Page 60 of Forget Me Not
“We’re here.” Bas’ words drug her out of her spiral. After parking and insisting that she let him help her down from the cab, they made their way into the restaurant.
They were greeted by a young brunette wearing a floor-length white dress, cinched at the waist by a deep red corset that was barely visible behind her dark green apron—an apron that matched all of the employees—withLettuce Serve Youembroidered across the top.
Syve openly gawked at the girl’s attire as she led them to a booth in the back corner.
Once they’d both slid into their seats and were handed menus, the girl introduced herself. “My name’s Addie. I’ll be your server today. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. Can I start you both off with some water while you look over the menu?”
“Yes, please. Thank you, Addie. Actually, can I ask you where you got your dress? I love the cottage core vibe—I’ve been hunting for a dress just like that for ages.”
“Oh, um, this one was custom made for me back where I’m from…sorry.” Addie smiled, then excused herself to fetch the waters.
“If you like it, why don’t you make your own?” Bastien asked over his menu.
“I’ve tried, but I can’t get it exactly right. The balloon sleeves are a nightmare and I’m just missing something—I was hoping I could get my hands on one like that,” Syve motioned toward where the waitress had disappeared. “So that I could tear it apart. If I could deconstruct it, I bet it would be easier to replicate…” She looked up to see him staring. “Sorry, I was rambling, you probably couldn’t care less about a silly dress.”
“Don’t do that. I asked, and I absolutely do care about a dress that is anythingbutsilly. I love when you ramble, you should see yourself—when you’re talking about your job you just…come to life.”
She blinked at him; not exactly sure what part of his admission affected her most.
Addie returned, setting two cups with ice and a pitcher of water on the table, then she took their orders for drinks, appetizers, and entrees before dashing off again.
“Tell me a story,” Syve prompted. “Something you wouldn’t tell to just anyone.” She raised an eyebrow, leaning forward to fill both of their cups.
“A story?” Bas dramatically stroked his beard, humming in thought. “Oh, I’ve got one! So, back when Dez and Cywere still in college, I flew out to The Keys with them for spring break—”
He went on, animatedly recounting a wild, drunken adventure in which the three boys were kicked out of no less than a half of a dozen clubs, Cyrus was detained for stripping at the beach, and Dezshiftedin the ocean.
“We bailed Cy out just in time for them to catch their flight back to North Carolina, but I missed mine and had to sleep in the airport until the next one left the following morning.”
Syve laughed so hard her stomach muscles ached.
“Oh my god! How much trouble did you all get in?”
“A shit load. We thought we were in the clear, Cy paid everyone off. It pays, literally, to have a rich ass friend, I guess. But then a news article went out with apictureof a big ass wolf running across the damn beach.”
Syve gasped, “No!”
“Oh, yeah—‘New photographic evidence of the long believed extinct Florida black wolf: is it real? Or a hoax?’” he dramatized, waving his hand with a flourish.
They continued to share more stories while they ate, laughing the entire time.
It was almost ten o’clock when Bas put the Jeep in park under the stairs to her loft, leaving the vehicle running while he hopped out to walk her to her door.
“Thanks for going out with me—to dinner, out to dinner.” He closed his eyes, wincing.
When he peeked one eye back open, she was trying—poorly—to smother a smile. “Thank you for taking me out…to dinner.”
He rolled his eyes at her, one side of his mouth quirked up. “You bully all your friends?”
She shoved his shoulder playfully, but her hand lingered, running down his arm to his elbow. Goosebumps rose up under her touch and she noted how close they were standing as she looked up into his eyes. Seconds passed with neither of them moving even so much as to blink.
Then his gaze drifted slowly to her mouth, and back again. She held her breath.
His shoulders slumped, and he straightened, pulling back just a fraction.
“I should let you get to bed,” he breathed.
She wasn’t sure if he was speaking to her or trying to convince himself to leave.
