“You just thought I didn’t know about the finer things, did you?” he was serious now.
“I guess, if I’m honest, I didn’t think you did,” I admitted. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s a common mistake. No hard feelings.”
“I’m sorry, Brian,” I said more quietly, setting my sandwich down and leaning back on the couch. Between the worrying and the teasing, I’d lost my appetite.
“Ava, don’t get mad,” he said. “I’m sorry I baited you into that. It’s just that that letter really got to me. I’m not stupid.”
“No one said you were,” I replied.
“I know, but having a rich educated guy say that I’m not smart enough to be with someone like you, well…” he trailed off.
“I get it,” I said.
“Do you?”
“I mean, I don’t get it get it, but I understand why it might be something that would dig at you,” I replied.
Brian nodded as he finished off his burger, and then stared at my plate.
“Oh my God,” I laughed. “Go ahead, finish mine. I’m done.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m positive. Eat it!” I laughed harder when I saw the forlorn look on his face. “You are so pathetic.”
Brian happily polished off the rest of my sandwich and all of the fries that had grown cold on my plate, then he searched the cart and found dessert hiding on the shelf under the main serving area.
“Ooooh, look at this! Chocolate cake and cheesecake!” he announced as he pulled he plates out and set them in front of me.
“None for me, I’m stuffed,” I said as I held a hand up.
“Fine, then all the more for me!” he cried as he dug in to the chocolate cake.
I watched him devour the sweets and marveled at his appetite and his ability to find the good in even the most stressful situation. He smiled as he polished off the cake and then moved on to the cheesecake.
“How can you eat all of that and not get sick?” I asked.
“Training, it’s all about the training,” he said as he tucked another forkful in his mouth.
I shook my head and laughed, but when I looked back over, Brian had frozen with the fork halfway to his mouth. He was listening intently to some sound that only he could hear, and all amusement had disappeared from his face. There was something happening, and I was attuned enough to his way of monitoring things that I didn’t even ask. I just waited for him to give me a signal.
Silently, he set the fork on the table before he got up and moved toward the door. He put his ear to the door and listened as he held up a hand indicating that I should be silent, too. I nodded and held my breath, and after what felt like forever, Brian dropped his hand and came back to the table where he picked up his fork and finished off the last bite of cheesecake.
“What was that?” I asked, stunned that he could just flip the switch and go back to what he was doing while I was still shaking.
“Nothing, I guess,” he said. “I thought I heard something outside the door.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I said with a wry grin.
“That’s Admiral Obvious to you, missy,” he grinned.
I groaned and fell back on the couch. I wasn’t sure if he’d actually heard something or not, but I trusted his instincts an
d wasn’t going to question them, even if he did tell really bad jokes.
*****