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We follow her up a flight of stairs toward a private dining space, but my eyes are all for Izzy as she gawks at the ornate furnishings, the extravagant staircase, the chandeliers, and the silverware as we approach our table.
She’s just a small-town girl, and despite the fact she’s been attending black tie events with me and my brothers since she was fifteen or so, she still appreciates the fancy.
Candlelight has the room shrouded in intrigue and romance. Large picture windows show off the lit-up city in all its glory.
One single square dining table sits in the center of the room, big enough for only two, and shows off about a hundred different forks and knives and a handful of wine glasses artfully placed around a small flower arrangement.
“It’s so pretty in here.” She sits gently and allows me to push in her chair.
It’s like we’re kids again and we’re playing dinner parties. It’s all so surreal, and silly, and fun. But it’s real life, and my heart feels like it might explode before dessert arrives.
“Can I get you both a drink?”
Iz’s eyes snap to mine. “What should I get?”
“Anything you want. Apple cider’s nice. Kit’s into that. Or vodka and juice. Or champagne.”
“What are you having?”
“I’ll just have a beer.”
“Okay… If I order the cider, can I taste your beer?”
I laugh; such a chick thing to say. “Sure Bubs, you can taste my beer.”
“Okay.” She turns to our server. “I’ll have a cider, please.”
As soon as the server leaves, Iz turns back to me with a silly smirk. “So, James… Tell me about yourself.”
I bark out a laugh. “Well, let’s see. I’m twenty-three.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And sexy.”
Her eyes light up. “Tell me more.”
“I’m crushing on this twit who thinks she’s clever.”
Flopping back in her chair, she snickers. “You ruined it. Doesn’t this feel weird?” She waves her hand around the room. “It’s weird, right?”
“Not to me. Why do you think it’s weird?”
“Because we do this every day; we talk, we eat together. We’ve been doing this forever. But now we’re doing ithere, and I feel like we need to talk about something more profound than…”
“What?”
“I dunno. Something more than regular stuff.”
“We don’t have to do anything, Bubs.” I lean across the table and take her hand. “Don’t get caught up on expectations. This isn’t like a regular date. We already love each other. Just relax. I want you to have a nice time.”
“Well, I am…”
“Good.”
She sits back and studies the room. Her thumbnail makes its way back to her teeth, and I watch her ruin it for a minute until I give up. “Bubs?”
She looks up, more casually than she probably feels inside. “Hm?”
