“I can’t believe you remembered that.”
“You called it your favorite food in the whole world, so of course I did.”
“You also remembered my favorite cocktail, favorite dessert, and the type of dressing I like on my salad.”
He shrugged and said, “I pay attention.”
“You really do. Way to make me feel seen.” He smiled self-consciously, and I told him,
“Thank you for going above and beyond. I just wish I could have sent you dinner, too.”
“Not possible, since nobody delivers out here. But I put on my thinking cap and made myself stuff to mirror your meal, more or less.” He raised a bottle of beer and said, “Let’s drink a toast.”
I took off the lid and raised one of the jars. “What should we drink to?”
“To you, Hal, and all the beauty you bring into the world, through the things you make and just by living in it.” He chuckled and added, “That sounded less corny in my head.”
“It was very sweet. And to you, Ryder, the kindest, most thoughtful man I’ve ever known.”
Now that we’d both embarrassed each other, we took a drink and started chatting about our day. When it was time for the salad course, I unpacked a plastic fork and tucked into my fancy baby field greens with a light vinaigrette. Meanwhile, he enjoyed a big bowl of iceberg lettuce with carrots, croutons, and ranch dressing.
Once we finished, he picked up his empty bowl and told me, “I’ll be right back. I’ve been keeping my dinner warm in the oven.”
As soon as he left, Sally reappeared, sniffing all around and probably hoping for a stray crouton. I chuckled at the close-up of her big nose as she sniffed the camera.
When Ryder came back, I heard him before I saw him. “Scoot over, Sally, and quit rubbing your nose all over my computer. You’re smudging the screen.”
He was wearing oven mitts that looked like sharks and carrying a dinner plate, which was covered with an inverted metal mixing bowl. I grinned when he lifted the DIY cloche, revealing a grilled cheese sandwich that had been cut into one-inch circles with a cookie cutter. That was accompanied by a side of sweet potato fries.
“I briefly considered tryin’ to roll some rice around the fries to make something resembling sushi,” he said, “but I figured that’d end in disaster, so I went with this instead.”
“Good call.”
As we started on our entrees, he commented, “You’re a pro at working those chopsticks.” My meal had come with a disposable wooden pair, and I was using them to lightly dip the sushi into asmall cup of soy sauce. Meanwhile, he’d poured a pool of ranch dressing onto his plate and was dipping the fries into it. He really was mirroring me in his own way.
“My dad taught me how to use them when I was little.”
“It must have been cool to grow up with traditions from both of your parents’ cultures.”
“Dad was all about passing down his traditions, but Mom really wanted to acclimate to life in the US and tried to let go of her past. I always thought it was sad that she didn’t want to pass on her family’s traditions, but at least she taught me Spanish.”
“Are you fluent in Japanese, too?” When I nodded, he said, “That’s impressive. I don’t know anyone else who’s trilingual.”
I shrugged. “It’s easy to learn multiple languages when you grow up with them.”
“My Gran taught me a little Spanish. I’m pretty rusty, though.”
“You mentioned she immigrated from Mexico. Did she teach you any of her family’s traditions?”
“A few. They mostly have to do with food. Like, every Christmas, I make a whole mountain of tamales and give a bunch to my friends. I think she’d be happy to know I kept that tradition alive.”
“I love tamales. When I was growing up in Southern California, I used to buy them from this lady who lived in our apartment building. It would be really cool to know how to make them.”
“I’d be happy to show you my Gran’s version. If you want to, we can make them when you visit over spring break.” He quickly added, “No pressure, though. I know you’re still not sure if you can get away.”
Right then and there, I made a decision. “I’m definitely coming. I think the change of scenery will do me good, and I really want to spend time with you.”
His face lit up in a gorgeous smile. “Leave everything to me. I’ll buy your plane tickets, and I’ll see if my ranch hand can work some extra hours. That way, we can take our time when I show you Austin. I think you’ll like it.”
