Chapter 6
SIX
Seated at a table for two in the middle of the restaurant, I place a white linen napkin on my lap as our waiter fills two wine glasses with a red Todd ordered ahead of time.
“You thought of everything,” I praise, genuinely impressed with his thoughtfulness.
“I know how much you love a sweet red.” Todd lifts his glass and gestures for me to do the same. “To living.”
“And good company,” I add before we clink and sip our wine. Humming in satisfaction, my eyes slide closed in pleasure as I savor the bold flavor of berries, spice, and a hint of vanilla.
“Good, huh?” Todd croaks, and I reopen my eyes to find the man blushing and tugging at the collar of his shirt. He unfastens the top two buttons and audibly breathes.
“You okay?” I ask.
He nods. “Oh, yeah. Never… uh… um… better.” Todd taps two fingers on the edge of the table and inhales deeply, expanding his chest .
Before I get a chance to dig further, our waiter returns. He sets a breadbasket between us and hands us each a menu. They’re heavy and single-sided, with beautiful typeface and gilded accents. From the golden name scrawled across the restaurant's front window to the elegant mood lighting, the rich, earthy colors, and the white tablecloths, this is the finest dining experience I’ve ever had.
The menu has four options for each course and no prices.
I open my mouth to tell Todd we can go somewhere else because this is too much, too soon for our relationship, but his firm gaze cuts me off. It’s like he knows what I’m thinking when he says, “Order whatever you want, beautiful. Anything, ” he emphasizes, inclining his head toward my menu as his lip ticks up in the corner.
Alright.
Order what I want.
Running my finger down the options, I select a yummy appetizer for us to share and the steak for my meal. I forgo looking at the dessert in case I’m too full to have any.
Somehow, Todd sees right through me. “I’ll have the same.” He smiles up at our young waiter. “And we’ll take two of whatever chocolate desserts you have to go.”
Not needing to write anything down, our waiter bows his head before he collects our menus and disappears.
I stare at my date like he has two heads. “This is too much.” I gesture to the grand restaurant and the… well… everything.
Todd chuckles warmly. “Kali. Nothing is too much for you.”
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I squirm uncomfortably in my seat. The man is… I don’t have the words. I know it’s unkind to compare men, but my dating experience is limited, and Dark never took me anywhere as lovely as this. Then again, I didn’t care. I still don’t. Fancy dinners and fancy things for the sake of being fancy aren’t me. I don’t wear expensive jewelry or clothes. I wear what I like. I eat what I like. This dress is probably the nicest thing I own, and I didn’t even pick it out.
Much like in the car, Todd does what he does and talks—about work, friends I’ve never met, his hobbies, and the book he’s currently reading—a thriller I’ve never heard of. When Todd is talking about himself, he’s articulate and boastful, talking with his hands. He's cutely awkward when the conversations veer to subjects he hasn’t practiced or thought about. I prefer awkward Todd over articulate Todd. He’s endearing. The other part of him seems self-absorbed but also nice. Can you be both self-absorbed and nice? Probably.
Between eating my fill of homemade bread and honey butter, I hum and reply when necessary—a few words here and a polite smile there.
Todd doesn’t seem to notice my disconnect, but he never does, which is fine. It gives me the opportunity to soak in the atmosphere he’s too busy talking over to appreciate. A redheaded pianist plays in the corner as couples share smiles and small touches.
A lump forms in my throat as a man helps his pregnant wife from her chair to escort her to the restroom. The love glittering in his eyes is clear as day. They laugh together, sharing a special moment as she waddles like a penguin, her arm looped through his. I remember those days, feet hurting, back hurting, unable to sleep, but somehow, still glowing, still happy.
“Kali.” Todd knocks on the table.
I snap my gaze to his and paste on a smile. “Yes? Sorry. Did I miss something?”
“I asked, how do you like this place?” Todd gestures to the restaurant with his wine in hand.
To give me something to do, I grab my drink and take an unladylike mouthful before I reply. “It’s.” I clear my throat. “Beautiful.”
Pleased with my response, Todd grins—half-smug, half-sweet. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I do. Thank you for inviting me.”
