Page 21 of Spiral
Soon, we arrived at the Thai restaurant. Like his car, it wasn’t flashy. We were greeted warmly and led to a private table at the back, each space designed to give diners a sense of privacy. As we settled in, I opened the menu, scanning the options, but then a thought struck me—how could Craig read the menu? I glanced up and the menu was closed in front of him, and I don’t know what I was expecting, but my research had revealed special overlays that sometimes helped. Should I offer to read it out?
Craig seemed to notice my gaze, and my pause. “I’ve got my ways of dealing with everything,” he said with a slight smile, “watch and learn.” The waitress approached, and Craig was quick to order. “I’ll have whatever the chef recommends today, and some mixed starters. No allergies,” he said confidently, then asked for water.
I closed my menu, feeling slightly more at ease. “I’ll have the same,” I said to the waitress, “but could I get a beer with mine?”
Craig chuckled, a sparkle of humor in his eyes. “Just make sure it’s not one of those warm beers, huh? Don’t want Jamie here to feel too much at home.”
The teasing comment eased the tension I hadn’t realized I was feeling, particularly when I wasn’t sure the waitress totallyunderstood the joke. She smiled though, then walked away. When it was just the two of us, I found myself relaxing into the chair, the initial awkwardness dissipating.
As we settled into the quiet corner of the restaurant, the ambiance softened around us, filled with the gentle clatter of dishes and distant conversations. It was the right moment for more personal revelations, and I knew I needed to address the discomfort lingering between us since that meeting. Now was a good time to apologize but get him to see I’d learned from my mistake.
“Your message to me sounded as if you were apologizing.”
“I was.”
“It wasn’t on you.” He seemed as if he wanted to talk so I rushed ahead. “I want to apologize for putting you on the spot.”
“I appreciate that,” he responded, his voice measured but warm. “But?—”
“No, it wasn’t on you. I just get overexcited, and some things have happened in my research recently, so I just barreled ahead, and I didn’t take the time to consider the people aiding my research. I mean you made me think, and it was a shit thing to do to you, and I’ve been considering a lot about accessibility in my research—realizing not all accessibility issues are obvious. I promise to be more considerate about such things in the future.”
I sat back in my chair, a knot loosening in my chest where I’d managed to get the whole thing out without going bright red.
Craig nodded, his expression softening. “Thanks for saying that. But it’s my turn to explain and… hell, I’m sorry for overreacting,” he said, a hint of vulnerability flashing across his face. “It’s just that my ex made me feel inadequate, pointed out when I embarrassed him, which happened a lot according to him.”
“What a wanker,” I snapped in Craig’s defense.
Craig snorted a laugh. “Say that again.”
“What?”
“About my ex.”
I huffed. “Wanker.”
He reached for my hand. “Your accent is so sexy. Am I allowed to say that?”
Great, and now I was red, probably like a tomato.
“Yeah, as long as you don’t call me cute in a Hugh GrantFour Weddingskind of way.”
He bit his lip. “But you are cute. Sexy-cute. And your hair is soft and…” He leaned in a little. “I want to bury my hands in it and kiss you again.”
I let out a sound that was a combination of a meep and a groan. “I want you to do that.”
He lowered his voice. “The sex we had was insanely hot, right?”
I nodded.Use my words.“Yeah. Hot.”Where were my words? WORDS!
“Can I ask you a question?” He sat back in his seat, and I unconsciously lifted my arse from the seat as if I was going to follow him. I nodded and sat myself back down. “Is this a date?”
Fuck. Was this a trick question? “Do you want it to be?” I hedged.
“Yes.”
“Then yes, it is. I want it to be.”
He dipped his gaze for a moment. “But can we take it really slow?”
