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“What is going—” Warmth emanates from his body, surrounding me in his scent. His presence is familiar and foreign all at once, and when our eyes meet, the flash of recognition in his is simultaneously thrilling and frightening.
“Hello, Jack.”
TWO
My family has been eating at The Lantern for, literally, decades, and I’ve never waited so long to have my drink order taken. Since coming home after my injury, I’ve had several first dates here. That may sound bad, but none of them went well, hence the need for multiple first dates.
Hushed conversations float from the other side of the double doors, and I pause my pacing, wondering if I’m finally going to get a drink, or maybe it’s my date, Phoebe. She’s a bit older than me, but she seems nice and her picture was very attractive. Maybe she’s more mature than the ladies I’ve been out with this week.
Whoever is outside the damn door keeps whispering, and I press against the door to open it, my watch clinking on the metal.
“What is going—”
I stop in my tracks when she comes into view.
Because she’s not Phoebe. She’s Rachel. The girl I left before she could leave me.
“Hello, Jack.” Her lips curve around my name the way they once curved around my cock, that sneaky smile sending me years back in time. She was the first to suck my cock, and while a few have since, no one compared to Rachel.
I’m at a loss for words, but my favorite waiter, Chester, is also outside the door, holding a bottle of the wine I always order. I step back for them to come in, surprised that Rachel doesn’t even seem nervous. She’s always been a little anxious in certain situations, and I would have bet money that tricking her ex into taking her to dinner would be one of them.
I lead the way over to the table that’s already set for us and pull out her chair. She watches me for a moment, as if calculating her next move. She must decide it’s safe, because she clicks over, her heels echoing in the room, and slips into the seat.
I take my seat also, unbuttoning my suit jacket, and Chester clears his throat. “Wine, sir?”
“Yes please, Chester.” I can’t help but feel a bit betrayed that he’s been hanging out with my date, but he had no way of knowing it would be Rachel either. He probably wouldn’t recognize her from the one dinner she came here for. I do because I know her eyes and the shape of her mouth, but her hair is dyed black with purple streaks, and she has a Monroe piercing now. The silver stud glints as she turns her head, poised perfectly above the left corner of her mouth. She’s fucking beautiful.
Then again, I look different as well. I’m still built the same, but my muscles aren’t as toned now that I don’t have my daily workouts and practices. Time changes people—and not just physically. My temper is a bit shorter now, and I’m not as trusting as I was when we were young.
“I’ll be back soon with your food.” Chester nods.
“We didn’t order,” Rachel pipes up, her voice confident and grown, different from the shaky tones that whispered ‘I love you too’ in response to the first time I declared my love for her.
“The chef will prepare a surprise for you both.” Chester glances toward me for confirmation and I nod.
“I would like to order something different.” Rachel clears her throat. “Please, Chester.”
Oh, so they’re on a first name basis now?
“Very well. What would you like?”
“A cheeseburger with ketchup only and french fries.”
If Rachel’s order surprises Chester, he doesn’t show it, but I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. “I’m shocked you didn’t order the chicken fingers.”
“I would have if I thought they would have them,” she spits back, her eyes flashing dangerously at me.
“I’ll have the same, Chester.”
This time, his eyebrows disappear in his bangs, but he nods and skedaddles out of the room as if his feet are on fire.
“So.” I lean back in my chair, surveying Rachel as her hand wraps around the stem of her wineglass. She brings it to her lips and takes a slow slip, and for a moment I lose track of thought as I watch her throat muscles flexing with the swallow of the red liquid.
“So, you want an explanation of my presence here tonight.”
“That would be nice, as I was under the impression I was meeting a woman named Phoebe, and now I find out you’ve catfished me.” Not that it’s the first time I’ve been duped, but it grates my nerves that Rachel did this.
“Well, Phoebe is a real woman, if that’s any consolation. She’s one of my best friends.”
