Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Athick, grey mist, cold and damp, clung to us the moment we stepped through the arched doors, obscuring the restaurant in an alluring veil of mystery.
The thin, acrid smoke snaked around us, its tendrils tugging at our clothes, lightly brushing against the crisp edges of Gabe’s perfectly ironed shirt.
“Rodriguez, for two?” Gabe’s unruly eyebrows shot up as he acknowledged the staff, his smooth voice a low murmur in the otherwise silent room.
With a sly smile playing on the host’s lips and one eyebrow arched high, the short blond man regarded my boyfriend with curious interest. Situating himself behind Gabe, the blond host assisted in removing the cream colored suit from my date’s muscular body and folded it over his arm.
Tucking a piece of his long blond hair behind his ear, the host fluttered his long eyelashes, and sweetly gestured ahead. “Right this way.”
The man’s desperate eyes, filled with pleading that bordered on pathetic, made my stomach churn, and my face contort in disgust. A sickeningly sweet, almost chemical smell of cheap cologne hit me as the host led us through the dimly lit restaurant to our table, hidden behind heavy, velvet drapes.
The circular table, draped with a crisp white tablecloth, was dimly lit by a single candle, its flickering light casting dancing shadows on the polished wood.
Gabe scrambled to pull the chair out for me, and the chair legs scraped against the hardwood floor before I sank into the plush, velvet cushion.
My eyes sparkled as the candlelight flickered, reflecting warmly on the polished silverware, which highlighted its gleam against the grey stone chargers.
A starched black napkin, folded with precise angles, rested on the plate.
I unfolded it, the crispness whispering against my fingers, before laying it across my lap.
With a flourish, the blond host revealed two crisp menus clutched to his chest, a slight smile playing on his lips, before Gabe held up his hands. “No need for menus tonight, I’ll order for my handsome date.”
A wide grin spread across my face as I watched the host purse his lips, a clear sign of disapproval, before hastily retreating from our table.
The beauty of the restaurant was truly stunning.
The black walls, carved with intricate, swirling embellishments, seemed to writhe under the weight of a thick, smoky plume hung from the ceiling like a heavy trellis.
The lone candle flickered, its muted light a fragile beacon in the overwhelming darkness, like a will o’ wisp, beckoning yet elusive.
“Gorgeous place, isn’t it?”
I nodded, and a man materialized from the shadows, his movements fluid and quiet as he poured a rich, crimson liquid into our wine glasses.
A stray bead of purple dye snaked its way down the bottle’s neck, absorbed instantly by the white tablecloth, leaving only a faint purple stain.
With a flourish, the man displayed a crystal decanter, its facets catching the candlelight and sparkling like a thousand tiny stars as he delicately tilted it toward a small rocks glass.
A rich, red liquid, like thick honey, poured from the decanter, coating the glass with its syrupy texture and deep color.
“Fresh blood and vintage wine, a perfect combination.” Gabe lifted his wine glass, the candlelight dancing in his brown eyes, reflecting the warmth of the moment as he looked across the table.
I shuddered while looking at the blood as the Extraction scheduled for tomorrow morning ran through my mind.
I raised my glass to meet his, and the delicate tinkle of crystal against crystal echoed softly in the quiet room as our glasses met.
Raising the thin goblet to my lips, the intoxicating aroma of the blend filled my senses before I took a sip, a symphony of flavors exploding on my tongue.
The wine was layered with initial flavors of cranberry and blackberry, followed by a cascade of black cherry and a subtle warmth of spice.
The wine’s flavors were soft and enveloping, with a bright, balanced acidity that danced on my tongue, making it one of the most pleasant glasses I’ve ever tasted.
“This is a beautiful red,” Gabe acknowledged as he took a sip. “This particular wine was shipped from our partners in Italy and produced only in small batches for optimal flavor. Wonderful, isn’t it?”
“With the blood infused into the wine, it tastes like…me.” I smiled, knowing it was an inside joke between the two of us whenever blood was involved. “But in all seriousness, I’ve drank a lot of wine, but this is special.”
