Page 72 of Eat Your Heart Out
41
Ali
The music was great, and my feet felt light from dancing and laughing. At the end of the night, Gerard walked me out, and the moon was in the sky, and it was hard to hear each other until we were farther down the street.
I linked arms with him. “That was fun. The food wasn’t bad. Time to sample for your blog.”
He directed us to a restaurant on the corner. “White tablecloths generally mean a quieter time.”
He held the door for me, and as I slipped in, I asked, “Was it that bad?”
“No, I enjoy myself with you.” He joined me inside.
I wrung my hands as we headed to the table. I needed to tell him he was wonderful and to not worry about the future. I swallowed hard and waited for the staff to leave us. Then I reached across the table. “Well, that’s good to hear. I hope I’m not being too pushy today.”
He took my hand. “Why would you think you’re too pushy?”
My pulse quickened. I wondered if I should blurt out how he had my heart because I loved him.
I met his gaze. “It’s an old habit of seeking approval, I suppose.”
The staff brought out a tray of dessert selections and left it for us along with a bottle of wine.
As we ate and drank, I built up my courage. I needed to tell him.
The moon was growing bigger in the sky, and darkness washed over the land and docks. Inside, we had candles to set the mood, and the lights were dim to keep the place romantic. It was a perfect place to tell him.
I finished my cream puff and sipped my wine, then I opened my lips to tell him, but my heart thumped. I couldn’t tell him how I felt. The words were impossible. He stared at me.
Heat rose to my face. “So, did we have enough of this dessert for a five-star review?”
His eyes widened. “Five stars?”
Wait. Damn.I’d failed again. I straightened and wondered what was wrong with me. “Of course. This is delicious.”
He settled the bill, then we headed back out. My skin prickled. I wished feelings were easy to talk about. The stroll back was pleasant, though he was fairly quiet.
Finally he asked, “Do you want to head north to Paris and see some of Western Europe, or do we change course and head through the Mediterranean?”
I would go anywhere with him. I didn’t want to disrupt the plans. I played with my necklace. “Can we see Rome, too, after we finish with Western Europe?”
We stopped at a jeweler near the docks and sorted through the charms.
“Of course,” he said. “And the Greek Isles, Turkey, Egypt, and anywhere you want to stop.”
“Paris sounds amazing.” I pointed to a Lisbon charm that had the sun in it.
The shopkeeper nodded and rang up my charm. I breathed easier when I saw it was cheaper than what we ate. The last thing I wanted was for Gerard to think I was using him. The day had been wonderful, and it reminded me it was okay to talk. Gerard was the most understanding man I’d ever met.
As we left the shop, he said, “Good. I have an apartment there where we can stay.”
Adrenaline rushed through me as we walked to the docks. He had a plan to sail the world. I didn’t want to mess that up. “You mean sleep on land?”
He nodded and pointed to the pier. “Why not? It’s only for a few days so I can take you shopping.”
I squeezed his arm. “Let’s head back to the ship.”
The dock was quiet, as most people had already gone home for the night.
