“Sometimes I think I might be. I just need some quiet, you know?”
“I do. And you deserve that. Everybody needs some time to recharge.”
“You’d think. And I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have dumped it on you, I just…”
“You absolutely should have dumped it on me, and a long, long time ago. What is your bestie for if not dumping on?” she asked.
Kaiser smiled at her, but it was still a little off. “I’ll be okay. I just need a little time to be me again.”
“I know. And you’ll get that here. At home, and at my home. There are parts of us that need to be able to just roam, if you know what I mean. We need to put our bare feet, or paws as it may be, in the grass under the moonlight and just forget all the adulting that is usually expected of us.”
“You’re right. And it’s been a while.”
“Want to run later?” she asked, flirtatiously.
“Absolutely.”
“Hi, I’m sorry for your wait. Are you ready to order?” the young man assigned as their waiter asked, standing at the ready with his pad in hand.
“Bring me the biggest, thickest steak you have. AuGratin potatoes, and I want the garlic butter sauteed mushrooms on top of it,” Kaiser said.
“Oh, that sounds wonderful! Same!” Cristie said, closing her menu and handing to the waiter.
“It’s a big steak,” the waiter said, looking at Cristie.
“You’d be surprised how much I can eat. Besides, if I can’t finish it, I get breakfast out of the deal, too,” she said, grinning at him.
“Sounds like a plan,” he said. “Would you care for an appetizer?”
“You?” Kaiser asked.
“Not me. I just want my meal,” Kristie said.
“Same. Just the meals,” Kaiser said, looking up at the waiter.
“Got it. Would you like me to bring you fresh drinks, or would you care for anything else to drink with your meal?”
“Ice water for me,” they both said, then laughed as their eyes met.
“You got it. I’ll put your orders in.”
“Thanks,” Kaiser said, then picked up his whiskey and sipped it.
“So, is that all that’s been bugging you?” Cristie asked.
“I think that’s enough for one night,” Kaiser said, winking at her.
“I don’t. What’s the other thing? The thing that has you at odds with your father?”
“It’s not really one thing. I’m just on edge. I know that, so I’m just doing my best not to lose my temper. It’s not his fault I’m on edge.”
“Agreed. But what has you on edge. All the celebrity that comes with the career you’ve chosen? Seems to me that nobody knows it as well as he does. He might have a sympathetic shoulder.”
“No, just being here with you and being able to share it with you already made it feel a little lighter. Just something he said set me off and I was already irritated. Like I said, though, wasn’t his fault.”
“What did he say?”
“Isn’t this supposed to be about you? Me taking you out to make sure you’re okay?” he asked, laughingly.
