Chapter 39
thirty-nine
PARKER
“It will be fine,” Niall assured.
“Will it, mate? I need to make an impression, Niall. It’s not like I can run to London and back for something lovely between now and seven.”
“You’re panicking. Don’t panic!”
How could I avoid it? I needed to source a gift for Astrid in a matter of hours, so she didn’t think I was an absolute knob. I’d missed her birthday. I was taking her out, but that wasn’t enough. What did one get a princess who could buy anything her heart desired? And I barely knew Astrid.
“Get her something sweet—meaningful. What does she like?”
“I don’t know, Niall. And I can’t blame it all on budget—as in there is no real budget.”
“She doesn’t seem like the type to expect that much, Parker.”
“And that’s why I have to blow her away.”
“Fine, maybe food. Does she like food?”
“I’m taking her for food.”
“Okay, but sweets? A pudding?”
“She likes sweets,” I said. “Chocolates. ”
“Well, stop by the shop before they close.”
Niall was right. I raced to buy a box of chocolates, settling on an entire pound of truffles. Realising I should get a card, I ducked into the shop next door and spotted Bianca in the card aisle.
“Oh, hey, Parker. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I answered.
“Picking out a card?”
“Yes,” I said. “Birthday.”
“Oh, cool. Well, I’m having some people over later to watch Tasker. Niall said he’d come ‘round?—”
“I have plans,” I said.
“Oh, really?”
“Plans, yes.”
In a state of panic, I nervously reached for a card. Not wanting to admit I shat where I lived, I raced to the self-checkout and rang up my small purchase. Bianca stared as I did.
“Have a good night,” I left in a rush.
It was awkward, but I had to shower, shave, and look presentable in the next 90 minutes. I promised I’d meet Astrid at the restaurant, a new Italian place hidden away. People said the wine list was good. She’d appreciate something nice, right? It’d been years since I’d made proper dinner reservations or sourced a date night spot, so I could only hope for better.
I went through my routine, trying my hardest to look dapper but probably failing miserably. I suspected Astrid could pull me together better than I could, but I tried. Astrid needed to see I cared about her. Truthfully, she frightened me, but I also couldn’t avoid her. She was beautiful.
I waited until the last minute to sign the card, soon discovering that it said, “Happy Birthday to a great granny!”
Fuck. I glared at the face of an adorable puppy on the front. Puppies didn’t seem exclusive to cards for grandmothers. I figured a dog was safe, but Astrid seemed like a dog person. Oh well, I’d come this far. I scratched Gran out and wondered what to call her. My girlfriend was far too premature. I figured that would freak her out. I settled on something neutral--a great scholar—and shoved it in the gift bag with the chocolates.
I packed off to the restaurant—a quiet place off the high street. Decorated with low lights and romantic candles, it felt homely enough but not pretentious. I was seated first, grateful I didn’t arrive last. I took a deep breath. Then, I looked up to see Astrid arrive. Both elegant and sexy, this vision of her in a red dress lived rent-free in my mind.
“Hi,” Astrid gave me a quick kiss.
“You look lovely,” I said.
“Thanks. You look…“ Astrid was honest but kind. “You look very nice, too.”
“I’m not a clothing person, Astrid.”
She snickered as the waiter approached. “I know, Parker. It’s okay. I can tell you tried. You do clean up nice.”
Our waiter asked, “Can I get you something to drink beyond water?”
I passed Astrid the wine list.
“This burgundy is good.” Astrid returned it. “Does that work?”
“I was going to get the Bolognese, so that works,” I agreed.
She smiled at the waiter, who nodded. “Be right back.”
“I got you a gift,” I said. “You don’t have to open it?—”
“Ooooh! You did?” Giddy, she looked at the bag on the table. “May I open it?”
“Go ahead, it’s your gift.”
She peered inside, pulling out the card.
“About the card… long story. “
Confusion spread first, then laughter as our wine arrived. She got a kick out of it, at least. I was relieved. The waiter poured the wine, waiting for me to give an opinion, but Astrid usurped me.
“Good, thanks,” she said
I was relieved to watch Astrid lead. Since my father died, people at least had to pretend to defer to me now. It was stressful and often uncomfortable to be the last word. Astrid’s definitive confidence gave me respite. We place our orders. She, of course, ordered the veal. I expected her to—selfishly, if only because I was torn between the pasta and the veal and now could steal some of hers.
“What is the story with the card, Parker? Did you buy this for her only to re-gift it to me?”
I laughed. “Well, my grandmother on my father’s side has been dead since I was about six. The other lives in the Alps.”
“Must be nice.”
“Oh, she isn’t, but I am sure it is,” I said.
“Parker, tell us how you really feel. How did you?—”
“A member of the department spotted me and asked me around. I said no and then didn’t want to spill the beans about taking you out—for the same reasons I expressed and not because I was ashamed to take you out. I panicked and grabbed a card without reading it. You seemed like a dog person.”
“You’re a mess. A handsome, ridiculous mess,” Astrid said.
Handsome ? I’d take it.
“Well, happy birthday anyway—belated as it may be, Astrid. And cheers to another year.”
We clinked glasses. I tried very, very hard not to stare at Astrid’s cleavage as it screamed for attention. Astrid dug into a breadbasket as soon as it appeared.
“I have a silly question, Astrid.”
“Yes?”
“What year is it?”
“The year we are living in? Our present reality?”
“ Quel age as-tu ?”
“Oh, how old am I? Twenty-two. You know, you could have googled me. It’s on my Wiki. That’s how I know you’ll be twenty-eight in February, you dirty old man.”
I snickered. “You googled me? I have a Wiki article?”
She nodded.
“Fuck off! How did that get there?”
“Either you have an admirer, or your mother is a mess,” Astrid said .
The woman could put away bread. I was relieved to hear she wasn’t just turning eighteen. She was an ingenue but not that young.
“Probably mother, yes. She’s an overbearing pain in the arse.”
“I gathered.”
“In that little time?”
“I read people, Parker. Don’t underestimate me,” Astrid said. “You always do.”
“I don’t. One can be surprised without underestimation. However, few people can be so technically and socially gifted simultaneously.”
“So, are you doubting one?”
“No, darling,” I said, realising I had called her darling—in public—and unironically. “I’m not. I’m being genuine.”
“I cannot tell.”
I looked at her, dead on. “Astrid, you do my head in—in a good way. Sometimes, I feel frightened. If I had half your maturity and independence at twenty-two, I would be this year’s job market crown jewel.”
She smiled. “I think that’s a compliment?”
“It’s a massive one,” I said. “But we’re not here to talk shop. Tell me how your day was after I last saw you.”