My date inclines his head in acknowledgment as our waiter returns and sets our appetizer on the table between us. We dive in, eating more than talking, and just as we finish our first course, our steaks are set before us. My mouth waters at the herb butter melted on top, pooling beneath the cut, accompanied by a smooth garlic mash and fresh green beans.
“This looks divine,” I comment to whoever’s listening, staring at the dish with wide-eyed wonder.
Using his knife, Todd slides the beans to the side. His forehead wrinkles in distaste. “I guess I didn’t notice these.”
“Would you like me to take it back for you, sir?” our waiter asks, clasping both hands behind his back.
“Yes.” With his nose upturned, Todd shoos his plate away as if it’s contaminated. “That would be great. No green beans and none of this either.” He points to the garlic butter like it’s a booger on his plate .
I suppress a sigh as the world’s politest waiter claims Todd’s plate and leaves to handle an unnecessary situation. The menu was thorough on what the meal entailed, down to the butter and the fresh green beans. Todd clearly ignored it and ordered what I did for the sake of copying me. I hate that. Order what you want, what you like. Not what I like.
Now that I think about it…
The red wine, chocolate desserts, and steak are just from today. What about all the other dates we’ve had? How have I never noticed this before? We had the club sandwich on our diner date with seasoned fries and extra tomato. At Dark Delicacies, Todd always selects the same sweets as me. Odd.
“Eat, beautiful.” Todd nods to my untouched plate. “I’ll catch up.” He winks far smoother than I remember him ever being.
Odd.
Something’s not quite right.
The hairs on my neck stand on end as I cut through my tender steak like butter. A shiver ripples down my arms as I sink my fork into the small bite and lift it to my lips. Todd watches me, too focused. His nostrils flare before his gaze drops to the gap in my dress and swings back up to my face, where he catches me watching him, watching me. Crimson suffuses his cheeks, and he looks away like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Another ripple of disquiet tingles across my skin from head to toe. Something’s definitely amiss. I can’t put my finger on what’s off, but something’s off—whether that be me, this restaurant, or Todd .
Afraid to eat, I set my fork on the plate as the waiter reappears with Todd’s remade plate sans green beans and butter. Another waiter approaches our table with two champagne flutes and an expensive bottle of bubbly.
He sets a crystal glass in front of each of us, and before I get a second to ask what we’re celebrating, the new waiter, a taller blond with a goatee, swishes his hand, gesturing to someone behind me. “A gift from the men at the bar,” he announces, and I turn in my chair the best I can to…
Those stupid, jackass, pain-in-the-balls, motherfuckers!
I’m gonna murder them.
They’re dead. Not kinda dead. But dead, dead.
Two matching sets of gray eyes, glinting with bullshit humor, lift their amber-filled glasses in cheers.
Sunshine and Dark.
Grumbling under my breath, I thrust the flute back to the waiter with too much gusto. His eyes widen in surprise, but he recovers quickly. “Do you not want it, ma’am?”
“I’ll pay you a thousand dollars to break the bottle over those asshole’s heads,” I reply. It would serve them right and soil their precious cuts. Who in their right mind wears black jeans and their colors in a restaurant like this? I’m surprised they were even allowed inside in the first place.
The waiter gasps, and so does Todd. “Kali. What has gotten into you?” my date scolds.
What has gotten into me? What has gotten into me ?
Having none of this, I reach across the table, snatch Todd’s flute, and shove it back at the waiter. “Sorry, but we won’t drink this. ”
My date clucks his tongue, clearly annoyed with me. “Kali,” he snips.
Ignoring Todd, I focus on the blond. “If you could politely or not politely, whatever works for you…tell those assholes to fuck off, I’d be forever in your debt.” To emphasize how serious I am, I smile too brightly, all teeth, hoping he’ll be a rebel and break the rules to get those interfering assholes out of here.
My date squeaks in horror. “Kali, this is wildly inappropriate. Those gentlemen could be clients, and the waiter is simply doing his job.”
I level him with an unimpressed stare. “Those are not gentlemen, Todd. That’s my ex-husband and my ex-father-in-law.”
