Page 77 of Awakening

Once we’re seated, it takes less than thirty seconds for our waitress to reach our table. “Good evening, Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Newman. I’m Carly, and I’ll be serving you tonight,” she says, pouring us each a glass of water. “Could I start by bringing you both something to drink?”

I look at Olivia. “Margarita on the rocks, no salt?” I ask.

Olivia looks up from her menu. “Yes, please,” she says with a smile. It seems to please her that I always know exactly what she wants.

“We’ll have two, please.”

“I’ll bring those out right away,” Carly says with a smile. “And, Ms. Newman, it’s so good to have you home.”

“Oh, thank you. That’s so nice of you,” Olivia says, then leans toward me after Carly leaves the table. “Do I know her?”

“I don’t think so, but you’re very well liked here in the community.”

“Well, that was really sweet of her. It’s been so nice of everyone, actually.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling welcomed,” I say, taking her hand. “So, I don’t mean to put any pressure on you, but I was just wondering if anything feels familiar here?”

She shakes her head, looking at her hand in mine. “No. I’m sorry. Is this a favorite place of ours?”

“It is,” I say with a small smile. “This is actually where I brought you for our first official date. I just thought it might spark a memory.”

Her smile falls, and she looks down at the table. “I’m sorry, Ethan. I wish I could remember. I was worried this might happen,” she says as her eyes meet mine again.

“Hey, it’s okay.” I look into her vibrant green eyes. “Don’t worry, I know not to have unrealistic expectations. It doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying, but if my efforts don’t trigger anything, that’s okay. I’m not going to be upset, Liv.”

“I hope not. I don’t want you to be constantly disappointed if I can’t remember.”

“I know. It’s okay,” I say just as Carly comes to the table to drop off our margaritas and take our order.

“You know, Chloe gave me some good advice today,” Olivia says once we’re alone again, “and I think we should do a toast.”

“Okay. What should we toast to?”

“To living in the moment,” she says, holding up her glass.

I raise my glass to hers. “I like that. To living in the moment.” We tap our glasses together and drink to our new outlook.

In the midst of enjoying our dinner and conversation, I see a man and a woman I knew when I was younger pointing at us from another table. Their table mates all look at us, and it’s obvious they’re talking about us. Olivia doesn’t seem to notice, and I don’t want it to come to her attention, but then the couple stands and approaches us.

He’s wobbly on his feet and so is the tall, thin, redhead who accompanies him. “Hey, Ethan,” he says with a wide smile as they reach our table. “How are you doing?” Olivia looks back and forth between us as he stands in front of us with a dirty smirk plastered on his face.

“Mitch,” I say, as my jaw tightens. This asshole is unpredictable enough sober, let alone drunker than shit, which he seems to be right now. “I see you’ve been enjoying some cocktails tonight.”

“Fucking right, man. Hey,” he says, turning his attention toward Olivia, “did you know this guy and I went to high school together? I’m Mitch.” He extends his hand to shake hers, which she accepts. “I don’t live here anymore. We’re just here visiting for the weekend, but we heard all about everything,” he says with great drama and a slimy smirk. Turning back to me, he says, “You remember my girl, Tiffany, right?”

“I do. Nice to see you.” Tiffany is physically beautiful, but she’s overbearing and desperate with an ugly personality to match.

She smiles with a flirtatious giggle, leaning forward to expose her cleavage. “It’s always so good to see you, Ethan.” I glance at Olivia to see that she’s keeping her composure, but I can tell by the whiteness of her knuckles, if her hand grips her margarita glass any tighter it just might snap. “You and I haven’t met,” she says to Olivia, “not that you’d remember.” Olivia’s mouth falls open. “I’m Tiffany,” she says, looking Olivia up and down.

Glaring at my former classmate, I ask, “What can I do for you, Mitch?”

“Oh, nothing. We just wanted to say hi and tell you how happy we are that your, uh…fiancée…is back.” Mitch and Tiffany both break out into an obnoxious fit of laughter.

I struggle to keep my fists clenched on the table. He’s just seconds away from being even more obvious about who Olivia really is to me. I need to get rid of him before I have to break his fucking face. “Time to go, Mitch.”

“Well, you guys have a great night,” Mitch says with a malicious grin.

“Bye, Lu—oh, I mean, Olivia,” Tiffany says. She waves her fingers at us as she walks away with a laugh.

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