Page 59 of Fresh Start
I laughed out loud, louder than warranted for her joke, and turned to look at Dawson, who was sniggering.
"Sure, why not?" I said, and Dawson ordered one for himself.
Mel got to work mixing and shaking ingredients that I didn't want or care to know what they were. But she was doing it with such professionalism I didn’t know where she got it.
“What? I worked for Andy for a while. Your sis knows how to make cocktails,” she commented while she was pouring the mix in glasses.
"I can't believe you managed to set this up in such a short time," I said, turning from Mel to Dawson.
“Two brains are better than one,” Dawson said and exchanged glances with Melody.
She set down two long glasses that were full to the brim with a blue drink, almost as shiny as Dawson's eyes, and we both tried it.
"This is fabulous," I said, more for my sister’s benefit than anything. It was a great mocktail, but the grumble in my stomach made me eager for the next part of the night. "So, what's on the menu?"
Mel put her finger up with a pleased smile on her face.
"Of course," she said and turned around to retrieve the menus from her cart. "I'll leave you two boys to decide for a couple of minutes. I'll be here if you need me."
She walked away leaving us time to decide.
"She's…excessive tonight, isn't she?" I commented.
Dawson laughed. "I think she's excited to be hosting our dinner. What do you think?”
“She is nosy,” I said. “And she loves a good romance.”
Dawson’s naughty smile returned, and I had to fight with myself not to get a boner on the beach. So I distracted myself by looking at the menu. There were three starters and mains to choose from and five desserts, and they all sounded better than the other. It was hard to choose.
Mel returned a few moments later, and we gave her our order. She told me she got the chefs back in for the evening especially for us, and the persistent stare she gave me after told me this was one of her many ways to thank me for the help I’d given her.
Once we were done with dessert—a chocolate lava cake that was both hot and sweet and just the right thing to make me feel playful—Dawson got up and took my hand.
"Would you care to join me in my room?" he asked.
I decided right then what his date felt like. A movie. I was in a romantic comedy and the director would shout cut at any point.
Taking Dawson's hand, we walked together back to the guest house.
“I was wondering,” he said as we approached his door.
“Wondering what?” I asked.
“It’s my parents’ anniversary tomorrow. Would you like to be my plus one?” he said. “Of course, they don’t know about me yet, so it would just be as a friend, but I’d love to have you there.”
I didn’t care that he wanted me to pretend we were friends. He had said the magic word. Yet. Which meant he was contemplating coming out. At least to his parents.
“I’d love to be your plus one,” I said.
Seventeen
Dawson
Icouldn’t believe my luck. Waking up next to the handsomest creature on the planet was the stuff of dreams. Being so alone for years, I’d given up on the hope of ever finding someone I could actually spend a lifetime with.
Because that’s what I wanted. A lifetime with Leo in my arms and by my side.
Taking him to my parents’ anniversary party wasn’t a decision I’d taken lightly. After spending the whole evening and the day after with them, I was certain they’d be accepting of me. Even if the mere thought of coming out to them scared me to pieces.
