Page 31 of The Liar in Room 5

“But you’re already paying for me, and that ought to be enough.”

Why couldn’t he see this?

I’d been kept for twenty years, and now, even though Phoenix ran Halo House, Henry was paying for my upkeep there too. There had to be a limit to what I should expect from him.

“Fair point. In a perfect world, though, just so I know for the future, if you were paying for dinner yourself, would it be tea, a mocktail, or a real cocktail?”

“Probably a fruity mocktail.”

“Makes sense. Since you’re not ordering tonight, there’s no harm in talking about it. Ribeye or sirloin?”

“Definitely ribeye. Medium rare before you ask.”

I glanced toward our server, who was making her way back. “Should we tell her we changed our minds? I’m sure she’d like the table back as soon as possible.”

“Let’s not rush her. Their baked potatoes are made tableside, and the roasted corn is too good to miss.”

“I’m sorry… I should’ve said something when you first mentioned this, but I have enough for a movie if you still want to do that.”

“We can. But the potato?”

I couldn’t help smiling.

“Yeah…the potato does sound good.”

How on earth did he sound so relaxed when I knew it would be embarrassing for him to have to stand up and leave? After this mess, invitations from Henry probably weren’t happening again.

Our server appeared beside the table.

“Gentlemen, have we decided?”

“Yes. Two fruity mocktails, please.” Henry looked at me before continuing, “We’ll both have the ribeye, medium rare, with baked potatoes and the roasted corn.”

“Would you like the house salad as well? The dressing’s homemade.”

“Yes, please.”

She collected our menus and disappeared again.

I stared at Henry.

Henry stared back at me.

“What was that about?”

“I already told you.”

“But I’m already costing you too much.”

Jonathan had kept me. The one before him had too. So had the one before that.

Henry reached across the table and took my hand and said, “It’s a good thing you’re worth it.”

Oh, for Pete’s sake, what am I supposed to do with that?

“And here’s your dessert!”

Our server returned carrying a lava cake and placed it directly in front of me instead of in the center of the table. Chocolate and caramel oozed down the sides, with squiggly lines decorating the plate and a scoop of vanilla ice cream flecked with real vanilla bean. She looked at me expectantly before nodding toward the plate.