Page 90 of Protecting Hailey

Despite the sun’s absence, it wasn’t much cooler tonight. The warm breeze was a welcome relief as we walked towards the restaurant by the beach. Several couples and families stood in queues outside various restaurants, waiting for their tables. I wondered how long we would have to wait.

When we reached a white stucco building, Christian walked past the lineup and straight inside. I yanked on his white shirt sleeve. “We can’t cut in front of all those people,” I hissed. “I don’t care how much you paid the guy ahead of time.”

Christian grinned. “That’s very considerate of you, baby. But I reserved a private room for all of us tonight. We aren’t stealing a table from any of those people outside.”

“Oh. In that case, thank god, because I’m starving.”

Goosebumps rose on my skin as the colder air inside reached us. I didn’t mind it as the hostess led us past the rows of tables toward a private enclave where four men sat staring at me. Yes, I welcomed the cool air under these heated conditions. I recognized Christian’s friends, so I smiled at the older gentleman seated in the middle of them. “You’re Christian’s father, I presume?”

He glanced at his son before returning his gaze to me. “Yes,” he smiled. “I’m Carl. Pleased to meet you.”

I smiled back. He wasn’t hard at all. Quite pleasant, actually.

Christian pulled out my chair, and I sat in front of Will and Jake with Christian to my left, Jager to my right and Carl at the far end. As far from Christian as possible. I wondered if Jager had done that on purpose.

A waitress walked in and handed us menus. “Our specials this evening are the pollo guisado, empanadillas, and the mofongo.” I smiled at the last one, knowing I would be ordering that tonight.

“How was your flight?” Jake asked me.

I blushed remembering particular times my body shook that had nothing to do with turbulence. I cleared my throat and sipped my water. “It was great.”

Jake’s eyes grinned, and he covered a smile with his hand. I think Christian may have kicked him under the table, but I couldn’t be sure.

“My wife’s a big fan of your music, Hailey,” continued Jake. “She had a sweatshirt with your album cover even before you became Christian’s girlfriend. So, I guess I could say I knew you before he did.”

Christian rolled his eyes. “This isn’t a competition, Jake.”

“Of course not. But for the record, I did know what she looked like first.”

“Of course, I knew what she looked like.”

I turned to Christian in surprise. “You did?”

He shrugged. “I bought your first album. I listen to your music. I told you that before.”

“I thought you were just being nice.”

“Christian is never ‘just being nice’. You don’t have to worry on that front.”

They all laughed, and Jager nudged him, grinning.

His father, however, wasn’t smiling.

“So, she’s officially your girlfriend, huh?”

The laughing stopped, and Jake looked away.

“Yes, she is,” Christian replied.

“Don’t you think you’re moving a little fast?”

“Well, we’ve known each other for three months. We’re not getting married or anything,” I said with a tiny smile and looked at Christian, “but I’m excited to see where this is going.”

“Oh, so there’s no real commitment on your end, then?”

Shocked, I muttered, “I–I didn’t say that.”

“Dad,” Christian warned, but his father put up his hands. “Sorry, my mistake. I must’ve misunderstood her statement.”

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