“Oh… Ohhhh .” Eyes widening in surprise, Todd glances around me to get a good look at all that is them. By the severe frown that consumes his entire face, he’s not pleased. “ That’s your ex-husband?”
“Yes.” All six-foot-plus of him with muscles, tattoos, and a… stupidly gorgeous face.
Fuck Dark.
Rubbing both palms down the front of his pressed shirt, Todd examines his average physique, then readjusts in his seat. “Right.” Head dropping low, he digs into his meal as if Dark and Sunshine aren’t at the bar. He forks a massive bite of steak into his mouth, which rounds his cheeks. He hums his appreciation for the meat before swallowing and signals toward his nearly empty wine glass. “More. Please.” He flicks the side of it with the tip of his nail, never looking up from his plate, as the blond waiter remains table side, not knowing what to do. That makes two of us.
Gripping my fork handle until it leaves a painful imprint in my palm, I smile awkwardly at the blond. “No more drinks from the men at the bar. We’d like to eat in peace. Thank you.” For whatever lame reason, I wink as if that will help cure the Hot Mess Express that is our presence.
Taking this entire ordeal in stride, the blond leaves without a word and returns moments later to refill not only Todd’s glass but mine. Then he’s gone, leaving us to our own devices—well, to our mounting tension. With how thick it is, you could cut the air with a dull spoon.
Not wanting this date to become a total disaster, I follow Todd’s lead and eat. I pretend my ex and his father aren’t boring holes through the back of my skull, even if I can feel their eyes on me through every bite. It’s unnerving, uncalled for, and downright disrespectful. Then again, that’s their objective, right?
They showed up last night and are now here. They had to have followed us or done something more diabolical, like put a tracker in my purse, but I don't plan to ask anytime soon.
We sip and eat. Eat and sip. Our waiter stops by to refill our glasses again, but he never speaks a word.
It doesn’t take long for the wine to go straight to my head, loosening my limbs and lips as the pleasant, warm and fuzzies finally kick in. I care less and less about the presence of my former husband and the… Sunshine, the man who was supposed to… not be like everyone else.
“I’m sorry, Todd,” I whisper, hoping he forgives me .
Heaving a sigh, the sweet man reaches across the table, takes my hand into his, and gives it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay, beautiful. You didn’t know.” He attempts to smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
Pressing my lips together, I nod once. He’s right. I didn’t know. I’m glad this didn’t ruin our entire date.
When the bagged desserts arrive, the check does not. Our original waiter shuffles from foot to foot as Todd pulls out his credit card and slides it across the white linen to him.
The kid slides it back. “It’s been taken care of, sir,” he mumbles, wanting to be anywhere but here.
Massaging the bridge of my nose, I inhale deeply and blow out the breath between my lips—Dark and goddamn Sunshine. Those bastards. They paid for our meal. They… I can’t with these men.
Lips thinning with barely concealed fury, Todd glares over my shoulder at the men who are most definitely still there, nursing beers and creeping on our date.
Gripping the stem of his wine glass, Todd’s nostrils flare as he brings the rim to his lips and drains the contents as if seeking liquid courage before he shoves his chair back. It screeches across the floor as he abruptly stands and slams his empty glass back on the table. It’s a miracle it doesn’t break. He snatches the napkin from his lap and chucks it onto our tabletop. It knocks over our half-full breadbasket, sprawling its contents all over the linen. I scramble to clean up the mess, so the waiters don’t have to as he continues staring at the men at the bar.
He clears his throat, jaw ticking.
“Todd. They’re not worth it,” I reason .
My date doesn’t hear a word I say as he approaches the bar, clearly hellbent on dying today.
Not wanting to deal with this shit, I rest both elbows on the edge of the table and hold my head, not caring if I ruin my makeup.
I cannot believe this is happening.
Why is this my life?
There’s commotion.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch multiple servers rush past me. I know I should stand up and get involved to de-escalate the situation, but I don’t have the energy.
I groan when glass shatters.
“I don’t want your fuckin’ charity,” Todd says loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear.
Why do men do this?
