Page 51 of SlapShot Sweetheart

I think the place went out of business…

Theo?

She sighed heavily trying to keep her temper in check as she saw that the text messages said ‘Read’ but he hadn’t responded yet. His Jeep was nowhere to be seen which meant he was running behind again. Why on earth did they insist on meeting somewhere when maybe it would be just so much easier and less grief to meet up at the house, leaving together.

I’ll meet you inside, I guess.

“Why do I put up with his shenanigans?” she muttered aloud, getting out of her Kia and carefully crossing the busy street toward the little place that was superb and highly romantic. When he texted, saying that he wanted to meet her for dinner at the same place, she had melted. He wanted them to have an official ‘first date,’ and the thought of revisiting it, changing things, struck a romantic chord in her soul. She always imagined that this place had seen its fair share of romantic proposals, anniversaries, and first dates because of the setting. The ambiance of the restaurant always seemed to hit the perfect notes. The deep shadows, flickering candle lights, and divine scents coming from the kitchen, combined with the maître d’ and fine attention to details.

“I love this place,” she whispered in disbelief as the paper on the door said ‘Closed’ in large black letters. “But it sure doesn’t love me… are you kidding me?” - Only to jump back slightly as the door opened.

“Mademoiselle, this place is closed…” the man began loftily as Aimee nodded, horribly embarrassed at the way he was looking down at her.

“M-My apologies,” she stammered. “I was told we had a reservation and…”

“Miss Sanders?” he said, lifting that beak of a nose even further upward just so he could look down on her a bit more as he pulled a piece of paper from the pocket just inside of his suit.

“Y-Yes?”

“Ah yes,” the man began again in that snide voice. “Let’s see… uh-huh, yes. Well, this is surprising indeed, but I suppose it shall have to do when you are dressed in this atrocious manner.”

Aimee swallowed nervously, looking down at her clothing. She was wearing a sleek sweater dress that smoothed along her curves, giving her a svelte appearance. It was one of her favorite things to wear, even though she rarely dressed up like this. When Theo mentioned them going on a date, she had stupidly suspected that he was going to make some grand entrance or surprise her, but he wasn’t even here yet.

“I’m sorry,” she hesitated. “Do I need to go or…”

He held open the door and lifted an eyebrow at her before huffing. “I don’t have all day, you know.”

“This is going in a Yelp review,” she muttered under her breath, walking past him to the darkened lobby she loved so much. There was something so elegant about walking into a place, being surrounded with luxury. The chandeliers were dripping with shimmering teardrops, and gold inlay reflected the glints of light from the glossy floors. Wall coverings were pleated to damper the sound and elegant rope fringe trim lined everything giving another level of taste to the room. It was always the little touches that made the difference between good versus great – and this place was normally greatness personified.

… Normally.

“This way,” he said simply, holding out his hand.

“If this is a private event, then I should probably…” Aimee began distractedly, looking over her shoulder back to the man as he practically nudged her out of the entryway into the restaurant and she froze, finishing her statement limply. “…go?”

Every table in the restaurant had a bouquet of the pink roses that she loved so much and still had on her own dining room table, though now wilting but along with those roses were several other things that caught her by surprise. Stuffed Beanie Babies kittens in varying colors and shades were perched beneath each bouquet of roses.

“What is going on?” she blurted out, looking around in disbelief.

“Insanity, I tell you…” the man muttered, walking in front of her and as he pushed past, she had a sense ofdeja vu.

“Do I know you?”

“I assure you – you do not know me in the slightest because if you did, then you would know that I wouldn’t be here except under duress.”

“Well, bye Felicia… don’t let me slow you down,” she began, completely fed up with this man's snarky comments and foul attitude. “In fact, where’s the manager?”

“Boucher!”another man hissed in the distance.

“What?!” the arrogant man replied loudly, almost shouting.

“Happy Inner-Hero Voice, remember?”

And the man beside her slapped his forehead before dragging his hand down the front of his face in disbelief as it finally clicked in her head that this was one of Theo’s teammates beside her and probably the other one was too.

“What is going on?” she repeated, only to be ignored as the man threw his hands up in the air, walking past several tables before yanking out a chair pointedly. He glared at her, pointed at the seat, and then walked off… leaving her completely alone in the restaurant. Hearing a scuffling sound in the distance, another man was shoved out the swinging doorway of the kitchen. It was almost comical to see him look back, muttering something, before he flexed at the door, shaking a fist, and turned around to smile at her.

“Miss Sanders, take a seat if you please.”

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