Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
AUGUST
“August, did you see how much their oysters’ cost?” Riley looks back down at the menu with wide eyes. She leans across the table to whisper. “Sixty freakin’ dollars for a dozen of them. We could have just gone for hot dogs. Seriously.”
“Well, considering they’re Olympia oysters, it makes sense.” I check out the prices on each item, and I’m starting to sweat. That’s what I get for ignoring the four-dollar signs when I found the place online.
“Look at this.” She flips her menu toward me and points at the price of a lobster plate. “Their most expensive lobster is one hundred dollars. The cheapest one is eighty.” When she pulls back the menu, she shakes her head. “I can’t let you pay for this.”
I shake the watch on my wrist, centering it again, before crossing one leg over the other under the table, trying to relax. “This is my treat. You did a very brave thing and jumped off a high cliff. I didn’t finish your yoga class. It’s the least I could do.”
It’s been years since Riley and I have gone out with just the two of us. It was never anything serious when we did. Just two friends hanging out, eating cheap food while we sat on the beach to watch the sun set, talking about different things throughout the night.
We’ve never gone out on a date or to a fancy place like this. Instead, we’d plan the simplest lunch or dinner while enjoying each other’s company. After long, torturous tutoring sessions in high school, we’d treat ourselves to ice cream at Ollie’s.
I keep having to remind myself that this is no different. It’s two friends at a very expensive restaurant that makes my stomach queasy.
“You don’t even like seafood. Why did you take us here of all places?
” She sits up in her chair, pushing her short hair back behind her ear.
A row of shiny studs’ lines from her lobe to her cartilage.
My favorite is the silver, crescent moon that’s lined in gold.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, this is a beautiful place, and we’re right on the beach, but you didn’t have to do this. I’m wearing jeans.”
This is another thing about Riley. She often feels bad when someone wants to treat her to something nice and special. Deep down, she doesn’t believe she’s worth all the trouble. I could shout it from the rooftops that she deserves the world, and she would still disagree.
But that’s the thing, I’d still shout it out for the world to know because it’s true.
She isn’t wrong about the place, though.
It’s very rich, in a sense. It’s like we stepped into Poseidon's castle. A large chandelier that consists of crystals hangs in the center of the oval ceiling. It’s lit with candles while glowing a sort of soft purple color, and all the other lights are dimmed around us.
The ceiling itself is decorated with gold vines that crawl up the light, baby-blue design that makes us feel like we’re floating in the sky.
And don’t even get me started on the velvet, tufted chairs and plates they serve the food on. I’m sure it costs the same as my mortgage.
“Good evening. My name is Leland, and I’ll be your server for tonight. Is this your first time dining with us?”
Leland looks like he worked on the Titanic. He probably leaves with five-hundred-dollar tips from a single table.
“Yes, this is our first time here.” I nod at Riley, who’s gaping at Leland.
His lips pull into a tight, professional smile. “May I suggest starting with our Chateau Grand Corbin red wine? It’s one of our finest wines and one of my favorites. It has a rich, smooth texture with opulence and freshness. And you’ll find woody notes after swirling.”
After clearing my throat and building up the courage to ask, I gesture for him to bend down to my level so I can whisper, “How much does this wine cost per bottle?”
The once-tight smile turns smug, and he blinks a few times. “The bottle is one hundred and seventy-five dollars, sir.”
Riley slowly turns her attention to me, mouth still wide open, and a horrified look on her face. The most I can do is nod, and I can’t stop.
Then I look at Leland. “Can you give us a moment to decide?”
He gives me a curt nod before turning on his heel and walks away with his chin held high.
I turn to Riley who still has knitted eyebrows and a look of concern. “Still in the mood for hot dogs?”
After almost having a heart attack, we left a generous tip for Leland.
It wasn’t five hundred dollars generous, but it was enough to say, sorry for wasting your time.
Now, we’re enjoying our hot dogs and a greasy bag of fries while we sit on a bench located on the small pier that the town has to offer.
The weather is on our side tonight. A calming sixty degrees with no wind and a cotton candy sunset on the horizon. Flocks of seagulls sing in the sky, while one pesky one tries to convince Riley to share a fry.
Below us is a bed of white, soft sand that stretches from side to side. Water ripples against the sturdy, wooden stands. We’ve both opted for jeans and a sweater for tonight.
“Thank god I got two hot dogs.” Riley pulls her second one out from the other bag that isn’t filled with fries. “I only ate breakfast and a light lunch to prepare myself for whatever dinner you had planned.”
After swallowing the bite of my hot dog, I look at her. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” she says with a mouthful. I may be the only person who finds her cheeks stuffed with food, cute.
“The dinner I couldn’t afford. I would have happily used my credit card if it came down to it. I don’t know.” I look down at my half-eaten hot dog and pick at the bread. “I guess I wanted to impress you.”
“Impress me? You don’t need to impress me, August.”
“I know I don’t need to, but I wanted to.”
“Why?”
I don’t tell her that’s a silly question to ask because she knows why. She’s just afraid to admit that she knows, and I don’t blame her. We both have these feelings that we’re afraid to act on. We still haven’t talked about our kiss and what it meant. Maybe this is the opportunity to do that.
“Can we talk about the kiss?” A rush of heat creeps up my neck, and my heart picks up speed. I don’t know what the answer will be. Part of me is expecting disappointment, and the other is hopeful.
I can practically hear Riley gulping down the last bite of her hot dog; she wasn’t expecting that question. She takes a large sip of her soda through her straw and keeps her eyes on the water.
“Don’t blame the alcohol.” I nudge my elbow gently into her arm jokingly.
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not.” Then she shrugs.
“I don’t know. That moment in the elevator with us—I felt safe with you after everything that happened.
It reminded me of the times that I knew I could go to you if I was dealing with something and didn’t know who to turn to.
You were my rock. I knew I could count on you. Even at that moment.”
Before my mind can think about what I’m doing, I grab her hand in mine, rubbing my thumb over her smooth skin. She holds on tight.
“I’ll always be there for you, Riley. Even if you do act like a smart-ass sometimes.”
She rubs a hand on her jeans, peering down at the plank wood, then at me.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you as much when it comes to your dad.
I don’t know how to treat the situation.
The last thing I want to do is make you upset by talking about something that’s made your world crumble around you. ”
“Would you hate it if I said you’re the only person I want to run to because of this?”
Riley looks at me for a beat, and the corner of her lip twitches. The same lips I’ve dreamt about kissing repeatedly.
“This might sound silly,” she says. “But I was kind of swept away by the kiss. It was—nice.”
“Nice? That’s all it was? Not incredible or amazing or mouthwatering delicious?”
“Mouthwatering?” She grimaces and laughs. “That sounds gross.”
“Okay, fine. That wasn’t the right word to use. I guess I’ll take the compliment because at the end of the day, you didn’t find it gross.”
This moment between us is something I never want to stop. I want this every day if I can have it. It feels like we might be able to.