I’ve
always found seeing the ocean soothing. I don’t particularly like
swimming. Never even considered joining the team in High School, but
the
presence and the sound always had a way of loosening the tension in
my neck. I doubt it will work a miracle today, but whatever helps.
I
followed the hostess to the table in the area that was reasonably
secluded. Waves lapping just a few meters away and fairy lights
glowing. It looked too…romantic.
“Is this table okay?” She said in the upbeat tone I had learned
to use as well when I worked in costumer service.
I
eyed back inside, saw the people and the cheerful atmosphere, and
then turned back to her. “Uh, yes. Here is fine.” I smiled and
took a seat.
“Excellent!
Your waiter will be here in a minute.”
“No
worries I am waiting for someone.”
I
texted Gareth where I was so he could find me. He arrived fifteen
minutes later. It was not reproachable because I had arrived ten
early from the time we had set. The lights casted a yellow aura
around him.
“You
have to stop being so punctual, princess. It makes me feel like I am
always running late.” He leaned down to kiss my lips and took his
seat.
“Next
time I promise I will linger in the shower for longer.” I looked
down at the menu even though I had already made my decision before
arriving. Something light, definitely, like a salad. But today I
thought I shouldn’t order the one I liked best with shrimp. My
stomach had been feeling funny all day.
“Make
sure to invite me.” He slipped his hand into mine.
“Sorry?”
I said and drew it back to take my glass of water.
“To
the shower…” He said it slowly like he was afraid I wouldn’t be
able to catch his meaning again.
“Oh,
I am sorry. I’ve been a tad distracted today.”
He
frowned and leaned forward to tuck my hair behind my ear. “What is
worrying you?”
“Nothing.
Well, no, yes. I mean, I actually wanted to talk to you about—”
“Are
you ready to place your order, guys?” The waiter startled me and I
jerked my head up. He realized what he had done, and color crept all
over his pimply face. “I-I could give you one more second if you
want to finish looking at the menu.”
Gareth
gave him his signature smile that was almost guaranteed to put
everyone at ease. “That is quite alright. I’ll be having a
Pineapple Fiesta Chicken Wings and a bear. And this lady over here
wants lemonade and a shrimp salad.”
“Of
course. I will be right back with your order.” He dashed off
leaving us virtually alone again.
I
brought the glass to my lips but didn’t sip. “I can speak too.”
“Come
again?”
“I
can speak—to the waiter, I mean. I could have asked for my own
food.”
“Oh,
I just—you always
ask
for that. I assumed.” He raised his hand. “But we can call him if
you want to change it.”
“No,
no.” I reached for his hand, so he would lower it. “I will eat
that.”
“Then
I don’t understand the problem.” He said and drew patterns in my
hand with his fingertips.
“Well,
that I am not a child. I can speak for myself.” I pulled to cross
my arms over my chest but he held on tighter to my hand
He
rolled his eyes. “Princess, it is not such a big deal. You can
order for me the next time if it will make you happy. Now please
relax.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips to mine.
“It
is not that,” I said while he still was too close.
“Then?”
He tugged at my bottom lip.
“Don’t.
We are in public.”
“Everybody
who sees you will understand why I need to do it.”
“I
said no.” I tried to squirm back all that my chair would allow.
“Fine.”
He clasped his hand around my neck, brought me closer to kiss my
forehead, but then finally released me. “I’ll save it for later.”
He winked and pulled that smile again.
I
cleared my throat.
“So
have you thought what are we gonna get your mother for Christmas?”
He spoke before I could and completely sidetracked me.
“No?
I guess, maybe a book… or a shirt. Didn’t she complain the other
day that she didn’t have nearly enough colors in her closet?”
“We
better make up our minds quickly. The closer we get to the holidays,
the higher the prices get.”
“Yeah.
Honestly, I hadn’t been thinking about it much. You know? The
semester is about end and I still need to turn in a bunch of papers.”
The nasty feeling of anxiety started to gnaw at my stomach. The
amount of work I had to do could be better measured in piles rather
than pages. I hadn’t been putting it off, but still the load seemed
unsurmountable.
“You
always worry too much about school. Worst that can happen is that you
drop out and join me.”
“Not
funny.”
“Not
a joke. But, princess, seriously you always stress yourself into
being sick and then get good grades. I don’t see the point in
repeating the pattern.”
“You
say it like doing well in school is not worth it.”
“It
is, but when you are applying for a job they’ll ask for a title,
not a report card with tons of golden stars on it.”
I
sat back on my chair and crossed my arms. The action was twofold. I
was also starting to feel cold—the night seemed oddly chilly for
this part of the country. “You are wrong.”
“You
have such pretty eyes, but you choose to glare at me all the time.
Breaks the magic.” He chortled. “I am not trying to fight you
know. I just said it because you really shouldn’t put so
much
effort.”
“I
meant it. You are
wrong. Getting good grades did get me…” I trailed off. We were
getting dangerously close to what I wanted to talk about, but we were
approaching it the wrong way. The atmosphere was simmering.
“Got
you what exactly?”
“There
is a program in the university—I spoke to the office the other day
to see if I qualified. I doubted it, but I do. Qualify, I mean. I
asked for the information not thinking I would actually carry through
with it, but, you know, now it just seems dumb not to. Like
wasteful.”
His
face had lost all traces of a smile. He reached for both of my hands
this time and enveloped them in his. They felt huge and moist around
mine. “What does—what is this ‘program’?”
“I
can take a year of my studies in Eastwood.”
“That
rich kid university in Tebund?” He raised one eyebrow.
“That’s
the one.” I nodded slowly.
“You
wouldn’t get along well with that bunch. I bet they’d eat you
alive the first chance they got.”
My
eyebrows puckered. “They have some of the best courses in my—”
“What
am I even supposed to do that far inland?” He snorted. “Mighty
difficult to move my diving business to a lake with toxic waste.”
“You
don’t have
to
come with me.” I wanted to move away my hands. They felt
disgustingly clammy.
“And
send a pretty girl such as yourself all on her own? Guys would be
fawning all over you to say the least.”
“I
really want to go.”
“I
get it, princess. But you are not going alone, and I can’t drop
everything on your every whim.” He chuckled again, but his eyes
held a deep rooted annoyance. Like he had overindulged me with this
conversation and now it was time for us to move on into another
topic.
“I
was not asking for permission.” I took a deep breath. “And I
didn’t expect you to come with me.”
“What
are you suggesting then? That we should break up?” He said it as if
that could only happen in a parallel universe. Something so far from
reality that it was not worth our consideration.
I
looked at him straight in the eye, but was unable to speak. I wanted
to say the words. I had rehearsed an entire speech in front of the
mirror, but now a simple “yes” would have done the job.
The
waiter harrumphed to make his presence known this time. “A shrimp
salad for the lady.” He said as he placed my meal in front of me.
“And wings for you, sir.”
“Ah,
thank you very much.” He smiled. “I am nigh starving.”
“You
are very welcome.” The waiter smiled back and was quick to leave
again.
Gareth
turned back to me. “You know, I think the book is a better idea for
your mom.”
“What?”
“For
Christmas, silly.” He laughed and moved one of his hands to cradle
the back of my head. “You are really adorable when you look
confused like that.” He kissed me softly and then tugged my bottom
lip.
We
haven’t spoken about it again.
Points: 224
Reviews: 10
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