AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay, I haven’t,” I admit.
With his right hand, he removes the foil, jams the wine opener in, and nestles the bottle between his left arm and body. Having to press his injured arm against his body, he grimaces as he pulls the cork out.
“You should have let me do it,” I say. “You don’t have to show me how manly you are by doing everything yourself.”
He pours the champagne into two flutes. “Don’t worry. You’ll get your chance to wait on me hand and foot.”
He hands me a glass. I hesitate. This will be my first sip of alcohol, and I’m not twenty-one yet.
“You want a glass of sparkling water instead?” he asks.
I look into his eyes, touched by his consideration.
“I think, this being a special occasion, I’m going to go for the champagne,” I decide.
He raises his glass. “To refrigerated vans.”
I chuckle and clink glasses. The champagne is very bubbly and a little sweet, like apple cider.
Darren shakes his head. “You’re officially a law-breaker now. It’s a slippery slope that starts with a sip of champagne and spirals into who knows what.”
“You’re a bad influence,” I tease back.
Oddly, he looks taken aback, and I wonder if I hurt his feelings, but surely he knows I was just kidding around?
He sets down his glass and pulls out his chair with one hand. “The restaurant offered to provide a server because this is supposed to be an eight-course meal. I didn’t want to be waited on.”
On our plates are small menus detailing the different dishes.
“Looks like the zensai is the first course,” I say after reading the menu.
I take the lid off the first plate of appetizers. Next is a delicate soup served in lidded lacquered bowls. I end up playing the role of the server for the whole dinner, which is what I wanted. It’s the least I can do. The bullets that ended up in Darren could have easily been in me.
Our dinner conversation is somewhat minimal. My thoughts are occupied with how to pitch the idea of my staying over for a couple of days. I don’t want to intrude into his space, especially if he likes it to remain a bachelor pad, even if it’s just for a few days. I want to be around in case he needs help. But my thoughts are disrupted when I find Darren constantly staring at me.
“What?” I ask when we’re on our fourth course, sashimi.
“You must be tired,” he says.
“I’m okay. I’ve gotten less sleep cramming for an exam before.”
“You get any nightmares from what happened?”
I shake my head. “You?”
“No. You seem to be taking this well.”
“You too.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Like I said, this isn’t the first time I’ve been shot.”
“Yeah, but the other time was an accident. Looking back, it might have been predictable. This was out of the blue.”
“Like getting into a car accident. Shit happens in life.”
“It’s still terrifying.”
He stares at me earnestly. “Are you still scared?”
I set down my chopsticks. “I guess. Mostly because when I think of how you could have been—what could have happened to you…to all of us. I could have—if you hadn’t pushed me away—I haven’t even thanked you yet for saving my life!”
He sets down his chopsticks, too, and sits back in his chair. “You want to thank me now?”
