Page 64 of The Sweet Spot

“How’s this?” the hostess asks, smiling knowingly as she clasps her hands. She knows this is prime real estate; I asked specifically for this table.

“Perfect,” Wren practically croons, twisting to peer out the window.

“Excellent. Your server, Katya, will be right with you.”

“Cool, right?” I ask, stretching my arm around the back of the booth as I settle in.

Wren beams. “Very cool. You get major brownie points for picking this place.”

Our server appears, smiling cheerily as she hands us our menus. Once she’s given us the specials and left to get our drinks, I turn to Wren.

“So, talk to me. Fill me in. How’s school been?” I ask. “Are you still feeling good about psychology?”

“Psych’s cool.” She shrugs. “I’m just glad exams are over. My brain’s fried.”

“Burnout, huh?” I tug on a curly lock of hair that’s fallen over her shoulder.

She smiles the tiniest bit. “A little. My class schedule isn’t as insane as Saira’s, but I have work-study at the library, so it evens out.”

We look up as Katya returns with our drinks: lemonade for me, a Shirley Temple for Wren. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Katya smiles, cocking her head. “Have you had a moment to look over the menu, or do you need more time?”

On one hand I’m starving, and I know ordering would rectify that situation.On the other, I might be even hungrier for Wren. I’d almost rather our server just left us alone.

But Wren pipes up, grabbing her menu. “Oh! We haven’t even looked at these. What’s your favorite thing here?”

Katya raises her eyebrows, surprised. “Mine? Um, well, the Tsunami Prawns are fantastic. They’re a little spicy, but nothing too intense.” She pauses, thinking. “Are you a seafood kinda gal, or do you prefer steak?”

“Mm, I can do either, but I’m in the mood for seafood tonight.”

“Okay, then I’d recommend the Lost Boys Bouillabaisse. It’s pretty classic.”

Wren cuts me a smirk before nodding at Katya. “I’ll have that. Definitely.”

“Yeah? You wanna check it out to be sure?” Katya asks, pointing to a meal on the menu.

“Nope; that’s what I want,” Wren says with a decisive nod.

“Great. I think you’ll be pleased.” Katya looks at me. “And what can I get for you?”

“The blackened mahi, please. And a large order of the prawns; we’ll share.”

“Great! I’ll be back in a bit.” Katya picks up the menus and leaves.

Wren pops the cherry from her drink into her mouth, waggling her eyebrows.

Amused at her glee, I nod my chin. “What?”

“Oh, come on—Lost Boys bouillabaisse?” Wren grins. “I had to.”

“Hey, that’s right!”The Lost Boys—the movie we watched the night we hung at the boardwalk. “How could I forget?”

“It’s too perfect—a sign from the universe.”

“Definitely too good a coincidence to pass up.” Chuckling, I take a sip of lemonade. “I liked your strategy of asking her what her favorites were, by the way.”

“Oh, I do that all the time. You wouldn’t believe the goodies I’ve discovered that way.”

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