Chapter 171
“So, this place we’re going for dinner, have you been there before?”
“No. First time. I heard about it from a friend and thought we’d try it out.”
“Cool.”
We pulled up in front of the restaurant fifteen minutes later and Jaiden handed the keys to the valet. When we got inside, the hostess seated us quickly. The atmosphere was subdued, and a violin trio played on a raised platform in the middle of the floor.
“This place is…I had no idea,” I mumbled, hoping I wouldn’t embarrass myself here.
“It’s marvelous, isn’t it? I’ve seen pictures of the place, but in person, it’s something else.” He grabbed the wine menu. “How about champagne to start with?”
I nodded just as a young man came to take our drinks order and fill our glasses with water and ice. Once he was gone, we decided on appetizers and the main course so we would be ready for the waiter when he returned.
“Tell me about you,” Jaiden said, leaning on his elbows. “I want to hear everything.”
“I’m not sure you do,” I replied. “There’s not much to tell, really. I grew up an only child, raised by my grandpa, who died just as I finished college. He was my family and I miss him dearly. I won an internship to the company where I still work, and I live in a nice apartment with a roommate who thought he was straight but recently discovered he’s a little bent and is enjoying the hell out of that.”
Jaiden laughed. “I see. What about hobbies? Though I suppose being a Trekkie would be one of them?”
I grinned. “Can you tell? I love all things Star Trek, from the shows to the movies to the books. I also like to watch things like Gotham, Arrow, anything in the Marvel / DC universe. I’ve been that way since I was a kid. My grandpa was a Trekkie before the term became cool. Maybe I do it in honor of him, but I do enjoy the genre. And now, feel free to run away screaming.”
After sipping his water, Jaiden said, “A couple of my exes were into cosplay and Comic-Con, all that stuff. I’ve been to a few conventions, though I’ve never dressed up. I enjoy the shows and movies, but I’m not as into it as you are. I’m always busy with work and travel, especially lately, and then I’m too tired to even turn on the TV when I get home.”
The waiter returned at that moment with our champagne, then took our food order. When he left, Jaiden raised his glass in a toast. “To friendship, and maybe more.”
I raised my glass to his, then clinked it. I was a bit too enthusiastic, however, and caused us both to spill champagne on our hands and the tablecloth.
Trust me to ruin a perfect moment.
I was subdued the rest of the meal, though to give Jaiden credit, he didn’t seem to care about the mess I’d made. But I did, and I felt so stupid. Things had been going so well…
“Alister,” Jaiden said, his tone sharp.
I looked up at him, surprised.
“Stop worrying about the champagne. I don’t care. So you’re a little clumsy sometimes. So what? No one’s perfect.”
“But I wanted to be…to impress you. And now…”
“We’re having a nice meal and enjoying each other’s company. Has that changed?”
I shook my head.
“Did I run away screaming when the champagne spilled?”
I shook my head again.
“Then there’s no problem, is there?”
“You don’t understand. The day we met, I spilled hot chocolate on the counter. Our first lunch, I had an incident with a sandwich. And now, the champagne. It’ll only get worse.”
“Or it may not.” He put down his fork and grabbed both my hands in his. “Don’t worry about it. And I repeat, I don’t care. I like you just the way you are, spills and all.” His slow smile made me want to believe it.
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed my hands, then went back to eating. “I have two older brothers—Joseph and Jeremy—and a younger sister, Beth. They live on the other side of the country, all of them married and with kids, adopted or otherwise. My eldest sibling, Joseph, is gay, and he and his husband have five children. His oldest kid, Hank, just graduated from college, top of his class. We’re all overachievers—Joseph is a lawyer; Jeremy is a chemical engineer; Beth is a pediatrician. My parents are retired university professors. We can’t seem to help ourselves.”
I smiled reluctantly. “I guess not.” I fiddled with my fork. “Do you visit your family often?”
“Twice a year on Thanksgiving and Christmas. If I don’t see some of the family on one holiday, I’ll see them on the next one. It’s always noisy and chaotic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Sounds lovely.” I probably sounded wistful, but I didn’t regret the quiet and fervent times my grandpa and I had when we celebrated the holidays. And I still remembered those times fondly.