A wide grin stretched across his face, his white teeth flashing in the dim light.
“Anything for you, Vin.” He leaned across the table and touched his lips with mine.
The kiss was passionate and meaningful, a silent language of longing and desire spoken only through the gentle pressure and warmth of our lips. “I love you.”
His touch, though tender, sent a jolt through me, causing my body to stiffen in response.
Gabe didn’t kiss me outside of when we were nearing intercourse.
Over sixty-five years of knowing each other, the non-sexual kisses we shared were so few, they could be counted on both hands.
“I-I love you too?” I didn’t mean the words to come out as a question.
Looking into his handsome, yet hopeful face, I knew why.
I did love him. He’d been my rock, a steady presence through the storms of my volatile emotions, frustrations threatened to consume me, and grief that threatened to break me. I knew I could rely on him.
But is that enough for me?
The server, a shadowy figure barely visible through the misty darkness, returned bearing two small plates overflowing with frizzy green leaves. He carefully placed the pristine white dish on the charger before us, then vanished as quickly as he’d appeared.
“After dinner, I have a surprise for you.” Gabe reached out and lightly held my fingers in his hand. “I booked the observatory for your birthday. The stars will be bright tonight.”
I feigned a smile, knowing full well his intention was to fuck under the stars, before using my salad fork to stab a piece of lettuce.
My mouth was instantly enveloped with a sharp taste, as if a bee had stung my tongue.
I looked toward Gabe, who was chewing with no indication anything was wrong.
Was it just mine? Taking a long sip of the refreshing water, I cleared my throat, feeling my vocal cords loosen.
He swallowed. “I figured it would be like when we used to meet in the park.”
“I wish we could go back,” I admitted. “Everything was just so…different. Easier.” I took another bite of salad and winced once again. I thought maybe I was being overdramatic, but it was just as bad as I remembered. “Is this salad—”
“Terrible? Yes,” Gabe finished.
Our loud and unrestrained laughter shattered the night’s stiff formality, breaking through Smoke’s suffocating atmosphere. I stole a glance toward the other tables illuminated by candles and wondered if the other patrons were wondering why we were snickering to one another.
I loved it when he loosened up; it reminded me of how we used to be. As hot as he looked when serious—his jaw tight, eyes narrowed—seeing him genuinely laugh felt like winning the lottery. My heart ached every time his eyes crinkled from his wide smile.
The waiter appeared once again. “Are you enjoying the salads?”
Gabe and I stole a glance, a silent communication passing between us as I bit my lip to stifle a snicker.
“It’s great,” Gabe answered and held the plate out. “I think we’re saving room for dinner.” With the vile appetizer cleared from the table, his intense gaze seemed to see past my very soul. “I know I ask this every year, but what are you looking forward to?”
Seeing The Carlton tonight.
Since leaving my floor, I was aching to see more of Elysium.
The world seemed to open up to me within a matter of hours.
“Not sure.” I shrugged. “I think getting my father to let me out of my room is a huge step, so I’m excited to build more relationships with other people. There’s still so much I don’t know.”
“Like what?”
I had to change the subject so I didn’t give an indication that I was itching to sneak away. I needed to deflect the conversation back to him. I arched my eyebrows, and my voice took on a playful, teasing tone. “For example, I don’t even know your middle name.”
Gabe tilted his head back, a hearty laugh booming from his chest before he took a slow sip of the smooth, red wine. “My middle name? Is that really what’s been keeping you up at night?”
“I’ve never thought about asking.” Lifting the wine to my mouth, I took a swig, mirroring him. “Tonight was my first time in Elysium. I don’t know what I don’t know until it dawns on me.”
He nodded and closed his eyes, a smile on his lips. “Edward,” he breathed. “As embarrassing as it is to say it, my middle name is Edward.”
I squinted at him, furrowing my forehead. “Why’s that a name to be embarrassed by?”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “Do you really want to know?”
I nodded expectantly, my fingers laced together, with my chin resting on my hand.
