Page 69 of Only With You

“Thanks.” She slips her boots and coat on, then grabs her purse.

Brook says something, but I can’t hear it because my gaze lands on his hand on the small of her back.

As they walk out, something consumes me.

Suddenly, I have an odd desire to punch him in the throat.

20

JULIANNA

“This place is beautiful.How did you manage to make reservations?”

River brought me to the Roma Sparita, an Italian restaurant that El and I have been wanting to come to. We’ve never been able to due to our conflicting schedules. Even when we make time for each other, it’s hard to come, because they’re always booked. We’d make reservations, but we never know what our schedules will look like on that day.

This place is extremely and insanely beautiful. It isn’t extravagantly screaming rich, but the subtlety is there.

A tinge of red coats his cheeks along with the tips of his ears. “I, uh, work here. I’m a waiter.”

“That’s so cool. I bet you get to eat a lot of good food. I’m so jealous.” I smile at him.

Relief washes over him and it strikes me that he was embarrassed to admit that, as if I was going to judge him.

I could be overthinking it, but I’ve been around enough people to knowthat look. I shouldn’t dwell on it, because I know he means no harm, but it kind of hurts.

“Yeah, I’ve been working here since my freshman year, and because I’ve been such a great employee, I asked my boss for a favor. I hope you like it.”

Now I understand why some of the waiters and waitresses have been looking at us from the moment we got here.

“Is that why we keep getting looked at?”

He blows a quiet raspberry. “They’re not very discreet, are they?”

I peek and find a couple of waiters looking in our direction. “Not at all, but that’s okay. I don’t mind.”

The tension in his body evaporates. “I told them not to make it obvious, but they just love to embarrass me.”

“Are they really your friends if they don’t embarrass you?” I raise my hand to wave at them. Their eyes widen and they look away.

“I guess you’re right.” He grins, amused.

“Are you two ready to order?” Russell, our waiter, asks. His tone is light and knowing, staring at River a little longer, then directs his attention to me.

“Stop being weird. You’re going to scare her off.” River raises his brows as if he were communicating something with Russell, then flashes me an apologetic smile.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I assure him.

Russell smirks. “I like her.”

“Do your job or I won’t tip you,” River warns playfully.

“Be nice or I’ll spit in your food,” Russell counters.

“Now you’re really going to scare her off.” He shakes his head. “He’s kidding. He’s not going to spit in our food.”

“I said your food, not hers.” He winks at me.

I laugh, following along, and mouth, “Thank you.”

---