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Picking up the menu, she hoped he didn’t see her shaking hands.
“You can order whatever you want,” he said. “I can recommend everything.”
She glanced through the menu, and it was difficult.
“What is it?” Rusty asked.
Looking at him, she nibbled her lip. “I kind of have a confession to make.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know if I should tell you.”
“Come on, you can tell me anything.”
“Okay.” She put the menu down and pushed off her face a strand of hair that kept on falling in front of her eyes. “It’s really not that big of a deal, but I tried it a couple of years ago and I haven’t gone back.”
“You’re starting to scare me.”
“I don’t eat meat,” she said. So far, she’d been able to avoid the whole food and meat debate with her parents, but most of the items on the menu were all meat. Chicken, pork, beef, and there was even shrimp.
“You don’t eat meat?”
“I’m a vegetarian.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t eat fish either.”
“Oh,” he said.
“Do you want to call the date off?”
“No, but if you turn the menu over, you’ll see the vegetarian menu. I can’t say your parents won’t know by the end of the night, but Cole put it in to attract more customers. He even makes sure there’s a preparation area in the kitchen so there’s no risk of contamination.”
“He does?” Rusty nodded. “How do you know that?”
“I helped install it. I’m a man of many talents.”
“I’m seeing that.”
He winked. “Order whatever you want.”
“You don’t have a problem with it?” she asked.
“Babe, why would I have a problem?”
“I don’t know. It’s weird. Don’t you think it’s weird?”
“No, not at all. It’s a thing. You don’t want to eat meat, don’t eat meat. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just pleased I didn’t take you to a chicken and steak place.”
This time she laughed.
Turning the menu over, she did see the bold heading of vegetarian options. Underneath the list of ten items, there was also a note saying they were working on adding vegan options and to please check back.
Cole really had gone all out.
“You ready to order?”
“Yes.”
She settled on a lentil ragu with a side salad while Rusty ordered himself a steak and potatoes.
“Do you want me to order from your part of the menu?” he asked.
“No. You don’t need to do that. I don’t eat meat, but I don’t stop others from enjoying it.” She folded her arms and leaned in. “So, erm, this is a date?”
“You knew it was a date.”
“No, you told me it was dinner.”
“And now I’m extending it to be dinner and a date.” He folded his arms exactly like her and leaned on the table. “So, what do you think?”
“I think you’re sneaky.”
“I’m sneaky.”
“I thought I was doing you a favor for coming and picking me up, but I hear that I’m not and it’s all just a ruse to get me here.”
“That it is.” He reached out, taking her hand. “I’m so glad you decided to come back home.”
“You are?”
“Yes. I missed you.”
She couldn’t believe he was saying these things, and her heart started to race just a little at first. His touch helped, and she liked his gaze on her. There had been a few times she felt herself remembering him when she was alone in the city.
Now was one of those times.
She had missed him.
They were never really close, but whenever they were in the same room together, there was always this … tension.
None of it made any sense to her, but watching him now, seeing him, she knew there was an attraction.
She hadn’t seen it growing up. Who could? They were two kids, but right now, the way he was looking at her, she knew. They wanted each other.
Had it been the same back then?
Their moment was interrupted as Cole put them down two beers.
“I’m driving tonight, Cole. Just a soda for me,” Rusty said.
He was the perfect gentleman. How did that happen?
“You can have one beer, man, you sure?”
“I’m sure. I didn’t come here to get myself whacked out. I came here on a date, and I’m going to make sure she gets home safely.”
****
So far, Rusty was only getting a few little smiles from her, and they were so fucking cute and sweet. He wanted her, and the more time he was in her company, the harder those feelings were getting.
She’d looked so adorable when she had told him she was a vegetarian, almost as if she was a little embarrassed by it.
There was nothing to be embarrassed about.
Her parents were known for their lavish barbeques and meat-filled get-togethers, but he doubted they’d be upset with their daughter.
Sipping on his soda, he wanted to get back the moment of where he was telling her exactly how he felt, but so far, she was just smiling and looking a little coy.
