Chapter 10 Vincent
TEN
VINCENT
This is one of my favorite local places. It’s a family restaurant that’s been passed down through three generations. At least that’s what they tell me. It’s the woman who runs that place who shows us to our table, giving me a little wink as she hands me a menu.
“Do you come here a lot?” Beau whispers to me. All the employees are watching us carefully. Maybe this wasn’t the best choice of locations for our date.
“Some.” I pull my menu up in front of my face, even though I know what I’m ordering. I always get the same thing here. The khao soi is amazing. Perfectly sweet and spicy. I can’t wait for Beau to taste it.
“I’ve…um…never really had a lot of Thai food,” Beau says.
I put my menu down and look at him. “Do you want some suggestions?”
It’s only because I happened upon this place when I first moved here that I know anything. The owners have been generous and made lots of recommendations and given me samples of things when I’ve been unsure.
“That would be nice.” He blushes a little, and I wish I were closer and could kiss his pink cheeks.
Instead, I reach across the table and point to a few things I think he might like, being careful to mention which things are spicy.
He eventually settles on pad Thai, after confiding in me that he doesn’t like spicy food.
I make a note for the future, in case I’m cooking dinner for the two of us.
I can be a little overzealous with the spice, having grown up with a father who always insisted that something could be hotter.
When our waiter comes, I order for both of us, asking for a couple of Thai iced teas as well. Normally, I’d worry about the caffeine, but I’m hoping I’ll have a good reason to be up late tonight, as well as a bit of help wearing myself out before bedtime.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said,” Beau starts.
“Which thing?” I’ve got a reputation among my friends for talking a lot, so there’s a good chance I’ve mentioned a bunch of things.
“About my job? I need to look for something that lets me do the things I really like. I’m not one hundred percent sure what that is yet, though.”
“There’s no rush,” I say. “You can take your time so that you can find the thing that gets you really excited.”
“Yeah, but…”
“But?” I draw the word out, waiting for him to fill in the rest.
“I don’t know exactly what to do. It’s not like I’m going to become a historian or something.”
“Would you want to?”
“I—” He’s interrupted when the waiter brings our drinks.
For a moment, the conversation stops as we unwrap our straw wrappers and taste-test our beverages. I love the sweet creaminess of Thai iced tea; it’s enough to make me feel like I’m having something special, even if I’m not.
“Do you like it?” I ask after he’s had the chance to have a few sips.
“It’s weird, but yeah.”
I can’t help but chuckle. I’ll take weird.
I like introducing people to new things.
Even if they don’t like them, it’s nice to know that they tried them as a result of my recommendation.
He takes a few more sips, always giving the orangish beverage a hard stare before he takes another sip, like he can’t quite figure it out.
“You know,” I start, bringing us back to our other conversation, “there are always lots of ways to think about using your degree. If you like history, I’m sure we can find something that involves that in your daily work, even if you aren’t a historian.”
Should I be using the word we? It’s only our second date—maybe, since technically we’re still on our first date—I might be getting ahead of myself.
There’s something there, though. I rarely feel connected to people, but Beau has captivated me since the first moment I saw him in the café.
It might not have been a great way to meet, but there’s something about him that gets under my skin in the best way.
Which means Jacklyn was right. However, I’ll never tell her that.
“Yeah, I guess I need to do some research.”
“If you ever want to bounce ideas off of someone…” I shrug.
I know I’m not always the best example, having only worked a true nine-to-five very briefly.
It didn’t suit me, not that anyone’s surprised by that.
Going it alone and being in a creative business is not for everyone, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to most people, but it works for me.
“Thanks. I think I need to do some more thinking first. And maybe talk to my old boss.”
I reach my hand out tentatively to take his hand.
Not everyone is okay with public affection, especially if they’re worried about being judged or outed.
Given what I know about Beau, I don’t think he’s hiding his sexuality, but I also know a lot of people who keep it quiet at work, and I’m aware that we’re near his office.
It’s a weekend, but that doesn’t mean much.
He grins and laces his fingers through mine.
A bit of relief goes through me. I hadn’t realized how tense I was about it.
I’m also not the kind of person everyone wants to claim as their date.
I don’t present particularly masculine, with my long hair and affinity for makeup.
