Page 65 of The Blue Rose
“This used to be mine and my mom’s place. We’d eat here once a month as an escape. We know the owners really well, and I haven’t been back since her death.”
Looking back up, his eyes soften, silently urging me to continue. My hand tightens around his, my breaths coming easier now he knows. “When you first mentioned this place as a date, I was nervous, but I thought I did so well at the flea market, I could do fine here too. Plus, you’re here with me, so I’m taking this as a sign from my mom that this place will be ours now, like it was mine and hers.”
He lifts my hand to his mouth, pressing his lips against my knuckles, never taking his eyes from mine.
“Thank you for telling me, I had no idea that this place was so special to you. Thank you for allowing me to bring you here and create new memories with you, making this our place now.” Hestands up and walks over to me, leaning down to kiss me softly. His lips feel like a promise filled with so much passion and love, I feel a tear slip down my cheek. He catches the tear, never lifting his lips from mine.
We hear someone clear their throat behind us, making his body tense as he reluctantly stands up. I look up seeing two familiar faces beaming down at me.I knew they would come over to us at one point, but I was hoping I would have more time to prepare before seeing them again.
Gene is dressed in his usual attire, black dress pants and a nice dress shirt, with a bow tie. Betty is in a blue polka dot dress, reminiscent of something you would see in the fifties. Her hair is styled like it, too, with tight waves and her bangs clipped back. They both look like they stepped out of a romcom, and I can’t help the smile playing on my lips when I see them.
“Is that our beautiful Serena?” Gene says in his thick Italian accent, taking my hand and kissing it, making Aster tense, I pull my hand away, Aster's eyes still burning a hole through the side of Gene's head. “I thought we’d never get to see you again, what’s it been? Five years, I think?” he says, scratching his scruff and looking down at his wife.
Betty looks at me, a small smile spreading across her lips. She doesn’t say anything, just looks at me, her eyes starting to water.
“I’m sorry-” I start to say, but she lifts me out of my chair and pulls me into her arms, holding me tightly. We both burst into tears, and she rubs my back, reminding me even more of my mom.
“I’m so happy to see you,” she whispers, voice hoarse. “I thought I never would again. You’ve been away a long time. Let me get a look at you.” She pushes me away, looking me up and down. She takes a napkin from the table wiping my eyes then hers. “How have you been, dear? How is the painting comingalong?” She looks to Aster. “And who might this strapping young man be?”
I sniff, in an effort to calm myself and walk over to Aster, standing beside him. “I’ve been really good. I’ve been painting a lot, especially lately. I actually just finished three new pieces and got them to my clients.” I take Aster's hand in mine, my thumb rubbing against his knuckles now. “This is Aster. He’s my boyfriend.”
Aster, refusing to let go, shakes the hands of my old friends.”Nice to meet you,” he says, gripping Gene's hand a little too hard.
I squeeze his hand, glaring at him through my lashes, mouthing stop. He releases his hand, but still glares daggers.
Gene clears his throat and motions for all of us to sit. I go to take my seat across from Aster, but he tugs me into his seat, and grabs another chair for himself, sitting right next to me. I chuckle lightly to myself and shake my head.I can’t believe he’s jealous over a sixty-year-old man,it’s not like he’s flirting, that's just how he was raised. Gene pulls out the chair I was sitting in for his wife and grabs himself one. Snapping his fingers and motioning for our waiter, he says, “Get us a bottle of Chardonnay, and everything they order is on the house.” The waiter nods his head and walks away.
“Gene, you don’t have to do that, we can pay.”
He places his hand in the air, and I feel Aster tense beside me, seeing his jaw tighten. I squeeze his leg letting him know it is okay and to calm down. My touch sizzles some of the anger from him, last time a man did that Aster looked like he wanted to kill him. The same look is being given to Gene.
“Nonsense, your money’s no good here. I won’t have you paying a dime. You’re family. No matter how long you’ve been gone. We all grieve in different ways, and I’m simply glad you didn’t stay away forever.”
Feeling the tears start to threaten to spill over again, I grab my tissue, wiping at the corners of my eyes, and whisper, “Thank you.”
He grabs my hands and nods his head. After a moment he releases them and sits back, placing his arm behind Betty’s chair.
“Tell me how you two lovebirds met?” Betty asks, eagerly glancing between us.
Aster and I look at each other and smile, after a moment I break eye contact and look back at Betty. “We met at a book bar, he approached me and we got to talking, exchanged numbers, and after silence from him.” I look over, giving a playful nudge, “he showed up at another date and stole me away. The rest is history.”
Gene huffs and crosses his arms, narrowing his eyes on Aster. “What? Were you stalking her? How’d you know where she’d be?”
Aster is just silent and glares back at Gene.
I laugh nervously and answer, “It was clearly a coincidence, don’t worry, Gene.”
Gene grumbles something, but I can’t quite hear him. “How long have you been seeing one another?” he finally asks loud enough for me to hear him, eyes never leaving Aster’s.
Aster answers this time, not breaking the staring contest the men are having. “Two months.”
“Not much of a talker I see,” Gene grouses.
“If you boys are done with your pissing contest,” Betty says, smacking Gene’s chest, “I think we should leave these two to their meal and give them some alone time.” Betty stands and drags her husband away, turning around, she says, “It was so wonderful seeing you again Serena, and Aster it was wonderful to meet you as well. Please take care of our girl, and don’t be strangers. Enjoy the rest of your night.” They walk away, and I go back to my seat.
“What was that all about?” I glare at him, crossing my arms.
He just crosses his arms and looks away.He’s acting like a child who’s mad about having to share his favorite toy.I know he can be territorial, but there is no reason for his behavior toward Gene. He barely said two words, and now he’s pouting.
