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Twenty minutes later, Theo and I stepped into a restaurant, which he told me was a steakhouse. I was thrilled to experience something American I had heard about. We were greeted by the warm aroma of sizzling steaks and the soft hum of conversation. The rustic decor and cozy ambiance were exciting.
We were seated at our table in the country-looking restaurant. It was made to look like a log cabin, but I could tell it was fine dining. I glanced across the table at Theo, who was studying the menu. “Is it okay if I have you order for me?” I asked him as I scanned my own menu.
“Sure,” he said, smiling. “I would like that.”
“Theo, this place is really nice. It feels so different from home, and I mean that in the best way possible.”
He looked up from the menu and smiled warmly at me. “I’m glad you like it, Emilie. It’s one of my favorite spots in town. Simple, honest food, and friendly faces.”
I nodded, appreciating the sentiment. “I love how kind and welcoming everyone is. It’s a refreshing change from what I’m used to.”
“It’s a good place,” he said. “I don’t mean the restaurant. I love it here.”
Our waiter arrived to take our orders. Theo ordered our steaks, and I quickly requested mine medium rare, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes, and vegetables.
“I’m so hungry,” I said, laughing when the waiter left. “Just listening to you order the steaks made my mouth water.”
As we waited for our food, we sipped wine and talked a little more about his home. Our steaks arrived, and we dug in with gusto, savoring each delectable bite. The steak was juicy and tender, bursting with flavor, while the mashed potatoes were the epitome of creamy perfection. Even the vegetables, typically an afterthought for me, were really good. I knew I wasn’t acting like a princess, but I didn’t care. I was really hungry and the food was amazing.
Between bites, we continued our conversation, sharing stories from our lives. “You’ll have to forgive me for pigging out.”
“Shoot, I was about to say the same thing to you,” he said, grinning. “I missed steak.”
It was nice to be able to just be normal with him. It was like hanging out with Nora, but not Nora. It was the same level of comfort. I could eat without worrying about keeping my elbows off the table and only taking the tiniest of bites.
Theo seemed to feel the same way, digging into his steak with the same level of enthusiasm as I was. We ate in comfortable silence for a few moments, enjoying the delicious meal and each other’s company.
After a while, Theo broke the silence. “I have to admit, I’m really glad you’re here with me,” he said, his voice low and serious. “Is it crazy that I have dreamed about eating steak with you?”
I smiled. “I don’t know if it’s crazy, but it’s good to know you’ve thought about it. I’m so glad no one from back home is here to witness this.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “That’s the joy of being across the pond. No spies.”
We laughed and continued eating, enjoying the moment. As we finished our steaks, I felt a little sad that it was over. I didn’t want the night to end just yet.
Theo seemed to sense my disappointment and leaned in closer, his voice low and smooth. “Don’t worry, the night is still young,” he said, a sly smile playing on his lips.
My heart fluttered in my chest at the implication of his words. “Good to know.”
“We’re not going home just yet. Like you said, we’re going to make the most of your time here.”
47
THEO
“Now, this is the best ice cream you will ever enjoy,” I told her.
“I’m not sure about that,” she said, laughing.
“Oh, I am,” I said, grinning.
“I’m not sure I can eat anything else,” she said. “I’m so full.”
“We’ll go for a walk,” I said. “Then you won’t feel full. And this ice cream is really good. Trust me, you want it. What’s your favorite flavor?”
“Chocolate chip cookie dough,” she said, laughing. “Can you provide that?”
“Absolutely,” I said, smiling.
