Page 61 of Devilry

“You’re a Christmas baby,” I muse.

“What? That’s all you’re going to say? Nothing about my age?”

“Surely you know age means absolutely nothing when you’re as hot as you are.”

“You think I’m that hot,” he says with a knowing smirk.

“Don’t act like you haven’t been hit on every time you’ve left the house for most of your adult life.”

A booming laugh leaves his mouth, filling the empty street. “I will have you know I’ve had to work for it a time or two.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I find that really hard to believe.”

“Whatever.” He waves me off. “Back to the more important stuff. When’s your birthday?”

“The end of this month. October thirtieth.”

“Are you doing anything for it?”

“I don’t think so. I haven’t really celebrated my birthday since I was sixteen.”

His shoulders graze against mine in understanding. “It’s your first year at college. Your first year away from home. You should do something.”

“Aiden has been bugging me to hit up a local gay bar. Maybe I’ll make my birthday the night I take him up on the offer.”

We reach a string of storefronts and stop outside one that says Carne. It’s the perfect time to stop the conversation because I can see Cole’s jaw working overtime at the mention of Aiden.

The hostess directs us to a booth in the back corner. With high partitions, it feels like we’re boxed in and secluded from the rest of the restaurant. It’s perfect for us.

“Welcome to Carne.” The perky blonde hands us each a laminated square of decorated cardboard. “Here’s our menu, and I’ll be back in a moment to take your drink order and run through tonight’s specials.”

“Thank you,” Cole answers.

Cole looks through the menu and then up at me. “Aren’t you going to see what you want?”

“You promised me steak.”

“I did,” he says. “But you can see if there’s something else you might like; the menu is great. I don’t mind.”

I know he’s trying to be amicable, but I like that he’s showing me something that he enjoys, something outside of what we already know about one another. “I like the idea of you picking.”

A look of complete satisfaction crosses his face at my decision as he resumes his perusal of the different things we could order.

When the waitress comes back, Cole confidently rattles off our order. “Could we have a bocconcini, tomato and basil salad, and one serving of salt and pepper squid to start, please?”

“Any drinks?”

“I’ll have whatever beer you have on tap,” he answers. Both Cole and the waitress look at me expectantly. Not sure if they card people, or if he’s testing me, I go my usual route and don’t bother with the alcohol. “A seltzer will be great, thanks.”

The waitress gives us a quick nod, and leaves to pass our order on to the kitchen.

“You could’ve ordered a beer, or wine,” he voices. “It wouldn’t have bothered me.”

“I think I’ve hit my quota on rule breaking tonight,” I joke. His face blanches. “Cole, I’m kidding,” I soothe. “I don’t actually drink.”

“At all?” He sounds perplexed.

I shake my head. “Besides the few shots I had when I kissed Aiden, I think it’s safe to say it’s not for me.”

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