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“We need to talk,” he says.
“I’m out with friends.”
“Make your excuses. I’ll see you outside.”
He snakes his way between the groups of drinkers, fear balling in the pit of my stomach.
I order a gin and tonic, eager to push my last meeting with Carl out of my head. Tonight will be different. Casey reluctantly agreed to come, although she hadn’t been impressed about it. Faith also said she’d be here, but she needs to be home by ten as she is on the early shift in the morning. I presume Piero is coming since he organized the evening, but I’ve not dared to ask about Gianni.
I heave a sigh of relief as Faith bustles through the door, glowing in a simple red dress, red lipstick, and a hairstyle that must have taken ages to weave.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” I squeal, “I was beginning to think I’d be eating alone.” She squeezes my arm and rests against a barstool, already uncomfortable in her small heels.
“I wouldn’t dream of ditching you.” She smiles as she lifts her foot out of her shoe. “These shoes, on the other hand.” Her smile turns to a grimace as she wiggles her toes before shoving her foot back into the troublesome shoe.
“It might cheer you up to know you look beautiful,” I say as Faith lets out a small laugh.
“What is it they say… no pain, no gain?”
“Something like that,” I reply as we both turn to see Casey slip through the door. In complete contrast to Faith and me, Casey appears dressed for the office in straight black pants and a white shirt. She joins us slowly. I can’t work out whether she is nervous or simply doesn’t want to be here. Either way, she greets us with the smallest of smiles before pulling her phone out of her bag to check something.
A waitress arrives, asking us if we’re ready to take our seats. Faith and Casey instinctively look at me as though I’m in charge.
“We’re waiting for one more person, but I think we’re ready to sit down if that’s okay?” I glance over at Faith, who is still hopping from foot to foot.
“Of course. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your table.” I envy the way the small waitress weaves in and out of the tables as if this is a maze she has conquered many times. The tables are brimming with people. I don’t feel too dressed up anymore as I assess the other diners’ outfits.
After settling into our seats, the waitress takes our drinks order and disappears, only to return seconds later with three large menus.
“I know you’re still waiting for a guest, but if you’d like to look at the menu?” She smiles as she hands us each a menu.
Casey resembles a scared rabbit, and Faith constantly checks her watch. I heave a sigh. Tonight will drag. I open the menu and am greeted with a sea of words that will take me some time to read. Thankfully, I’ve already read the online menu in preparation, spending the much-needed time deciphering it at my leisure. This is a little trick I learned a few years ago, and it has never failed me. I know exactly what I’m going to order, but even so, I take my time with the menu, pretending to read about the dishes.
I’m so absorbed in my role I don’t notice our last guest arrive.
“Chloe.” Faith’s voice interrupts my acting. I lower my menu and am greeted by Gianni standing at the end of the table.
His presence is like the backdraft of a fire sucking the air from the room and leaving me motionless. His dark pants and thin white shirt make him look smart but sexy, and a masculine aroma arrives with him. As I tear my eyes from his torso, I’m lost in his dark, tormented eyes, the stubble on his chin longer than when I last saw him, making him appear more volatile. He has one hand in his pocket, and the other holds his phone as he glares at me.
I’ve zoned out. My heart is pounding, my ears flood with the restaurant noise, and the lights seem too bright. I hold his gaze, the pressure of it filling me with a desire that feels unnatural.
“Piero won’t be able to make it this evening.” I thought hearing his deep voice would break my trance, but it only adds to the strange feeling working its way up from the pit of my stomach.
“Is everything okay?” Faith’s question hauls me into the present as I yank my eyes away from Gianni long enough to remember to breathe.
“His wife thought she was in labor.” The hypnotic quality of his voice is enough to make me sway slightly in my seat. Faith is the only one who reacts to this news, her hand shooting up over her mouth, her eyes widening at the prospect. “It was a false alarm.” Gianni shoots her down before she can get too excited.
“Is she okay?” Faith asks.
“She’s fine, but Piero doesn’t want to leave her tonight.” He’s annoyed at this, then I realize this must be why he is here.
“Well, that’s understandable.” Faith glances at me then turns her attention back to Gianni. “So, you’re here to fill in for him?” She beams at him like she knows the answer to this already. Gianni bristles, a slight flicker in his eye.
“Unfortunately, I have other arrangements.” I can feel the thud of my heart as it drops, Lewis’s words echoing in my ears. No sooner has he arrived than he is leaving. I can’t understand why I feel so deflated. I don’t even like the guy.
“I am here to open a tab for the table.” Any further explanation is interrupted by the shrill ring of my phone in my bag. All eyes dart to me. I quickly pull my phone out as I note the emoji of a little old lady on the screen.
“Hello, Mrs. Dennis.” I smile as I answer as if she can see my face. I wonder what my neighbor could possibly be calling about, but as she waffles in my ear, the shriek of my house alarm sounds in the background. “I am sorry, Mrs. Dennis, I’ll turn it off. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” My words have little effect on Mrs. Dennis, who is rattling on about the noise of the alarm and how it is scaring her dog and setting off her tinnitus. “I’m on my way, Mrs. Dennis, but I’m on the other side of town. I’ll be at least twenty minutes.”I stand up from my chair, my hand instinctively pulling down the hem of my dress. “Okay, I have to hang up now if I want to make it back to my house.” I shimmy my way from behind the table as everybody watches in wonderment. I finally cut the call as I glance at Faith and Casey. Gianni has also been watching me while he remains riveted by the edge of the table. Still, I’m trying not to stare at him because now I have a problem.
