offering a crooked smile.
“Actually, it sounds like a borderline stalkerish skill.” I taunt, attempting to redirect the attention away from the uncomfortable topic.
He shrugs, lifting one eye mischievously in my direction.
“Oh, I’m feeling much better now,” I laugh.
“Look, Kitten, you’re going—”
I interrupt. “Did you just call me kitten?”
“Wow,” he laughs shaking his head before burying his flushed face into his hands. “I must sound like a total jackass.”
“You could say that,” I agree.
“My girlfriend was Kitten.”
“Ugh, I don’t know what’s worse. The fact that you just accidentally called me by your girlfriend’s pet name or the fact that you had the pet name kitten for her,” I proclaim.
“No, that was her name,” he corrects me.
I gasp, nearly choking on my own spit. “Please tell me you’re pulling my leg,” I plead with him.
He lifts his hands in surrender. “Hey, I didn’t name her.”
“No, you actually chose to date someone with the name of a cute, cuddly animal.”
“So you’re into judging books by their covers?” he asks, his face suddenly serious again and I wonder if it’s too soon in our relationship to mock the name of his ex-girlfriend.
I stiffen, “I’m sorry, I just—”
He busts out laughing.
I toss my napkin at him. “Jerk.”
He shakes his head and continues, “No, she was pretty much a vapid person who only took interest in how a situation could benefit her.”
I smile. “So what you’re telling me is you have terrible taste in women.”
“No worse than yours in men,” he says smiling back.
I feel the need to defend Ben, but I remain silent. I should tell him that he isn’t a bad guy. He didn’t yell at me. He never would have thought of cheating on me. And in his way, he loves me. I say nothing.
“Hi, my name’s Mercedes, and I’ll be your waitress tonight.” I pull my lips together as the young and slender blonde stares at the ceiling as she tries to remember the specials she memorized only hours before. It was clearly a challenge.
She takes our drink orders while we think about our dinner choices. I keep my eyes focused on the menu until she scurries away to the bar. Exhaling wildly, I begin to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Aiden asks, but I can tell by the glint in his eyes he already knows why I’m laughing.
“Maybe she’s friends with Kitten,” I suggest.
He stiffens, a frown tickling the corners of his mouth.
I nibble at my bottom lip. “Too soon?” I ask, fighting back the laughter.
“That’s her best friend actually,” he says pointedly. “Well, they were friends, before Kitten decided she had deeper feelings for her.”
“Oh—” I lift a hand to my chest, my chin falling open. “I—I’m …” What do you say to that?
Aiden’s eyes shift down to the floor, his shoulders drooping.
“I’m so sorry. Should we go somewhere else?” My words are interrupted when I hear a low snickering and his shoulders convulsing.
“God you’re easy,” he chuckles.
My eyes brighten when I see his smile. “And you’re an asshole,” I inform him.
“I can’t help it. You really are gullible.”
“Shut up and tell me what’s good here,” I demand.
“Depends, are you one of those girls who watches her carbs or are you more of a calorie counter?”
“Really? I thought you could read people,” I grin.
He tilts his head, obviously excited by the conquest I just threw at him. “Honestly, I get the vibe that you’re neither.”
“Go on.”
“You like what you like.”
“Seems like a fair analysis. So, what does a girl like me like on this menu?”
“Poutine.”
“Poo-whatie?” I laugh.
“Poutine. It’s french fries with cheese curds and gravy. It’s amazing with the braised short ribs and an egg on top.” My mouth waters as he explains the dish.
The waitress approaches with our drinks, and without hesitation I order the rich and delicious sounding option suggested
“Actually, it sounds like a borderline stalkerish skill.” I taunt, attempting to redirect the attention away from the uncomfortable topic.
He shrugs, lifting one eye mischievously in my direction.
“Oh, I’m feeling much better now,” I laugh.
“Look, Kitten, you’re going—”
I interrupt. “Did you just call me kitten?”
“Wow,” he laughs shaking his head before burying his flushed face into his hands. “I must sound like a total jackass.”
“You could say that,” I agree.
“My girlfriend was Kitten.”
“Ugh, I don’t know what’s worse. The fact that you just accidentally called me by your girlfriend’s pet name or the fact that you had the pet name kitten for her,” I proclaim.
“No, that was her name,” he corrects me.
I gasp, nearly choking on my own spit. “Please tell me you’re pulling my leg,” I plead with him.
He lifts his hands in surrender. “Hey, I didn’t name her.”
“No, you actually chose to date someone with the name of a cute, cuddly animal.”
“So you’re into judging books by their covers?” he asks, his face suddenly serious again and I wonder if it’s too soon in our relationship to mock the name of his ex-girlfriend.
I stiffen, “I’m sorry, I just—”
He busts out laughing.
I toss my napkin at him. “Jerk.”
He shakes his head and continues, “No, she was pretty much a vapid person who only took interest in how a situation could benefit her.”
I smile. “So what you’re telling me is you have terrible taste in women.”
“No worse than yours in men,” he says smiling back.
I feel the need to defend Ben, but I remain silent. I should tell him that he isn’t a bad guy. He didn’t yell at me. He never would have thought of cheating on me. And in his way, he loves me. I say nothing.
“Hi, my name’s Mercedes, and I’ll be your waitress tonight.” I pull my lips together as the young and slender blonde stares at the ceiling as she tries to remember the specials she memorized only hours before. It was clearly a challenge.
She takes our drink orders while we think about our dinner choices. I keep my eyes focused on the menu until she scurries away to the bar. Exhaling wildly, I begin to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Aiden asks, but I can tell by the glint in his eyes he already knows why I’m laughing.
“Maybe she’s friends with Kitten,” I suggest.
He stiffens, a frown tickling the corners of his mouth.
I nibble at my bottom lip. “Too soon?” I ask, fighting back the laughter.
“That’s her best friend actually,” he says pointedly. “Well, they were friends, before Kitten decided she had deeper feelings for her.”
“Oh—” I lift a hand to my chest, my chin falling open. “I—I’m …” What do you say to that?
Aiden’s eyes shift down to the floor, his shoulders drooping.
“I’m so sorry. Should we go somewhere else?” My words are interrupted when I hear a low snickering and his shoulders convulsing.
“God you’re easy,” he chuckles.
My eyes brighten when I see his smile. “And you’re an asshole,” I inform him.
“I can’t help it. You really are gullible.”
“Shut up and tell me what’s good here,” I demand.
“Depends, are you one of those girls who watches her carbs or are you more of a calorie counter?”
“Really? I thought you could read people,” I grin.
He tilts his head, obviously excited by the conquest I just threw at him. “Honestly, I get the vibe that you’re neither.”
“Go on.”
“You like what you like.”
“Seems like a fair analysis. So, what does a girl like me like on this menu?”
“Poutine.”
“Poo-whatie?” I laugh.
“Poutine. It’s french fries with cheese curds and gravy. It’s amazing with the braised short ribs and an egg on top.” My mouth waters as he explains the dish.
The waitress approaches with our drinks, and without hesitation I order the rich and delicious sounding option suggested
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