Page 92 of Resisting the Grump

F O R T Y

- Oliver -

I ordered a selection of my favorite sushi dishes and a carafe of hot sake as soon as we sat down.

“I’m surprised you didn’t order in Japanese,” Avery said, her smiling eyes sparkling.

“A guy’s got to keep a few tricks up his sleeve,” I said, wondering how hard it would be to learn a few phrases. “How many IOUs do you have left?”

“This is the tenth,” she said. “We still have fifteen to go.”

There were so many more. I had a million places I wanted to take her. Experiencing great restaurants through her eyes had become one of my new favorite hobbies. Walking her to work in the morning was another. Normally, I wouldn’t insist on such an early start, but the transition hadn’t been much trouble since we were constantly on the lookout for an excuse to go to bed early. “Where to next?”

“I’m curious about the place that’s famous for its ribs,” she said. “Or we could just draw a card, any card.”

The server appeared with our sake and small cups, and I took the liberty of serving us. “Thanks for squeezing me in,” I said, raising my glass.

Avery furrowed her brow. “We made the reservation two weeks ago.”

“I meant last night,” I said, waggling my brows.

She threw her eyes to the sky like she disapproved, but her smile told a different story. “That tiny cup makes your hand look enormous,” she said, tapping hers against mine before taking a sip of the warm rice wine.

“Kanpai.”

Her eyes danced as she drank it.

“That’s cheers in Japanese, if you were wondering.”

She licked her lips. “I knew you were holding out on me.”

I leaned back in my chair, enjoying the way the sake warmed me from the inside out. “How was your day?”

“So exciting,” she said, leaning forward. “I’m so glad you asked.”

“Why? What happened?”

She looked around and lowered her voice. “You’ll never believe what Noah asked me to do.”

My blood pressure spiked. “What?”

“Stalk him.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I mean he’s going to propose to Grace, and he asked if I’d hide in the bushes and snap photos of the big moment!”

“Wow.” I was honored she trusted me with his secret plan, but I wasn’t sold on it. “What bushes?”

“In the park where they always walk. The one with the little gazebo on the lake.”

I knew the spot. Wouldn’t have chosen it myself, but if it was significant to them…

“I guess he was tempted to do it in Paris, but he thought it would be more fun if he did it somewhere they go all the time.”

“Do you think that’s the move?” I asked. “When it comes to proposals?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think where matters as much as when.”

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