Page 12 of Isn't She Lucky
I shrug as I eat chicken and say, “I have nothing.”
“Impossible. We’ve been apart long enough. Everything is new.”
“Well, I can’t think of anything specific. What about you? How are you adjusting to running the company and all that?”
“It wasn’t a difficult transition. My father taught me everything he knew. I think that, along with my business degree, is all I needed.”
I nod and cut a piece of chicken, dip it in gravy and allow the flavors to converge in my mouth. I ain’t gon’ lie – this chicken is delicious. It still shouldn’t bethatmuch money, though.
“How’s the steak?” I ask as he cuts another piece.
He secures it on the fork, holds it in front of my mouth, and says, “Here. Try it.”
“Oh, no. I didn’t mean I wanted to taste it. I was just—”
“Try it,” he presses.
Feeling like I don’t have much choice in the matter, I open my mouth and slide the piece of meat off the fork with my teeth while he stares directly into my mouth like he wants to jump inside. The moment I chew, the flavor explodes in my mouth. It’s tender. It’s juicy. I take my time savoring this one-hundred-dollar little slice.
“Oh, wow,” I say, holding my hand in front of my mouth so he can’t see me drooling. “This steak is phenomenal!”
“Yeah. You really get what you pay for at this place. It makes the prices not seem high now, right?”
“If you say so.”
He grins and keeps on eating.
The evening progresses. I don’t have much else to say which is strange because I know him. However, the last time Iknewhim, we were fourteen. We haven’t known each other during our adult lives, and we may never will. We’re on the same earth, but we’re from different universes. Still, some things remain the same – like the way he looks at me, or maybe after a glass and a half of wine, my eyes are playing tricks on me.
“That was delicious,” he says after pulling the napkin from his lap and placing it on the table. “I hope your meal was just as good.”
“It was.”
“Room for dessert?”
“Not at all. I’m surprised I was able to finish the chicken,” I tell him.
Yeah, I crammed that chicken down because I wanted the whole experience of eating some meat that cost a few hundred dollars right here in the restaurant – not as leftovers at home.
“I feel you. I couldn’t eat another bite,” he says. “But I am going to finish this wine.”
He takes a sip and audibly sighs, sounding full and satisfied. He asks, “So, where are you going from here?”
“Home. You?”
“Back to the crib. I have some accounting things to look over.”
“On the weekend, huh?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“Where is home for you?”
“You know where my home is.”
“I mean, I didn’t know if you still lived there. For all I know, you could’ve sold it and moved somewhere else.”
“Nah. That’s the family home and it always will be.”
