Chapter 11 #3
“Because I can tell you are uncomfortable – and I’m trying to make you smile or laugh,” she answered simply, picking up her own menu.
He looked over the edge of his, his eyes drinking her in, and paused, his mind whirling with possibilities.
Would it be so bad to have someone to talk to?
Wasn’t that the reason he was here? Yeah, he was afraid to end up getting hurt once again, but if he left now – after that hug, those feelings, and all of this upheaval in his life recently since meeting her at Bode’s wedding – was the loss, the emptiness when he abandoned this whole idea worth it?
He told her that he was interested – and he was – but…
“I’m nervous, okay?” Eli began quietly, hoping she heard him because he wasn’t sure he could repeat something so private, so personal, once more.
Maureen looked up from her menu, her expression serious, and reached over to touch his hand where it sat on the table, far from her.
She had to stretch, to reach for him, and it was almost like a sign that she was the one doing all the heavy lifting and putting in the effort…
and he knew it, yet he still couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“I know,” Maureen murmured softly between them, her eyes shining with something akin to respect or admiration – which blew his mind. “I know you are, and I appreciate you opening up to me. I’m a friend, first and foremost – and we can figure this out along the way, together.”
“I’m not a very good friend,” he admitted, realizing it felt liberating to be able to say something like that aloud. “I’m trying. I’m really trying because you seem so nice, but I can’t promise much. I don’t do things like this – it’s not in my character, but…”
“But you’re here,” she smiled at him, giving his hand a squeeze.
“Whatever pushed you to make that trip, that’s what you need to focus on.
I’m a tough cookie, and I can put up with a lot, but you need to drop your guard if we’re going to have a conversation,” she said gently, and he knew it was so he didn’t feel quite so threatened.
A part of him felt ashamed that she recognized he was having issues – and another part of him wanted to tell her how wrong she was…
even if she wasn’t. “First things first – queso or guac? The waitress is coming over to take our order in just a second.”
“Why not both – I’m hungry,” he admitted, realizing it had been quite a while since he’d eaten on the plane, and he could probably really pack away the food today if she wasn’t appalled by his appetite. Her lovely lips parted as she beamed at him, before giving him a wink.
“Woohoo!” Maureen cheered in approval. “It is on. You aren’t sitting here with some lightweight – I can ‘throw down’ some chips and queso.
” And Eli cracked a faint smile at the bragging she was doing, mixed with that sense of bravado he’d seen in other pilots before getting their butts handed to them in the air.
“Same,” he tossed back, testing the waters. “It’s been a while since I’ve had real Mexican food, so I’m warning you now – it’s not going to be pretty.”
“Don’t judge me and I won’t judge you,” she challenged with a smirk. “But do keep this up. It looks good on you, Eli – and I like it.”
That tiny spark of happiness within him was quickly fanning into something much larger and brighter than anything he’d ever imagined.
The corner of his lips turned upward into the beginnings of a smile, because for the first time in forever, he was starting to feel like himself… and it was being welcomed openly.
The waitress chose that moment to arrive beside their table, and Maureen spoke, leaning forward and giving him a sideways glance as if measuring to see what he would say or do.
“We’ll have the ‘dirty queso’ with all the good stuff mixed in – and a bowl of guacamole with extra limes on the side, please. ”
“And the empanadas,” Eli added, holding her gaze as he spoke up, once more testing the waters – but that insecure part of him braced for the rejection, despite everything.
Yeah, he had some hurdles to cross, but the last hour had been a revelation already, giving him strength to keep going. “Unsweet tea for me, please…”
“I’ll have the same,” Maureen finished before tearing his eyes away from him to look at the waitress once more. “We’ll start with that and order in just a bit – thank you.”
The moment the woman walked away, Maureen looked back at him without any hesitation – and that smile was brilliant.
“Now, I want to know everything about you… and don’t hold back.
I want the good, the bad, and the ugly so I know what I’m getting into in our relationship – which is off to a wonderful start, if I do say so myself. ”
He let out his breath in a soft chuckle of amazement and shook his head, almost like he couldn’t believe someone like her existed in this world. Drawing in a deep breath, he nodded.
“Same. I want to know everything about you – and don’t hold back.”