I’m still trying to catch my breath when he opens my door and leads me into the restaurant. He makes a point to hold me close to his side as the hostess greets us, and he pays no mind to the women who are staring at him and whispering.
Our hostess, a pretty blonde who is still blushing leads us to a single table on the patio that faces the ocean. She asks him if he needs anything else, and he kisses me before telling her, “No thank you.”
Cream colored candles burn softly on our table, and there’s another set of roses bearing my name.
Pulling out my chair, he kisses my cheek and watches as I run my fingers across the blooms.
“I had a great time tonight,” I say. “Thank you.”
He raises his eyebrow. “The night isn’t over. We just got here.”
“I’m telling you just in case I forget to say it later.”
He smiles and reaches over the table for my hand, gently stroking my knuckles with his fingertips.
I let him order my dinner for me—I can’t pronounce half of the shit on the menu, and we enjoy our meal in silence. Occasionally we break it with “How’s your food?” “Would you like to try mine?” “Look at the view” but for the most part, dinner is quiet.
“Why is our table the only table with candles?” I ask. “And why are we the only people out here? It looks like they just randomly placed us out here—everyone else is inside and it’s not packed...”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He takes a sip of drink, reminding me of something else that’s strange.
“I know a place like this has good wine. You don’t find it odd that the waitress didn’t offer us a drink menu? She just gave us tea without asking...”
He smiles and reaches for my hand. “Are you ready?”
“You called ahead and told them I was a drunk didn’t you?”
He pulls me up, holding me against his chest. “You honestly think I would say something like that?”
“I would hope not...”
“I would never.” He lifts me up and places me on the other side of the railing—setting me down in the sand.
After he climbs over, he bends down and takes my shoes off, hiding them underneath the pier. Once he has his off, he holds me against his side again and walks me down to the shoreline.
The water is lightly brushing against our feet, and with every few steps that we take, he leans down and kisses my lips. When we reach a more secluded part of the beach, he walks me into the water—far enough to where the waves crash against my thighs, and each time they knock against us, he kisses me again.
“I’m pretty sure Prince Charming didn’t kiss Cinderella this much on their first date.” I smile as the waves roll over us.
“Would you like me to stop?”
“Yes.” I try to sound as serious as possible. “Your kisses don’t do anything for me. They’re actually quite dry.”
He swoops me into his arms and covers my mouth with his, whispering, “Lie to me one more time tonight and I’ll make sure you regret it...”
“I hate having sex with you.”
He grins and sets me down. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you later.” He tugs on one of my curls. “You’ll be begging me to let you take that back.”
I bury my head in his chest so he won’t see my facial expression.
“You’ve changed a lot since I first met you,” he says, rubbing his hands up and down my back.
“You’re just saying that because we’ve had sex—very, very bad sex.”
“You’re really pushing it right now.” He picks me up by my waist and I wrap my legs around him. “I’m only going to be a gentleman for a little while longer.”
“What makes you think I’ve changed?”
“Besides the fact that you haven’t stopped smiling since I picked you up tonight? Or the fact that you smile and giggle every time I pick you up?”
“I’ve never giggled a day in my life.”
“I’ll remember to record it the next time I come get you for work.” He tilts my chin up with his fingertips. “You even smile about AA meetings lately. You’re definitely happier.”
“Don’t credit my happiness to those dumb ass meetings.” I wrap my arms around his neck as another wave crashes by. “The only good thing about AA is leaving. That’s why I smile about it. Not being in there is the best feeling in the world.”
“I think deep down you like it.” He gently squeezes my ass. “You hate being forced to be there, but you don’t actually hate being there.”
“Are you a career psychic now? Is that what you do all day? Sit up and philosophize about shit?”