Page 164 of Gym Bros
“Sam…”
“What?” I ask. “That’s what you’re thinking right?” I shrug. “That’s fine. For the record, I would totally agree, but I know him a little different than you do, so…”
My father takes a deep breath through his nose. “Okay.”
“You don’t have to like it,” I tell him. “You know I don’t care.”
“No, I know you don’t. But it’s sort of impulsive, even for you, don’t you think?”
“I mean…it’s like you said. He’s special.”
His jaw flexes. “He is. I’ll stay out of it.”
“Do you still want to go to dinner?”
His sigh is heavy and resigned. “Yes, Sam.”
“Is it gonna be awkward?”
“No,” he says. “We can talk about fighting the whole time.”
I force a grin. “Okay. You’re not pissed at me?”
“No. Just be careful with yourself, okay?”
“Yep. Hey, I like oysters now,” I say as we stand.
“You’re trying all kinds of new things in San Francisco, aren’t you?” he asks with a warmer smile.
I laugh, and a weight lifts.
The steakhouse is nice.Very nice. The kind of place only my dad would pick. He orders a dry martini, and I order a beer.
“I can’t believe you can order your own drinks now.”
I flash him a look.
“Legally,” he adds. “Do you go out a lot?”
“We’ve been out a little more lately, but my training schedule is pretty intense, so nothing crazy. Mybirthday, though, we went to this club in the Mission District. That was nuts.”
“Which club?”
“I don’t remember what it was called, but it was one of those places with bottle service and dancers in cages.”
“Fantasma?” he asks.
“Uh, yeah. I think that was it.”
He lifts his brows before looking down at his menu. “Quite a way to celebrate.”
“It was fun until it wasn’t. Not my thing. Haveyoubeen?”
He shrugs a shoulder and asks, “What are you thinking? The prime rib is supposed to be the best in town.”
I’m surprised he’s never had it if that’s the case, and he parties at places like Fantasma. “I honestly just want a burger,” I say.
“Nicest steakhouse in the city, and you want a burger.”
