Our Way

A text comes back.

What do you feel like?

Hmm, he’s being nice today.

Meet me at Hugo’s on 42nd in an hour?

A reply comes straight back in.

Sounds good.

See you then.

I walk into Hugo’s at 1:00 p.m, and Nathan stands when I arrive. He’s at a table near the window.

“Hello.” He puts his hand out to shake mine.

I look at his outstretched hand. Nathan has never shaken my hand apart from the first day we met. Oh God, here we go.

I shake his hand and fake a smile. “Nice to see you again so soon, Nathan.”

“Likewise, Eliza.” He smiles sweetly.

I take a seat, and he sips his coffee. “You ordered already?” I ask.

“Yes, ” he replies casually. “And I told them that we’ll split the bill.”

“Okay, good, that makes it easier.” I pick up the menu and look at my choices as I try to hide my smirk. This is him being friends. “What are you having?”

“The lasagne.”

Of course, he would have that.

I look through the choices. “I’ll have the salad. Lasagne is too heavy for me.”

“You don’t like lasagne anymore?” He asks dryly.

“Too heavy,” I repeat casually. “Leaves me with a bitter aftertaste.”

He stares at me flatly, and I bite the side of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.

Game on, asshole.

“Well, my taste buds haven’t changed.” He rearranges the napkin on his lap. “Obviously.”

“I can’t imagine they would with your gorging at the all-you-can-eat buffet.” I close the menu. “The germs in those places are off the charts… or so I’ve heard.”

He catches his bottom lip with his teeth to stop himself from saying something snarky. He sips his coffee, and I really have to concentrate on not smiling.

“How was your hotel?” I ask.

“Fine, thanks.” He sits back and crosses his legs. He’s wearing faded blue jeans and a navy jacket with a gray shirt underneath. His honey hair is messy and long on top, and his jaw is so square that he belongs on a modelling shoot.

Why does he have to be so gorgeous?

“Are you ready to order?” the waitress asks as she approaches us.

Nathan gestures to me.