Page 29 of Forever Fascinating

“If it’s dead? I’m fed,” she shrugged, but felt a bubble of laughter well up inside as Matthew’s grin got even wider in amusement at her words.

“I can manage that,” he chuckled, reaching over to lay a hand on the small of her back as they started to walk towards the front. “You drive and I’ll navigate. Does that sound good?”

“An adventure… and I get to pilot?” she mocked playfully as they began to walk across the parking lot towards her rental car.

“Someday, I’ll pilot, and you can tell us where to go…” he suggested softly, beaming down at her. “This was great, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciated just having some fun.”

“Right? I needed a chance to unwind and completely stomp someone with my batting skills,” she teased.

Matthew laid a hand over his heart, pretending to be injured as they walked.

“Thoroughly stomped, too…” he mocked, his voice sounding almost tortured in pain, causing her to laugh easily.

As they got to the car, he opened the driver’s side door for her without hesitation and moved to the other side, causing Jana to pause. Did he do that because his manners were that good, or was he still trying to impress her?

The way he did it so smoothly told her it was unconscious of him, which was amazing in her book. Most guys usually didn’t open car doors for her – or they tried to drive, urging her to the passenger side.

“Where to, navigator?” she asked, as he slid into the car, buckling immediately.

“Apparently there is a place about ten minutes from here that is where all the locals go on the weekends. Seafood and steak, located in some old brick building nearby, with live music,” he explained, looking at his phone. “’Ricks’ is the name of the place and it’s supposed to be phenomenal.”

“Perfect,” she smiled, backing the car out.

Sure enough, ten minutes later from their location, they could hear music in the distance, coming from a very old, large brick building located on the town square of Tyler. She knew it was Tyler because there was a marquis sign with blue and red neon lights illuminating one street corner, proudly proclaiming it.

Parking in the first spot she could find, they walked easily holding hands towards the building in the distance. Fascinated, she wasn’t even paying attention as her eyes took in everything about the place.

There were dark, wooden, massive beams that lined the ceiling, and the walls were indeed brick, giving it a vintage feel. Large chandeliers were hung in a few places, casting a glow over the room, allowing her to see many wooden tables laden with food as people talked, ate, smiled, and listened to the music playing.

Matthew tightened his grip on her hand, leading her, as they followed the hostess towards one of the tables towards the back. Fascinated, she saw that there was a band on the stage, playing music, and the lights were all lowered slightly in this part of the restaurant, to make the band stand out a little more in the alcove where they were playing.

“Is this okay?” Matthew asked, leaning towards her.

Jana nodded, quickly taking a seat as they were handed two menus. She got out her cell phone and turned on the flashlight feature, causing Matthew to immediately lean towards her, peering over her shoulder at the menu.

“I got a new cell phone, and I didn’t know you could even do that with them,” he explained. “I can’t see my menu in this light.”

Jana smiled, angling her menu slightly and holding her phone aloft.

“I’ll show you,” she offered easily. “What are you in the mood for tonight?”

“That’s a loaded question,” he teased playfully, watching her. “But I’m thinking a massive steak and a baked potato dripping with enough butter to clog an artery before I get back home.”

“Ohhh wow,” Jana breathed knowingly, closing her eyes. “That sounds amazing. Would you think badly of me if I ordered the same?”

“Only if you order it well-done,” he smiled.

“Medium… with creamy horseradish,” she countered.

“Is there any other way?” he said softly, watching her, and then cleared his throat, and sitting up, digging out his cell phone. “Could you show me a few things on here? I’ve started to play around with it, but honestly, it’s been about seven or eight years since I’ve had a cell phone. My last one was a flip phone, and this seems so cool.”

Just before Jana could speak, the waitress arrived and they both ordered quickly, as she glanced at his phone. It was still a plain set up with a standard wallpaper and very few icons on the desktop. She was an iPhone guru and loved hers, getting the newer version of a phone every time one was released.

“Here, if you drag your finger down from the right-hand corner gently, you can access your music, get the flashlight, camera…”

“Really?”

“Yes,” she chuckled. “You didn’t know your phone could do photos and videos? You can actually edit your photos on here, delay the camera lens shutter speed or…”

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