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I laugh. Ethan is always good at making me laugh. He’s just fun to be around. That’s probably why everyone likes him so much. The hostess waves us forward and we follow her back to our seats. Eight chairs form a semi-circle around the table with a hot, flat griddle in the center.
Ethan and I are the last two to be seated at our table. There’s a group of four college students on the other side of the table. We are seated directly next to an older couple, who smile at our approach.
“Aren’t you two just the cutest little couple,” the older lady says.
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” Ethan remarks, flashing her a charming grin.
She smiles broadly. “How long have you two been an item?” she asks, raising her eyebrows.
I can feel my cheeks threatening to burn again. “This is actually our first date,” I say.
Ethan drapes his arm over my shoulder. “Second,” he says over my head. “Don’t forget our Netflix night.”
“Young love is so exciting,” she comments. “And you two just look right together. Don’t they look right together, Frank?” She nudges her husband.
He starts and looks up from his menu. “Huh?”
“Oh, never mind him. Take it from a couple of old farts. When you find that person you’re right with, hold on to them.”
“I keep trying to tell her that I’m the guy for her,” Ethan says, pointing toward me with his thumb. “See, Emma, I told you.” He smiles and winks at me.
“Well, I won’t interrupt your date any more than I already have. You kids have fun.” She nudges me with her elbow and winks at Ethan.
Ethan and I look at each other and silently laugh. I finally pick up my menu when the waitress begins taking orders from the college kids on the other side of the table. “What should I get?” I whisper, leaning into Ethan.
“Nope. You need to have an opinion,” he says.
“Okay, what are you getting then?”
“I’m not falling for that,” he says. “What do you like, Emma?”
I glance at the menu. I can’t believe the prices. “Everything is too expensive,” I say.
Ethan holds up a credit card between his fingers. “Don’t worry about it,” he says. “My dad is paying. Get whatever you want.”
I look at the menu again. I really do love steak. The waitress comes up beside me. “I’ll have the steak,” I say, handing her my menu.
“How do you want it cooked?” she asks.
“Medium.”
She nods and moves on to Ethan. “I’ll have your steak and shrimp,” he says. “And can we get an Ichiban roll to start?”
When the waitress walks away, I lean into Ethan again. “A what roll?” I ask.
Ethan smiles at me. “Ichiban. It’s a sushi roll.”
My stomach squirms. “Sushi?”
He nods. “Yeah, have you ever had it before?”
I shake my head vigorously. “The thought of raw fish makes my stomach turn. “You like it?” I ask.
“Sushi is my favorite food,” he says. “It sounds weird at first, but don’t think about it too hard. It’s actually really delicious.”
“I don’t know…”
“Come on, Prom Queen, be adventurous with me. Try something new.”
