Page 16 of A Little Bit Wild

Do I ask him?

“The ravioli,” the waiter says, interrupting my internal freakout as he sets our dishes in front of us. “Is there anything else that I can get for you?”

“No, we’re good,” Kye says.

I’m practically drooling as I stare at the plate of ravioli in front of me. Kye ordered some penne dish that looks delicious too. We both dig in, and I moan as the flavors of tomato, basil, and garlic hit my tastebuds.

“So good,” I say, and he nods, popping a piece of pasta into his mouth.

We eat in silence for a moment, both of us enjoying our food.

“Is Italian your favorite food, then?” I ask him.

“I don’t know that I have a favorite. I just like food,” he jokes, and I grin.

“Same. What did you usually eat on deployments?”

“It depended on where we were. They have a cafeteria on the bases, and sometimes that food wasn’t that bad. If we were stationed somewhere that wasn’t a war zone for a few days, then we would try to head off base to try out the food.”

“Did that happen often?” I ask him.

“No. Usually, just when you were en route to another base. We’d go to UAE or Germany and be there for a day or two before we left again.”

“It’s cool that you’ve seen so many places.”

“Do you like traveling?”

“Maybe? I haven’t been to that many places outside of the United States. Even then, when I was traveling, it was always for work.

“And that’s not really a vacation since you only see conference rooms,” he finishes for me, and I nod.

“Exactly. I remember being so envious of all these people flying all over the world for meetings. I thought it must be so cool to go to New York or London. Then I became that person and realized that by the time you land, you’re tired and hungry. You might see a few restaurants, but you’re in meetings all day, and by the time you get out, it’s usually late. I never got to do any touristy stuff.”

“Not even as the boss?” He asks me.

“No, not really. My mom would force me to slow down; to go on little day trips with her. That was about all of my downtime, though.”

“How are you liking retirement then?” He asks carefully.

“It’s been…” I trail off.

How has it been?

Sad and lonely, at least in the beginning. Since I’ve met Kye, though, things have been looking up.

Can I tell him that, though? Will it freak him out?

“It’s been better. I’m not so stressed anyway. Well, when I’m not being shoved out of an airplane and all that,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

“I didn’t shove you,” he says with a laugh, and I grin.

“That’s how I’ve been describing it to people.”

“Oh, good,” he says sarcastically, and I giggle.

I finish off my ravioli and lean back in my chair, stuffed.

“Ready for dessert?” Kye asks, and I groan.

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