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First Kiss
THE OCEAN VIEWbeckoned from the back of the restaurant, luring me into the foyer where a friendly smile attached to a tall, exotic brunette stood, ready to greet us.
"Hello again, Grady. Your brother is already seated at your table."
"Thank you, Natasha."
I could tell she was smitten with Grady, but that didn't keep her from sharing a warm smile with me as she observed my arm interlocked with his. I returned a friendly smile as Grady pulled me into the bustling crowd. The ambience was a strange mixture of chic casual, and the lights were dim to accentuate the stars beginning to show their nightly beauty. The music had an alternative sound and was loud enough to drown out the conversations at the tables as we passed. The bar was packed with casually dressed patrons, and their laughter filled the room.
Grady talked over the crowd, leaning over so I could hear him. "We are in the back."
He pointed to a far corner booth that was easily the best seat in the house. There were no walls obstructing the view to the outside, and it was the furthest from the bar, kitchen, and bathrooms. Brandt stood up as we approached.
"I was starting to think Grady swept you away." He winked.
"I tried, but for some reason, unbeknownst to me, she is under your spell already."
Brandt held his hand out to usher me into the booth. Our touch sizzled as he leaned in and whispered, "He's always been a bit jealous of me." His breath warmed my bare shoulder, sending noticeable goose bumps down my arms.
I rubbed my shoulders.
"Are you cold?" he inquired. “I can have them turn down the air.”
"No." I smiled shyly as I tucked my head and scooted into the booth, taking care that my dress didn’t pull up again. The boys sat on either side of me, making this a perfect love triangle.
A beautiful female server approached. “The usual, boys?” She looked over to me. “And maybe a glass of wine for your guest?”
I did want a glass of wine. In fact, I wanted more than one, but I didn't know what kind I liked, so I just stared blankly at her for too many uncomfortable seconds. Brandt jumped in and ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir, saving me again. I stared at my fingers, hiding my mild shame.
"Pinot Noir is popular," he said as the server walked away.
"Sounds good," I replied. It had dampened the mood a bit. Everything was a constant reminder that I had lost so much. I rubbed at my fingers as my body tightened with anxiety. A light touch of Brandt's hand on my exposed knee brought me back to the conversation.
"We can go, if you want. If this is too much too soon," he said.
"Yeah, we can do this at the office tomorrow," Grady agreed.
"No, I'm fine. Really. I was just trying to remember if I liked wine. It doesn't matter.” They both gave me a not-so-convinced look. "I'm serious. I get to experience everything again for the first time. It's a new adventure every day for me, and I don't even have to go to some exotic place for it." I smiled, trying to reassure them, but I didn't even believe what I was saying. I sighed in defeat when their doubts remained unchanged.
The server came back with the bottle of wine and three glasses. We sat quietly as she opened and poured it.
"That's enough for me." Brandt cut her off before his glass was half full. "I'm the designated driver." He smiled.
"Are you ready to order?" she asked, practically salivating over Grady.
"Could you give us a few minutes, Nichole?" Grady answered politely.
I looked at him curiously. This was definitely their favorite spot. They were on a first name basis with all the staff.
"Man, she never quits, does she?" Brandt burst out as soon as she was out of range.
Grady brushed it off, and Brandt returned his attention to me. "They have a great menu. It's all organic and natural. The restaurant is eco-friendly, which is why we invested in it when it almost went out of business last year."
"Oh, wow. You guys are quite the entrepreneurs."
"It keeps us busy," Grady said in that distant voice Brandt and he shared from time to time. The voice that took them to a dark corner of a hidden past. One I wasn't sure I was ready to be privy to.
I flipped through the menu while the boys discussed business. Looking at all the options was overwhelming. I just needed to breathe through it. I needed to trust my gut. I couldn't let picking my dinner be what ruined the night, but the anxiety was rising in me with every page. Everything looked good, but what if I had allergies? What if I didn't eat meat? I closed my eyes and squeezed my hands together tightly, trying to settle my mind.
