Page 31 of I Want You

I had left things on an uneven tilt when I left the island. Maybe a talk would be good for us both, to really just see where things are and end it finally.

“Sure. I’ll meet you by the doors in ten minutes.”

Gen nodded and walked off to join her friends again. I was queuing myself up for heartache, I knew it, but a final dinner would be good, I was determined to make it so.

“You okay?”

“Yes, Veruca, you didn’t have to be so rude.”

“Yes, my love, I did.”

Veruca’s friend came over to her to talk to her about the event and I slunk off, pointing to the bar when Veruca was looking to see where I was. When she was placated by that, I turned the corner and headed for the exit.

Gen was already outside waiting for me. She motioned for the car in front of us. I was surprised to find it had a driver who was holding open the door for us.

I got in, followed by Gen. The driver took off through the streets of Sydney. The silence between Gen and I was palpable, so much so that I felt like this may be a bad idea.

The car stopped outside of a building that looked so fancy I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford dinner here.

“Can we just go somewhere else?”

“Relax, it’s on me.”

It’s like she could read my mind. I stepped out of the car and Gen led me up the few steps and into a foyer.

“Is this a hotel?”

“Yep, luxury at its finest,” she said before she pressed the button for the elevator. Memories of the time we had been in the elevator flashed before my eyes and my stomach did flips. The doors opened and we stepped inside. She pressed the rooftop bar button and the lift shot upward. We exchanged a brief glance, the unease lifted when we both chuckled at the tension. We were both well aware our little tryst began in a lift. And if this lift failed, we both knew we would continue.

But that wouldn’t do any good.

When the lift stopped, and the doors opened, I was amazed at the scene before me. The rooftop had a few pillars that were covered in climbing ivy, some lanterns scattered around, but mostly the rooftop bar was in dim lighting. Candles were on every table and scattered around the rooftop for an incredibly intimate feeling.

This wasn’t good.

A man came over to us and Gen spoke to him quickly before he ushered us toward a table that was hidden away. My senses were on overdrive as we sat down and I looked down at the menu. There were no prices.

What kind of menu had no prices?

“I told you, I’ve got you.”

“This place must cost a fortune.”

“It’s owned by my dad.”

“Oh, is he here?”

“No,” she smiled. “But I have a permanent seat here whenever I want to use it. Now, choose what you want.”

I looked down at the menu and saw that there was a mixture of seafood, steaks and chicken dishes.

“What’s good here?”

“Do you like seafood?”

“I guess, I’ve only ever had a few things of it before. I love lobster.”

She nodded and motioned for the waiter. He was swift, so much so that I almost choked on the sip of water I’d had when he appeared next to me.

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