Their stupid pride is annoying.
Shouting ensues.
Lots and lots of it.
More bodies come running to assist.
It’s not until I overhear Sunshine amid the chaos trying to get people to back the fuck up, do I heave a ginormous sigh and shove my chair away from the table to stand.
When I turn, Sunshine’s standing between my ex-husband and my current boyfriend, a hand in the center of each of their chests to keep them from killing each other.
Ridiculous.
“You don’t deserve her. You’re a piece of shit,” Todd spews at Dark, his back to me.
Dark licks a bloodied cut from the side of his lip. Looks like someone got punched in the mouth. He smiles like a fucking lunatic, his gray eyes wild, chest pistoning for air, as he stares violent intent at Todd.
Sunshine makes eye contact with me and shakes his head as if he’s sorry for what happened. They should have known coming here was a bad idea, yet here they are.
“This was uncalled for,” I scold, crossing my arms over my chest as I stand back from the testosterone-fogged circle and tap the toe of my stiletto on the floor like a disappointed mother.
All three sets of eyes lock on me, even Todd’s. He cranes his neck to the side to break contact with Dark and … whatever’s brewing here.
“How about we pull out our wallets, and by we, I mean the three of you?” I point to each of them. “And you pay for everyone’s meals, and then some, for interrupting a perfectly fine evening with your macho bullshit.”
Sunshine drops his hand from Todd’s chest as if Todd’s the least to be concerned with. He probably is. Extracting a wallet from his back pocket, Sunshine pulls a fat stack of cash from inside and slaps it on the bar top. When he turns around, he arches a brow in my direction, asking me without words if that’s enough penance to pay for this disruption. I nod once, knowing damn well that’s easily five grand.
Satisfied with his generosity, I turn on my heel, snatch up the desserts in their paper bag, my purse, and coat, and saunter out of the restaurant, never looking back.
Wanting to be alone after whatever that was, I dial Till on the sidewalk outside, beneath the glow of the moon .
“What happened?” she answers, knowing I’m supposed to be out on a date.
“Long story. Can you pick me up?”
Till curses under her breath. “Of course. Send me your location.”
We hang up, and I text her where I am. So I don’t freeze my butt off in this skimpy dress, I set the paper bag on the sidewalk, slip on my coat and tighten the tie around my waist before I scoop it back up and walk down the block to wait for Till and avoid the men.
Minutes tick by at a snail’s pace as I try to hide beside a lamppost that flickers like something out of a horror movie. My leg jiggles as the men exit the front of the restaurant, their loud voices booming over the quiet road. Todd first, followed by Dark and Sunshine. Three sets of eyes sweep the sidewalk, looking for me. Sunshine finds me first. I groan inwardly, having been caught.
As if summoned by the Goddess herself, Till’s sports car rips around the corner in my direction and screeches to a rough stop beside the curb as the three assholes saunter this way.
“Kali!” Dark yells.
“Please. Stop!” Todd adds.
Cringing at the urgency in their tones, I shake my head to clear away the mounting guilt and climb into Till’s car before the wine wears off and my stupid conscience forces me to hear them out. Ugh. I’ve been so good lately. Four months of strength. But that’s easy to do when you’re not faced with their presence. It’s much harder to do when they stare at you through a car window, frowning as Till flips them off and zips away .
I slump in the bucket seat and groan. “Fuck. My. Life.”
Tapping her fingers against the steering wheel, Till throws her head back and laughs. “You gonna tell me why Todd , the ex, and his hot dad were all at the same restaurant?” My best friend pauses to rake her wide eyes over me, then whistles. “Damn, girl, you look fuckin’ hot.”
I roll my eyes and smooth a hand down my jacket and dress. “I hate men.”
Till laughs again. “Did I see blood on Dark’s face?”
“Yep.”
“I don’t know how you thought you could divorce him and he’d somehow stop pining after what he wants but can’t have.”
“We’re not talking about this.”
Till snorts like I’m full of it. “We sure as hell are. I left the bar to save your ass. You’re stuck in this car with me ‘til I choose to stop. Kali, I’m sick of this evading shit. You might not wanna tell the sisters what’s up, but you will tell me, or I’ll torture you.”
