tenting situation.
As payback, I nibble on her ear. She pulls away from me and sings out to the reporters “Oh, he is so naughty! You wouldn’t believe what he just said to me!” And then she spins gracefully away from me and hurries ahead. I rush after her and grab her hand.
We stride into the restaurant with big smiles on our faces, and the waiter takes us to our table.
“Oh, wow. It’s really you. Oh, wow.” When the waiter tries to pour us water, his hand shakes and he accidentally splashes my pants.
“I’m s-s-sorry. I’m new here. And I’m a huge fan.” His face flames red and his hand shakes even harder.
I stand up, grab the jug of water and gently set it down on the table. “It’s okay. It’s totally okay. This kind of thing happens all the time.”
“Really?” his eyes widen in surprise.
Not really, but the poor guy looks like he’s about to cry with humiliation.
“Every single day,” I assure him.
“He’s not even kidding,” Callie speaks up. “He carries an extra set of clothes in the car, in case fans spill stuff on him.”
“No kidding!” He laughs, and the beet-red color starts to fade from his cheeks. “Thank you. That’s very nice of you. I was afraid you might punch me or something.”
I smile politely. “Of course not.” Will we ever be able to live down our reputation? Yeah, we got in some bar fights, but it’s been spun out of control to make it look like we mug old ladies and punch Boy Scouts on our way to the grocery store.
“He would never,” Callie says quickly. “Honestly, don’t believe everything you read online. Actually, don’t believe anything you read online.”
“Let’s start again. Hello, my name is Juan, and I will be your waiter tonight. Can I start you off with our wine list?”
I order a nice Merlot, then lean in and plant a kiss on Callie’s cheek, still holding onto her hand.
“Me and my sweetheart will need a little time to look at the menu.”
Juan hurries off to get our drinks.
“You were less jerky than I would have expected.” Callie tries to pull her hand away
I hold on tight and caress her palm with my thumb, and she crosses her legs, wiggling in her chair. Oh, yes. She may hate me, but she wants me.
“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do. Are we having fun yet? Princess? Sweetness?”
“No need to lay it on so thick.” Her voice comes out all shaky and breathy.
“Oh, darlin’, you haven’t seen thick yet.” I punctuate that with an exaggerated wink.
She stifles a snicker. And despite my annoyance with her, I like that I can make her laugh. She’s always been someone who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. She doesn’t smile for just anyone. It has to be earned.
“Is that what you call it? ‘Thick’?” Callie yanks really hard on her hand, and I have to let go or the people who are openly staring at us will think I’m holding her prisoner. “Are you one of those guys who gives it a nickname?”
I give her my most charming grin as she picks up her water glass and takes a delicate sip. “Actually, I call it Thor, God of Thunder. What about you? Do you have a nickname for…yourself? Let me guess. Do you call it Virginia? No? Regina? Or…the Promised Land?”
She chokes on her water. “I really should slap you.”
I grab a napkin and dab at the water dribbling down her chin. “You should, but you won’t, because I’m unbearably cute and you’re having a great time.”
“Are the voices in your head having fun right now?”
“Always. But not as much fun as you’re having.”
“My God.” She shakes her head in wonder. “You must need a separate tour bus just for your ego.”
“I do, I do. It gets expensive.”
I lay off for a minute so we can look at our menus, but I’m smiling to myself. I’m having more fun than I thought I would.
The waiter comes back. He opens the bottle of wine for us and pours a small amount for us each to taste.
“Wonderful,” I assure him.
“I’m actually ready to order if you are,” Callie says to me, and I nod. “I would like a steak, medium rare, please.” She smiles up at the waiter as she hands him her menu. I order prime rib.
She’s nice to the wait staff. That’s crucial. I’ve been on a few dates with stuck up,