Center Courtship (21 page)

“No, a complete surprise. A
wonderful
surpise,” beamed Elsu.

“I knew she was coming but I thought she had decided at the last minute that it was in her best interest not to show up,” said Carl coldly.

“I
decided
I was a big girl and was perfectly capable of making my own decisions.”

Elsu looked between the two of us curiously and Carl walked away as quickly as his short little legs could carry him. I sighed and sat back.

A waitress wearing a short black skirt and white blouse that revealed the top of her breasts came to us and introduced herself as Sheila. She asked us what we would like from the wine list that was in front of us. Each course had a suggested wine or two. “Ummm,” I said as I stared blankly at the list.

Elsu saw my confusion. “Not a wine drinker?”

“No, I'm a beer drinker,” I said.

“The lady will have a beer,” said Elsu.

“Beer?” asked Casper. “There's beer?”

Sheila seemed suddenly nervous. “Umm, I don't know if I can do beer. We're supposed to stick to the wine list for dinner.”

“I want a beer too,” said Elsu. We all chimed in with our preferred brew. Saraya looked up from her phone and rolled her eyes at Elsu and then quickly returned to her texting.

The meals began coming out starting with a basic salad. Or at least it looked like a basic salad until I put a fork-full in my mouth. Apparently it had some unknown substance in it that I had never tasted before and I was not impressed at all. I took a few bites, put my fork down, and pushed the plate away. I took a big swallow of water, trying to wash the taste out of my mouth.

Elsu looked at my rejected plate. “Not a fan of the salad?”

“No, I'm picky.” I looked at Casper, he was talking with Brent who was sitting on his other side. His salad plate sat empty, as did his beer glass.

Sheila came by and took our salad plates. She paused at mine when she saw it wasn't empty. “Didn't like the salad, sweetie?” If I didn't know any better, I'd have said she was related to my mom by her condescending tone.

I shook my head and felt my cheeks redden.

Wines were promptly delivered, even though we didn't ask for them. I looked at the one in front of me and picked up the glass. I stuck my nose in and sniffed. I'd seen that done on TV.

“What are you doing?” asked Saraya.

I looked at her to see her eyeing me crossly. “I honestly don't know.”

“Obviously,” she said as she sat back and looked at her phone again. She lifted her head and put her phone down for the first time since she had arrived. “I have to go to the bathroom.” She stood up and walked away without another word.

Elsu watched Saraya exit the room and the second course started being served. He moved Saraya's phone to allow the waitress to put her plate down. He held the phone in his hand and looked at it suspiciously.

I eyed him curiously and his eyes locked on mine. “I dare you,” I said.

“You do it,” he tried to hand me the phone and I put my hands up defensively.

“I'm not getting in the middle of this.”

He held the phone below the table so no one could see what he was doing. He quickly swiped the screen on and typed in her password. “What?” he looked at me like I shouldn't be surprised that he knew it.

I looked away from the impending invasion of privacy. That was when I spied the plate that had been placed in front of me. The only stuff I recognized were the few kernels of corn that seemed to have been thrown on as a decoration. I looked at the menu that was listed with the wine list to figure out what I was supposed to be eating. “Asparagus, hollandaise…” I said out loud.

Casper looked at me for the first time since the meal started. “Asparagus is pretty good. Throw hollandaise on it and it's even better.”

I watched him pick up a piece of asparagus, dip it in the sauce and put it in his mouth. I crinkled my nose and looked at the plate.

“Damn.” I heard to my left. Elsu was still going through Saraya's phone.

“I'm afraid to ask,” I said, trying to avoid incriminating myself by looking at the screen.

“I knew it. You know how you just know something but you don't want to believe it?”

“I'm lost,” I said as he made eye contact with me again. Brown, no…caramel. Yummy, sweet, caramel.
No, Mae.

“She's got another guy. Actually, she's got
two
other guys.” He put the phone back on the table beside Saraya's plate and sat back in his chair.