Lolling my head against the headrest, I roll my eyes at the nosy bitch. “Till, I love you, but you don’t scare me.”
Removing her hands from the steering wheel, she rubs her palms together like a villain. “I have my ways.”
I snort. “Uh-huh.”
“I’ll play nonstop folk music in the bar for the next month.”
Clutching my heart, I gasp. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh. But I would.”
“You evil, bitch,” I hiss good-naturedly .
Till cackles in triumph. “Try me, bitch.” She arches a brow in challenge.
Fine.
I suppose I can tell her something. A little something. Nobody wants to listen to folk music at the bar for a month. Consider this a favor to our patrons.
Staring out the side window as the shadowy world flashes by, I spill the beans. Once I get started, I can’t stop. The faucet opens, and everything that happened on the yacht, down to the cheating and everything in between, pours from my traitorous lips. When I’m done, every part of me feels lighter. The tension in my shoulders, which I didn’t realize was there, is gone, replaced with relief. Relief that I shared with someone who cares, someone I can trust.
Till grips her steering wheel and stares straight ahead, eyes on the road. “Those fucking bastards,” she seethes. “Those stupid, fucking bastards. I’m gonna kill ‘em.” She jerks the steering wheel like she’s trying to rip it from the car.
“Well…You asked, and you’ve been asking. You can’t kill them. That’s my job.”
“Kali.”
“What?”
“Dark legit played you.”
Duh.
I throw my hands in the air. “I know.”
“Sunshine knew.”
“Yep.”
“Todd’s a dumb fucking tool.”
“Till,” I scold. Not this again. She needs to leave Todd out of this. He’s the least of my problems.
“What?” Her shoulders touch her ears before she drops them dramatically. “He is. Instead of making some dick-measuring, chest-pounding scene…” She scoffs, unimpressed. “He could have done the right thing and taken the win, left with you, his goddamn trophy, and had free dessert naked in bed with your smokin’ hot body. But nooo …” Till slams her palm against the top of her steering wheel. “Men are idiots.”
That they are.
I reach into my purse and extract the first crystal I find swimming in the bottom. Rubbing the smooth bloodstone for comfort, I force a half-assed smile. “Thanks, Till.” For being a good friend, for picking me up, for listening, for giving a crap. I leave the emotional bits out because sappy feelings make her uncomfortable. But I am grateful for her. Who knows how long I’d have harbored all this on my own had she not dropped everything to rescue me.
Shifting anxiously in her seat, Till rubs her temple with her middle finger, directed at me. I roll my eyes and snicker at her inability to accept praise. “Now, what do you wanna do?” she asks, side-eyeing me.
“I dunno yet, but I’m afraid to go home.”
“Sunshine won’t break into your house again if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“You don’t know that,” I reply, because she can’t know that.
“Yeah, I do. So do you . He learns quick. You’re his favorite person in the world. From the sounds of it, he’s tryin’ to make shit right.”
I’m not so sure about that .
“If he learns so well, why was he at the restaurant tonight? Hmmm ?”
“I don’t know. But I’m willin’ to bet it’s not just to cause a scene.”
“No matter the reason, that was uncalled for.”
“Ask him,” Till suggests.
“No.” Not a chance. I’d rather stab myself in the foot with an ice pick.
“Kali, you and I both know you gotta talk to him sometime. Maybe not to Dark. Dark is dead to us.” To prove her point, Till rips a thumb across her throat like she’s planning my ex’s bloody demise. “Sunshine’s a good man. You need to remember that.”
I don’t have to remember shit.
“He lied, Till. Lied for years,” I remind her, in case she already forgot.
“To protect you from his son.”
“No. To protect the club and his son.”
Till levels me with a quick, unimpressed stare, "Him shielding you doesn’t do jack for the club, Kali. As for Dark, I don’t have an answer, but I’d put money on it not bein’ just for Dark’s benefit. When Dark returned with Lily and Abby, Sunshine wasn’t all kumbaya, buddy, buddy with his son anymore.”