He let out a dramatic breath of air. “I’m not sure if you remember the book series, Twilight, but my mother was obsessed with it. Originally, she wanted it to be my first name, but my father wanted to name me after my deceased uncle, so they agreed on Edward as my middle name.”
“Twilight? The book about vampires?” An unbelievable laugh, full of unrestrained joy and surprise, escaped my mouth.
“Ironic, right?” A laugh escaped his lips.
“Gabriel Edward Lopez,” I whispered. “I love it.” Knowing this piece of information only opened my heart more for him.
You’d think we’d know every detail about each other after sixty-five years, but these small, easily overlooked things slipped through the cracks.
I suppose we thought we had all the time in the world to get to know each other since aging was so slow.
“I need to ask.” Gabe reached over, holding my fingers in his palm. “For someone who has it all, why are you so keen to uproot it all? Every person in the world would love to switch places with you.”
My heart fluttered as his thick thumb caressed the back of my hand.
Draining the last drop of wine, I shrugged.
“I don’t know… I just want to be excited about life again, you know?
Being alone so often, I’ve had a lot of time to contemplate my life.
I don’t know who I am, what I’m doing, or where I’m going—that’s why I told my father I want a job.
To find some sort of…fulfillment. I can’t remember the last time I was truly happy or excited.
” Gabe’s brow furrowed as he looked at me with confusion, making my cheeks burn with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I’m rambling.”
“You don’t feel happy or excited with me?” Each word contained an underlying tinge of disappointment.
“That’s not what I meant.” My heart felt like someone stabbed a wooden stake through it as I shook my head.
I didn’t mean to hurt him, and his quick temper prevented any meaningful discussion, so we never get to have these types of conversations.
“It’s hard to explain, I just feel unfulfilled with…
life. You’re the only thing I have to look forward to every day.
How sad is that? It’s like I don’t know how to be happy anymore. ”
Cupping one hand to the side of my face, Gabe’s breath hitched as he gazed into my pupils, searching for the flicker of love reflected in their depths.
“Vinny, I want to be the light in your darkness because that’s what you are to me.
I’d do anything for you. You brought me back to life when my entire world seemed to end.
You’re my family.” Wetness coated his eyes, and he turned away.
I knew I was all he had. After his family passed from brETH, he was all alone, and this was the time we helped each other the most. Tension coated the air around us, like it was being pumped through the ventilation.
I pushed away from the table and embraced him, the solid weight of his broad shoulders a comforting presence against my arm.
“I love you, Gabe. You’re my family too.
” He sharply inhaled a long breath of air, which was my indication he needed a moment to himself, but knew acknowledging it would only upset him more.
Damn toxic masculinity. The wine also didn’t help.
“I’m going to use the restroom.” He turned his head, and I offered a reassuring smile, hoping to calm his worry. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back for dinner, it should be here soon.”
He nodded, and without another second, I strutted toward a light-up sign that gestured patrons to the lavatories.
Before taking the turn, my feet halted as I stood at a crossroad.
Should I continue my way to the restroom or turn toward the exit?
The angel on my shoulder reminded me that I promised Gabe I’d be back shortly, but the devil was pulling me toward the key card tucked into his coat pocket behind the host stand.
Do I choose to continue my birthday with Gabe, eating disgusting food, and ending with quick, emotionless sex?
Or do I choose adventure and risk my boyfriend and father being mad at me?
Weighing the pros and cons of each, I found my head bobbing back and forth as I contemplated my options.
Tonight has been absolutely perfect. I loved getting off my floor and seeing more of Elysium, and I truly felt loved by Gabe.
But…even if I chose to have fun, how long can he and my father really be mad at me for? They need me to survive.
Anticipation bubbled in my stomach, and the overwhelming heat inside the restaurant made me feel faint before my feet moved, taking me to my destination. I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“Excuse me,” I smiled at the blond host. “My date asked me to grab something from his coat, can you grab it for me?”
I chose excitement. I chose myself.