Even though we got ready quickly, I’m still wearing a bit of glitter eyeshadow and some lip gloss.
It makes me happy and confident to wear it.
I’ve been with a lot of guys who claim to like it in the bedroom but get self-conscious when they realize I’m serious about wearing it every day.
At least it’s a good way to weed out the assholes.
“That looks incredible,” Beau says when the food arrives. “It’s so pretty.”
I grin and give the owner a little wave. I know she’s always concerned that people won’t like the food. Or will be disappointed coming here after ordering stuff from other places, often much less authentic.
“Is that what you always get?” Beau asks, looking at my plate.
“I tend to experiment a bit and come here a lot.” More than I care to admit. “So I’ve had most things on the menu at least once. This is my favorite, though.”
“And is that what you always recommend to people?” He points at his plate.
“Um…no, I’ve never brought anyone here before. Well, except Jacklyn.” I’ve basically taken her anywhere and everywhere.
“Oh.” A range of emotions flash on Beau’s face, and I can’t quite latch onto any of them.
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah, I…” He doesn’t seem to be able to finish the sentence, but he doesn’t look upset either, so I leave it alone in favor of both of us digging into our food.
We’ve been grazing all day, but besides a breakfast of pastries, we haven’t had a real meal, just an actual day of lazing around the house and cuddling.
BEAU
“So, can I ask you something?” I’ve been sitting on the question for the entirety of dinner, and if I wait any longer, I might explode.
“Anything.” He sets his utensils down, giving me his complete attention. It’s an intense thing, having his gaze on me with such focus.
“What is this?” I gesture between the two of us.
“What do you want it to be?”
“I asked you first.” The good food and conversations have worn me down, but I’m afraid I’m misreading the whole situation. Maybe this was a one-night thing, and he’s secretly waiting for me to leave so he can regain his privacy.
“Okay.” He leans back in his seat. “I like you, Beau. A lot. I thought Jacklyn must be crazy to set us up, but the more time we spend together, the more I’m sure she knew what she was doing.
She’s never steered me wrong before.” He pauses, giving me one of his signature smirks.
“We have good chemistry, too. If it’s up to me, I’d like to keep dating.
See where this thing takes us. I have a good feeling about you.
” Vincent sucks the last of his Thai iced tea through his straw and grins. “Your turn.”
“Same,” I say.
“That’s it? I pour my heart out to you, and all you have to say is same?”
I’m tempted to leave it at that, mostly because I’m enjoying the shocked look on his face. It’s nice to know that he’s not the only one full of surprises in this relationship. “I like you, too. I tried really hard not to after we first met, but somehow you convinced me.”
“Well, I can be quite charming.” Vincent’s wink at the end of the sentence makes my stomach do a strange swoopy thing that I’ve only heard described by others.
No one has ever given me that feeling of butterflies before.
I’m not ready to talk about it yet, though, so instead I call for the check, insisting I pay since he got the game part of our date last night.
The walk back to Vincent’s apartment is filled with laughter as we swap stories from our various adventures with Jacklyn.
“This one time, she insisted that we needed to learn how to taste wine properly and bought tickets to this huge wine event. Except, it wasn’t designed for the public, but for restaurant buyers.
They’re all smart enough to spit the wine out during the tastings.
We thought that was a waste. So, an hour into it, we were both completely wine-drunk and barely able to stand.
We got kicked out and given a warning never to buy tickets again.
” I’m nearly hysterical recalling the evening, even if I still shudder a bit every time I see a bottle of wine.
“She tried to help me with one of my photo shoots once,” Vincent says, putting air quotes around the word help. “She cost me nearly a thousand dollars in equipment because she insisted she could carry it without any help, then promptly dropped it down a flight of stairs.”
“I think she told me that story, though in her version, your equipment was in particularly slippery bags.”
“Guess it depends on who’s telling the story, doesn’t it?”
I don’t answer, partly because it doesn’t seem like the kind of question that can be answered with a simple yes or no. When I look up, we’re back in front of Vincent’s apartment entrance.
“I’m a little afraid to ask, but do you want to come up? Maybe spend the night again?”
I’m so relieved I can’t help but throw my arms around his neck and pull him close. Even after our chat, it’s nice to have some proof that these feelings are mutual.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”