Page 28 of Painting Together a Family
“Okay.” He took one last look at his handiwork and hooked his hand around Bryan’s arm. “How does Lion in the Afternoon sound?”
“Oh, that’s too much,” Bryan protested when he mentioned the rather pricey restaurant.
“It’s my treat, so how much it costs shouldn’t matter. And promise me you won’t just pick the cheapest thing on the menu to save my money. I am fully recovered from the Grantdevastation, and I want to treat us both to something special.” Just like he’d wanted to do the billboard for Bry, he wanted to treat the man to a delectable lunch.
“Well, if you put it like that—I wonder if they have lobster…” Bryan teased.
“I bet they do, and if that’s what you want, you should have it.” Thanks to Grant, he knew exactly what it was like to be counting pennies and looking at every purchase in a ‘do I really need this’ way. Luckily, he hadn’t been in that place for long, and now he could give Bry a lunch where he totally didn’t need to think about the price of the meal he was eating and what he should have spent the money on instead.
“This is really generous of you,” Bryan said as they went into the restaurant. “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.” And he meant it. He liked spending his money on people and not just stuff. And he liked Bry, so spending money on him seemed like a no-brainer.
The maitre ‘d saw them to a table for two, and Bryan looked around as they sat. “Am I dressed up enough for the place?”
“You’re fine, honey. I don’t stand on ceremony. Especially for lunch,” he added, giving Bry a wink.
That earned him a soft chuckle, and Bry finally relaxed.
A young waiter appeared at the table, bringing a basket of rolls with a bowl of caramelized butter, and two menus. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’ll have a spicy bloody mary, please.” He loved them, and they made a great one here.
“I think I’d like a mojito.” Bry gave him a little grin and when the waiter left, he leaned forward to murmur, “It feels naughty, having a cocktail in the middle of the day.”
“That’s why we’re doing it.”
Bry laughed again, and Dev decided he’d like to hear Bry doing that a lot. It was a great sound.
Bry looked at his menu. “Oh, they have scallops ceviche. I keep seeing it on Food Network shows, and I’ve always wanted to try it.”
“Oh, you should totally get it. I am craving the fried brussels sprouts. They’re stunning.” He’d had them once on a whim, and they were his absolute favorite. There was something about the crunch, the pomegranate seeds, the whole deal, that he loved.
“Oh that sounds interesting. Are you adverse to sharing appetizers?” Bryan gave him a hopeful look.
“Not at all.” He was a sharer, after all. “I’m happy to eat together.”
A sharer and a bit of a dork, obviously. But he did want to share specifically with Bry, so hopefully his dorkiness wasn’t off-putting.
“Awesome. Then I’ll have the scallops ceviche and the lobster roll.” Bry’s eyes flashed to meet his gaze. “If that’s okay?”
“Sounds good to me. I’m going to have the brussels and the fried haddock. I have a craving.” He didn’t eat fried food often when he was on his own, but it did happen.
“This is fun.” Bry grabbed a bun and cut it open before spreading butter over it.
“It is. Thank you for coming. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”
“I have too,” Bryan admitted. “And your surprise out in the street? Oh my god, that was worth the price of admission. I’ve always said I never want to see him again, but I have to admit, I’d love to see his face when he first sees that billboard.”
“I can just imagine it.” He grinned, afraid the expression was wicked.
Bry grinned right back at him, though, so even if it was wicked, that was okay. “Yeah, I can too.”
Dev imagined he’d start getting phone calls, so he’d turned off his phone. He wasn’t letting anything ruin his lunch, especially a pissed-off, thieving ex.
Their waiter came back with their drinks, making Bryan grin again as his mojito was put in front of him.
“Are you guys ready to order?”