True. He was livid.
“Maybe. But think about it. He helped me buy my house. He knew about them then, even when he said he didn’t,” I reason.
“Exactly.” Till pounds the side of her fist against the edge of the steering wheel. “He moved you out of your apartment and into a place of your own, knowing damn well Dark was about to wreck your entire world. It gave you the security you needed when the storm came.”
Of course, she’d side with him.
“You’re only defending him because of your history,” I snip.
“What history?”
I throw my hand out. “The sex and stuff.”
“What?” Till squeaks as if she’s genuinely confused.
“You know…” Do I have to spell it out?
“I don’t know what you think, but Sunshine and I have never fucked.”
Twisting in my seat to face her, my brows furrow. “Wait. You haven’t?” That can’t be right.
“Lord. No. We flirt and act like idiots, but I’ve never fucked him. That man’s more celibate than a priest. Trust me, it’s not for a lack of trying.” Till waggles her brows at me, eyes wide and ridiculous.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I chuckle. “How did I not know this?”
She shrugs. “Because you’re blinder than a bat.”
Till turns left into what I’m just now realizing is my neighborhood.
“You’re taking me home,” I broadcast the obvious.
“Yep.” She nods. “Stop hiding, you big baby. So what if they hurt you? Fuck… that didn’t come out right. Let’s try this again… You’re a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man…”
I snort.
She flashes me a grin. “How’my doin’?”
“Awful.” I press my lips together to keep from laughing .
“Perfect.” Till clears her throat obnoxiously and parks in front of my house. She cuts the engine, undoes her seatbelt, and turns toward me in the seat. “As I was sayin’… You’re strong, Kali. Strong women face their fears. They don’t hide from the pain. They embrace that shit like a tattoo. It hurts for a while until it doesn’t. You’re left with scars. We all are. But some of them, just like a tattoo, can be beautiful. Dark doin’ shit Dark does, doesn’t define your life. Talking to them, or at least Sunshine, may change nothin’, but it could also change everything.” Till reaches across the console and pats my leg affectionately. “Now go and embrace that pain, bitch… and call me whenever you decide to murder Dark. I’ll be there with a shovel or a bag, ya know… whatever you need.”
My heart is far too warm and fuzzy for her having my back. I don’t gush my appreciation like I want to. Instead, I mimic her leg pat with one of my own. “Thanks for the ride, Till.”
“And the advice,” she adds.
Shaking my head, I fake laugh. “Sure. That, too.”
“Text me anytime, and no more keepin’ the shitty shit to yourself. Agreed?”
“Fine,” I relent good-naturedly.
“Excellent.” Till claps her hands together twice as if everything’s settled. “Now get the fuck outta my car. I have a bar to close.”
Smirking at her ridiculousness, I unbuckle my belt and reach across the car to pull my best friend into an awkward hug. She reluctantly pats my back, treating me like a leper, but she hugs me, nonetheless. Once I pull away and gather my things, I exit her fancy vehicle. She waits for me to let myself into the house that Lily must have locked up, turn on a light, and wave to her from my non-invaded home before she does a U-turn, flips me the bird, and high tails it out of my neighborhood with folk music bumping from her stereo.
As I lock up for the night and get ready for bed, there’s a light rap at my front door.
Knowing exactly who it is, I sigh and remove my heels before following my best friend’s terrible advice and let the liar inside.
Sunshine doesn’t even look me in the face as I hold the door open for him. Not saying a word, he ambles inside, his shoulders hunched like a dog in trouble.
Before Dark shows up and causes more problems, I flip the lock, drape my jacket over the back of the couch, grab my favorite blanket from the woven basket by the television, and make myself at home as the biker does the same on the chair across from me.
Sunshine fumbles with his phone and types out a message.
“Did Till text you and tell you to come over?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Yes. Are you mad?”
“No. But I need you to tell me why you’re here, why you broke in last night, why you were at the restaurant, and why you lied. I need answers.”
Massaging the nape of his neck, eyes downcast, Sunshine nods once, agreeing to my terms. “Okay. But let me make you some tea first. This is gonna take a while.”