Page 21 of Locking Down Qetesh

"What? No, I'm sorry..."

"It's fine. I'm not, but I'm picky about my meat, so I tend to order vegetarian when I'm eating out. Sometimes, I tell people just because it's easier than explaining." It wasn't something I ever really told anyone, but it seemed like I was just telling Jacob all of my secrets.

"I'm the same with fish," he said. "I avoid it whenever I can. If I have good fish, it's fine, but bad fish? I won't want to eat anything for three days."

I grimaced. "That's not fun."

"Not really, no. So I avoid it. Maybe I should take a leaf out of your book and try ordering veggie."

"Only if you like it," I said. "And sometimes, only a trashy burger will do."

He chuckled. "One with lots of pickles?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Definitely not. I love good-quality pickles. But the ones from fast food places are a no-go."

"Got it, so always order them without."

"If you're ordering for me, then yes, absolutely."

"Why do I feel like I should be making notes?" he mused as he took another sip of wine.

"No idea, I'm not going to quiz you on the things I like at the end of the weekend," I promised.

"Maybe it's just because I feel like I've known you for longer than I have."

"Makes sense." I picked up my wine glass and swilled it around. "We've both had Ella talking about us. There are things that you know about me that I don't even know you know. And vice versa."

"Now there's a scary thought."

I laughed and finished my wine, only for one of the servers to return and top it back up. "I'm going to have to be careful with that, or I'm going to end up drinking too much."

"Are you a lightweight, Tesha?"

"Definitely. There are some things that even thousands of years of life can't improve, and tolerance to alcohol is one of them. I really should pace myself. I'm going to set a reminder to drink some water before bed." I reached out for where my handbag was hanging on a hook at the edge of the table and knocked it off, causing me to devolve into a fit of laughter.

"Maybe it's time for the water now," Jacob said.

"I'm fine, just a clumsy moment," I promised, leaning down to pick up my stuff and shove it back into my bag.

"Mmhmm."

I was grateful when he sat back and left me to it, though the rush to my head when I sat back up wasn't great. "Maybe I'll have that water." He reached out and picked up my glass, holding it out to me. "Thanks. Is there any bread?"

"You can have the other half of the slice of toast from my paté," he said.

"That'll do."

He handed it over without even questioning whether it was too intimate of a thing for us to do. Even as I munched on the bread, I didn't think it was. It felt right. Which was just how being around Jacob was making me feel in general, even if it had been a long time since anyone had made me feel that.

Chapter 9

JACOB

Tesha stumbled up the stairs, and I steadied her, causing her to laugh more.

"You only had three glasses of wine," I said.

"I know," she groaned. "It just goes right to my head. It'll wear off when I lie down."

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