“Whatever you want,” he said. “We could go to the movies or the park, maybe get some dinner.”
He had no clue what people did. The closest he had ever been to a date before was going through a fast-food drive-through on the way to drop some girl off after sex. He wasn’t sure he could count even that, considering he usually made them buy their own food.
An odd expression flickered across her face. “In public?”
He laughed. “Yes, in public. With other people around, even.”
“Uh, okay.” She smiled excitedly. “I’ll get dressed.”
He let go of her and watched as she scampered away, amazed something as trivial as a movie could make her light up so much.
Carmine showered and sifted through his clothes, choosing a pair of faded jeans and a green long-sleeved button-up shirt, since green was her favorite color. He rolled up the sleeves, feeling stifled, and pulled on a pair of Nikes before grabbing his things. Heading out, he noticed Haven standing in the doorway of her room, wearing a pair of tight jeans and a blue sweater, fidgeting. “Do I look okay?”
“You look more than okay,” he said, holding his hand out to her.
Leading her downstairs, he helped Haven into the car and fiddled with his seat and mirrors for a few minutes. Haven giggled. “Finicky.”
He rolled his eyes and started the car, scanning through radio stations as Haven stared out the side window, a small smile playing on her lips. They held hands and chatted about nothing in particular during the drive. She never ceased to amaze him with her knowledge about things she had never experienced.
He drove straight to his favorite Mexican restaurant and slowed to pull into the parking lot until his gaze fell on a white car. He accelerated again to pass the place, knowing they couldn’t eat there if Lisa was working. He pulled into a steakhouse about a block away and shut off the engine as Haven turned to him. “You knew someone there, didn’t you?”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah. I don’t want you to think it’s because I don’t wanna be seen with you, because I do. It’s just, it’s Lisa, and she—”
Haven placed her pointer finger against his lips. “I understand.”
* * *
They were quickly seated in the restaurant, and Haven picked up the laminated menu, her brow furrowing and lips moving as she sounded out the words. When the waitress came to take their orders, Haven looked at Carmine, expecting him to speak for her, but he just sat patiently.
She got the hint. “I’ll have the stuffed chicken breast with a side salad, please.”
Carmine smirked. “A twelve-ounce New York strip steak for me.”
“How do you want it?” the waitress asked.
“Rare,” he said. “Barely cooked.”
Haven gazed at him peculiarly when the waitress walked away. “I didn’t know you like it that way. I always cook your meat well done.”
“Yeah, two things in life I prefer bloody—my steak and my enemies.”
She shook her head. “You’re too young to have enemies.”
“I wish,” he muttered. “I was born with enemies. My last name alone gives me more than I could ever earn.”
It only took a few minutes for their food to be brought out. Carmine expected things to be edgy since she wasn’t often around people, but she surprised him again. He wondered if there would ever be a time when she didn’t.
He paid the bill before they headed across town to the movie theater. The two of them stood on the outskirts of the waiting crowd, and Carmine took Haven’s hand as he scanned the list of movies. “What are you in the mood for?”
“I don’t really know much about any of them.”
“Well, there’s one about a drugged-up rock star, one about a family with a whole bunch of kids, and one about some kids who get sucked into a game.” She looked at him with confusion on the last one, and he chuckled. “Don’t ask. There’s also some chick flick.”
“Chick flick?”
“Yeah, you know, the lovey-dovey romantic sharing bullshit.”
She laughed. “Any of them are fine by me.”