Page 55 of Ride
“We eat first, and then I have another surprise for you afterwards.”
“What is it?”
Our waitress appeared, placed straws on the table and filled our glasses with water before pulling out her notepad.
“Hello, I will be your waitress tonight. My name is Sheila.”
“Thank you, Sheila. What’s most important is our continued privacy.” I wanted to make sure our back table would be clear of me getting hounded. I could have called security, but my goal was to have an intimate dinner with Amena.
Shelia said, “No problem, Mr. Trenton. Can I start you with a drink?”
“I will take red wine,” Amena ordered as she closed the menu.
“Same—and can we get the curry special, and the rista meatball dish?” I ordered for the both of us.
Sheila reached to take the menus from the table, thanked us, then sauntered off to the back.
Amena clasped her hands together, with her elbow on top of the table. “Are you going to keep the next stop a surprise for real?”
Instinct made me skate my hands out to grip the top of her hand. “Yes.”
The sweet aroma of strawberries invaded my nose. “Fine, be a sorry sport.” Amena’s voice was low and stoic.
The wine glasses were placed on the table, and the bottle was left in a tub of ice to the side. I picked up my glass to make a toast. “To the future.”
“To the future.” We clinked glasses and Amena sipped on her wine.
“Virgil, Callie, and anyone else cannot make a difference in our lives, unless we choose to let them.”
“You’re right.”
“I know I am.”
Twenty minutes later, the food was delivered, and I scooped up my napkin and utensils to eat.
“So, you don't think it’s too fast?”
“No, we’re not kids anymore. I have plans for you and Kayne.”
“Thank you for including him. I know dating someone with a kid can be hard. Probably don't tell you enough how much it means to me when you helped get us the condo.”
“At first when you came around, I had doubts, but that changed.”
Her eyes blinked rapidly in thought. “Same and I really care about you, Laikin. To be honest, I never stopped loving you.”
“Virgil and Callie are the past.” I took a sip of my drink, prayed she understood my words. “What are you planning to do for his birthday?”
She was smiling and radiant. “A small party with family and a few friends.”
“I can have Sarai help arrange the party.”
“No, that’s too much.”
“Amena.” For some reason I found her displeasure amusing.
She wagged her finger. “Laikin, her job is not to tend to your girlfriend.”
“She’s down to help me, and you’re an extension of me.”