Page 67 of Retrograde

He cleared his throat and focused on his food.

“Who did you hear that from?” I asked, understanding what was going on better.

“My mother,” he admitted, and I liked him better for being honest. “She was defending you when my father was on one of his tirades about you being the future and—”

“Your father is one of the most sexist Alphas and men in the country even if he keeps his mouth shut publicly. Mostly,” I told him. “And if you share a fraction of his views, this won’t work, much less us having a friendship. It’s not a threat, but a warning. Plus, I’m not stupid of how your father especially would expect things to be.”

He swallowed loudly and kept his gaze down. “Mother thought it was fair for you to experience life as Sagan before you were an adult heir and then queen. I agreed with her viewinstead of Father’s when I got a bit older. I’m sorry I didn’t understand the truth of it.”

I had a feeling that would be my biggest problem with Zev… He didn’t have opinions of his own.

Except food apparently. He was a total foodie and moved past the awkward, detailing everything in front of us from the areas the seafood had been caught to the batter and oils it was fried in.

I was ahugefan of the non-fried foods like the mini lobster rolls, smoked calamari, and grilled scallops. The fried was great too, but I didn’t eat it often and had been more than normal, so the table loaded with it was a bit overwhelming. I did try a lot of it, and while fried shrimp, catfish, and crab were great, I didn’t think fried oysters and a few others were how I liked them cooked.

Fries of course needed to be fried. Of course they did.

“Fried foods aren’t your thing,” he muttered as he kept eating. “Good to know.”

“I’ve eaten a healthy diet for so long that too much and I’ll get sick.”

“Like no alcohol,” he hedged.

I gave a half shrug, not liking the interview vibe I was getting even if this was to get to know each other better. “I haven’t had much, but I’ve not liked it besides some wines. I feel bloated for training and it’s just not worth it to me.”

“Fair.” He frowned. “I just tend to go with the flow.”

I wasn’t sure which of us that was more insulting to? Him for not figuring out what he actually liked and just doing whatever others told him to… Or me for making me sound like I was difficult?

Both?

I decided to help him like he had me with Andra. “No one’s here to judge. Order some drinks and see what you like. Whocares if you don’t like them?” I gave a half shrug and kept focused on my food so he didn’t feel pushed.

“One,” he accepted after several moments. “Yeah, trying one makes sense. I’m not here to drink, but… A fun drink sounds nice.” He cleared his throat. “I’d offer you a sip to try normally but—sorry, just didn’t want to sound rude, but—it’s difficult to know how to adjust. I prefer to just be honest about that.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say either. There wasn’t exactly a playbook or etiquette training for how to handle after a mating candidate drugged you.

Apparently, now someone should think of that.

He tried to recover the mood—and maybe how I would see him—and talked about how he’d always wanted to travel outside of Thovudin but wasn’t allowed to. None of his family ever did and he didn’t feel it was worth the issues it would cause.

I was glad when our seafood boils came and he was distracted ordering the drink that took him a long time to decide on… While keeping the server standing there waiting for him. I was dying to say something, but that would absolutely get back to others and look bad for Zev that I “wore the pants” or whatever bullshit.

So I focused on my food and made polite conversation with the server who basically stared at me with hearts in her eyes for saving her. Finally, he decided and she went to go get it.

And I couldn’t let it go.

“It took you five minutes to decide,” I said quietly.

He flinched. “I can be indecisive.”

“We all can be and that’s not my issue.” I swallowed a sigh when he simply blinked at me. I gestured to where the server had been standing. “You kept her there forfive minutes, Zev. Waiting for you to decide on one drink. You could have asked her to come back or—she has other things to do.”

He frowned and glanced towards the door. “Huh, I didn’t think of that. Good point. I’ll apologize.”

I bet he didn’t do that a lot… Think.

“How is this the same person who came up with the idea of bringing in Andra?”Iris wondered in my mind and we both realized the answer at the same time and it was hard not laughing.