Shortly after, Saraya appeared from around the corner and walked to her seat. “I'm not feeling too hot,” she said. “I need you to take me to my hotel.”

“Really?” asked Elsu.

“Yeah, I have a headache.” For someone who was supposed to be such a big singer and actress, she was not pulling this performance off.

“I can call you a cab, but I can't leave.”

“What about Millard? Can't he take me?”

“Do you realize we're nearly an hour from your hotel? By the time he'd get back, this thing might be over.”

Saraya sat down in her seat, a literal pout crossing her lips.

“Wow,” my whole brain-to-mouth filter had turned off briefly and I turned quickly to act like I wasn't reacting to the show.

“What did she just say?” scowled Saraya.

Damn.
I looked back to Saraya and smiled. “Sorry, I was just excited about trying this asparagus. It looks tasty.” I'm sure my acting was even worse than hers.

“Fine, I'll stay. This party is lame, though.”

I rolled my eyes and looked at my plate again. Elsu sat forward and picked up his fork and popped a piece of asparagus in his mouth. “This is good, try it!”

I stabbed a spear with my fork, dipped the tip in the hollandaise, and brought it to my mouth. I stuck my tongue out to taste the sauce by itself and then slipped the tip into my mouth and sucked off the remainder of the creamy mixture. Suddenly, from both sides I heard the word “shit” growled between gritted teeth.

I quickly looked between the two men and noticed they were both staring at me. Elsu sat forward, his face near mine. “I don't know if I could handle it if I saw you do that again.”

“Seriously, Mae, that was hot,” I heard from Casper in my other ear.

I blushed at my accidental teasing. I looked at both of them and batted my fake eyelashes. “You mean this?” I stuck the whole thing in my mouth down to the fork and pulled it out slowly again.

“Fffff…” I heard from Elsu, as he sat back.

I decided the flavor wasn't terrible and finally put the whole thing in my mouth. Flavor was one thing, the feeling and mushiness in my mouth was something completely different. I was not impressed. I forced myself to swallow, but pushed the plate away. “Blech.”

I looked down the row of diners and saw that everyone's plate was cleared. Really? How was it that I was the only one who thought this stuff was disgusting?

Sheila returned to collect plates and when she got to mine, she shook her head and took it without question.

I looked at the menu to see how many courses remained and I saw that the next course was a choice of a steak, chicken, fish, or vegetarian meal. Apparently this decision had been made with the reservations. “Casper?” I asked as I tapped him on his knee to get his attention. He turned to me and smiled. “What did I choose for my main course?” I assumed it was whatever his son would have ordered.

“You know, I don't remember. That was a few weeks ago. What do you want? Maybe I can get it for you.”

“Would he have chosen vegetarian?” I asked, I knew I couldn't do vegetarian.

“No, probably chicken,” he said as he looked at the list.

“Ok, I can do chicken.” The wine came out and each person was given a glass of wine based on the meal they were about to receive. I received a glass of soda. I had to laugh. The appetizer and salad were fine to be served with wine to a child, but not the main course. “What is this?” I asked Sheila.

“Coke,” she said. “It's what's on the order for the main course for this seat. I can get you something else, a beer perhaps?” I felt a bit of a stab with her last comment.

“It's ok, I'm supposed to be his son, I can drink Coke.” I smiled at Casper and we toasted my Coke to his wine.

The person on the other side of Saraya was handed a plate of chicken that looked amazing, Saraya received the vegetarian dish, Elsu got a mouthwatering steak, and then there was a pause. I was skipped and Casper received a steak as well. The table continued to be served down the row and I sat bewildered. Sheila walked down the table checking everyone's wine and water until she got to mine. “I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I'm kind of hungry,” I said to her.

“Yours is coming. The chef had to make it special for you.” She sauntered off and I looked to Elsu and Casper who were not eating.

“Eat!” I said as I realized they were waiting for me.

Casper cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. He groaned heavenly. “Oh, my God. This was totally worth any wait!” he said as he cut himself another.

