Duke

“Frannie, I seriously don't know what to say right now. Except, who are you and what have you done with my best friend? I have never known you to be insecure or unsure about anything or anyone, except your family. And what do you mean a woman like you?”

“Frannie, look at him. He is… perfect. Him and his brothers built a life that they can be proud of, including everything they have done along the way to building their business. Plus, he’s dated women like J.Lo, Heidi Klum, and Giselle Bundchen. How can I possibly compete with women like that? In addition, I am twenty-five pounds bigger than all of them and nothing I have is my own. It's all from my dad's money and not anything I’ve earned on my own merits. To the world, I am some Paris Hilton wannabe sitting around mooching off my parent’s money. And the thing is, I think they are right. That is why this job is so important to me.”

“First of all, let me tell you a secret… none of them were his girlfriends. He brought them as… a sort of a decoy. He does that so he won’t get asked questions, but they still do. So, you need to stop comparing yourself to them.” Well, that does make me feel marginally better.

“I don’t know who to be, around him.”

“Yourself, Es. Just be yourself.” Deep down I know that is the simplest answer and should be the only answer. But, God, I have never in my life wished to be someone else until I met him. On the other hand, maybe she is right. Maybe being myself is all I need to be.

“You’re right. I think I’m going to be ok now.” I tell her as I am trying to calm my drumming heart.

“Are you ready to go back to the table now?” No! My mind and heart are shouting. But instead I answer...

“Yes. Let’s get back.” She looks at me one more time and shakes her head.

“Duke. Wow.” I tap her lightly on the arm and laugh.

“Shut up.” I respond, before we both bust out laughing. I hope the light feeling we have going between us, continues after we are back at the table and lasts through the night.Chapter SevenDukeI start getting anxious the longer she’s away from the table and out of my sight. Baron tries his best to make small talk. But I don’t really hear him, as my mind is focused on what I will do if she does not come back to the table. I have no idea what she is doing to me, or how she is doing it? I am not the type of man who gets anxious. Finally, I see the ladies returning and I stand as they get closer to the table. It is one of the many instructions on manners that our mother taught all of her boys. We are never to sit down before the woman does.

“Hi guys. Sorry for the delay, but we are very busy tonight. Gina is helping out with drinks, but I’m Mike and I’ll be your server. Are you ready to order?”

“I believe we are,” Baron says. “Frannie?” The way he looks at his wife with open admiration, consideration, and love is making the green-eyed monster of jealousy to rise. When I have these kinds of emotions rearing their ugly head, it has me hating myself. This is my brother and his wife, and I should be able to look at them and feel nothing but happiness for them. I guess it is another one of the flaws in my character that I need to add to my list of things I hate.

“I’d like to have a steak, cooked until it is well done and with a baked potato as my side dish. The mixed veggies wound better for me, instead of a salad. And I would love it if you would throw in some garlic bread.”

“Very good. Ma’am?” He turns to Esther, who hasn’t looked up from her menu since she got back from the bathroom. The look he is giving her makes me want to reach over and remove it from his face. I don’t like the way he’s staring at her.

“Um… I’m not ready yet. Would you come back to me?” she asks, looking up at the waiter and smiling at him. Fuck that.

“Uh… Sure thing,” he stutters. He moves on to Baron and then to me. I order my meal and then all eyes are on Esther again.

“Um… I’ll have the chicken Caesar salad and more wine. Thank you,”

“Esther. Three glasses of wine?” Frannie asks giggling.

“I’m thirsty,” she says, shrugging.

“Right. You’re so thirsty,” Frannie says, and Esther’s eyes get big. Not for the first time tonight, I wonder what’s going on between these two. She’s flustered and I love it.