asked. "You don't have
anyone else you need to see or anything else you have to do?" It was hard
for me to imagine what life must be like for someone who didn’t need to work
anymore.
"Like
who?"
I
shrugged. "I don't know. Patients? Family?"
"I
haven't thought that far ahead," he said. "You're my main priority."
I
nodded.
"Though
I do have some commitments back in Thailand that I can't ignore forever."
"I
see." I decided not to ask about the commitments he had so far away since
they were depressing, especially since at least one of them was his Dad's
situation. "And you don't think the fact that you live there is going to
be an obstacle to the future of… whatever this is?"
"Not
at all."
"How
can you be so sure?" I asked.
"Because,”
he said. "Finding you was the hard part. Keeping you happy, I can
do."
Chapter
10: Jack
She
shook her head. "Your confidence is really something."
"I'm
glad you said confidence instead of cockiness."
"Was
I wrong to?"
"I
don't think so," I said. "I'm just used to getting what I want, and
I've never wanted anything as much as I want you."
The
waitress arrived with the wine, my last comment lingering between us while
Audrey watched me like a hesitant fawn, like she couldn't decide whether she
wanted to bolt or lick me.
"Are
you ready to order?" the waitress asked, looking between us.
"I'll
have the duck please," Audrey said, smiling at the waitress who probably
would've been decent looking in her own right if she hadn’t been standing so
close to Audrey.
"The
New York Strip for me," I said.
"Would
you like any appetizers?" the waitress asked hopefully.
"Sure,"
I said. "The crab cakes and the flat bread sound nice."
The
waitress nodded, collected our menus, and left.
"Are
you happy with those starters?" I asked. "You weren't eyeing the
buratta were you?"
"It
did sound nice," she said. "But I thought the flat bread looked like
the pick of the bunch."
"Anything
with blue cheese and bacon, right?"
She
rolled her shoulders back and laid her napkin across her lap. "You
said it."
"I
was surprised you went with the duck."
She
shrugged. "I can't say the same for what you ordered."
I
furrowed my brow. "What do you mean?"
"The
New York Strip? I mean, c'mon. You're more obsessed with stripping than any guy
I've ever met."
I
felt the corner of my mouth curl up. "I don't think I've always
been," I said. "I think it's just an interest you’ve brought out in
me."
She
rolled her eyes.
"I'd
like to propose a toast," I said, lifting the stem of my glass.
She
followed my lead. "What are we toasting to?"
"Let's
toast to Megan and Matteo because without their help, I wouldn't have found you
so quickly."
"Sounds
good to me," she said, clinking her glass against mine. She took a sip of
her wine and licked her wet lips, filling my mind with filth. "Mmmm. That
is nice," she said, taking another drink.
"I'm
glad you like it," I said. "I'd hate for you to think my excellent
taste was limited to women."
She
shook her head. "I wouldn't dare suggest such a thing."
"Good,"
I said. "Speaking of taste, what is it you're looking for?"
She
placed a hand over her chest. "What am I looking for?"
"Yeah,"
I said. "In a man."
"Wow.
You get right to the point, don't you?"
"Well,
time is of the essence here."
"I
suppose."
"So
I’m in a hurry to figure you out."
"To
figure me out?" she asked. "I'm not sure I've got me figured out yet,
but I guess you're welcome to try."
"Figure
you out wasn't the right use of words," I said. "I just want to get
to know you."
She
nodded.
"And
I don't need to know you better than you know yourself," I said.
"Just better than anyone else."
"Why?"
"Because
you're the most interesting subject I don't know anything