Page 22 of A Damaged Soul
"I eat pretty much anything, but Italian tends to be a favorite of mine." Rhett appeared genuine in his response and not at all like most of the guys I'd met over the years.
Before I could answer, the waitress approached the table and asked what we wanted to drink. I ordered a glass of red wine that I knew paired well with my favorite dish while Rhett ordered a Boston beer.
Rhett waited until after the waitress had left to cross his arms on the table and said to me, "You ordered wine this time and not a beer."
I chuckled at his non question but answered it anyway. "Fried food equals beer. Pasta means wine."
Rhett nodded like it made perfect sense, and then out of the blue, he changed the subject. "So tell me more about this science teacher who makes your life more difficult."
All the tension in my body suddenly disappeared as I threw my head back and laughed loud enough that several people turned their heads. "I wouldn't say Molly makes my life more difficult but certainly more entertaining."
"But she's the one who forced you to go out?"
I smiled at the defensive edge in his tone. "Forced is a strong word. Coerced is more like it."
It was Rhett's turn to laugh, although he was not nearly as rambunctious as I was. "I don't know how that's any better."
I was able to hold back another snort. "You might be right, but the truth is I let her talk me into it. She was right at the time. I'm too much of a homebody, and I need to let my hair down every now and then."
"I have to disagree," he continued on when I gave him a questioning look. "You should never have to change for anyone." I smiled at his sweet sentiment.
"But then I never would've met you."
"You're right. I take it all back. Sometimes change is good."
I shook my head. "Just like that you change your mind."
Rhett merely shrugged. "You just reminded me that it's a good thing we met."
I didn't get a chance to respond to that because the waitress came back to the table with our drinks and to take our order. Rhett motioned for me to go first, and I ordered my usual. Without even looking at the menu, he ordered the same.
"What if there was something else you would've liked?" I asked when the waitress stepped away. "You didn't even glance at the menu."
"I didn't have to look. I trust your taste."
If he kept saying things like that, I was going to spend the whole meal blushing. At least inside the restaurant, it was dim enough that there was a good possibility I could hide it.
I cleared my throat and changed the subject. "So I know I asked you earlier, but how's the shoulder feeling after your training today."
As if to prove that he was good, Rhett rotated it around. "Feels great." His words said one thing and even his actions, but his eyes told the real story. He was in pain but hiding it well.
"Do you do that a lot?" I called him out.
"Do what?"
"Hide how you really feel? I can understand doing it in front of your teammates, but you don't need to do it with me."
Rhett's shoulders slumped ever so slightly. Not enough that it would be noticeable to anyone who wasn't explicitly looking for it. "Force of habit I guess."
"So what's the truth?"
"It hurts a little, but for the most part, I'm able to push away the pain and forget it exists."
I didn't like that answer one bit. No one should ever have to act like something didn't hurt when in fact it did.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"You already did." Rhett winked, and I rolled my eyes. Then he motioned for me to continue.