I looked to Elsu and nearly ran face first into a piece of steak on the end of a fork. “Here, take a bite.”

I carefully removed the offering with my teeth and began to chew. It was the best steak I had ever tasted. “WOW!” I said as I opened my eyes and saw Saraya glaring at me.

“Did you just feed her off your fork?” she squealed.

“She hasn't gotten hers yet so I thought she'd like a taste of the steak,” he said over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on mine.

“You do know I'm here, right?” she asked.

“I also know you're fucking two other guys, so if I were you, I'd keep my voice down right now.” I quickly turned my head away from the two and picked up my Coke. I tried to drown out the ensuing argument, but bits and pieces were filtering through. Accusations were flying left and right of everything that could
possibly be wrong in their relationship. I had to give them credit, they were fighting and no one but I knew it.

Just as I took my straw into my mouth and took a long draw on the Coke, a plate was placed in front of me and I promptly partially spit and partially inhaled what was in my mouth. I couldn't catch my breath and began coughing like a moron. I immediately felt two hands pounding on my back and Elsu had my arm lifted over my head. I hadn't had anyone do that to me since I was really young. I briefly wondered if that was even a thing anymore. I quickly covered my chest as I realized my raised arm was probably giving a little more of a show than I wanted. I then heard Casper laughing.

I looked at him, somewhat annoyed that he found my fit humorous. “Not you, honey, your dinner.”

I quickly looked at the plate in front of me and was reminded of what had started the choking to begin with. Four deep fried chicken nuggets with French fries sat in front of me. “Is this what your son ordered?” I asked Casper.

“I don't think so, it wasn't an option. He's twelve, he'd have preferred the chicken dinner on the menu or even the steak. He's outgrown the kid's menus.” He started to laugh again.

Casper was starting to piss me off and I looked to Elsu who was still arguing quietly with Saraya. She looked at me, evil in her eyes. “
What?”
she snapped.

Elsu turned to me and noticed my plate for the first time. “What the hell is that?” he asked.

“My dinner.” I couldn't help but look at his steak and the chicken dinner that was being devoured on the other side of Saraya. I wasn't above eating chicken nuggets. Heck, I stopped at McDonald's on the way home from work more times than I should ever admit, but seriously? Nuggets?

“No, it's not,” said Elsu as he motioned to Sheila who was standing against the wall.

“Can I help you?” she asked Elsu.

“What the hell is this?” he pointed to my plate.

I picked up a fry and tried one. It was seasoned with something wonderful and I was in French fry heaven. “Oh my God,” I said as I took another.

Elsu eyed me curiously. “What's wrong?”

I handed him a fry. “Nothing, try this.”

He took the fry and ate it. I found myself watching his lips as he chewed. “Wow,” he said, snapping me out of my lip hypnosis. There was a look of surprise on his face.

“Let me find out, what would you prefer?” asked Sheila.

“Anything but the vegetarian meal, please,” I said.

“No,” said Elsu as he looked at me. “What do you want?”

I glared at him. “Steak. I'd like the steak.”

Sheila nodded and stepped away. Leaving my chicken nuggets and fries. I ate another fry and Casper grabbed one. “Those are awesome,” he said as he took another.

I convinced Elsu and Casper to start eating before their meals got cold. A few moments later a figure in a white chef's coat appeared before me. “I hear you don't like your meal,” he said to me in a strong accent I couldn't identify. He was tall and round. His stomach stuck out, daring the buttons on his coat to do their job.

“I'm sorry, sir,” I said plainly.

“I hear you have chosen to eschew the wine list as well.”

“Eschew?” I said with a slight smile.

“Yes, eschew. Those wines were handpicked from local vineyards to go with each course and the fact that
you
found it necessary to have a beer instead is an insult to the hard work I have put into this meal. I found you something that would better suit your uncivilized palate.” He waved his hand over my plate with a haughty flare.

Elsu and Casper both stood immediately. “Dude, I've got this,” said Casper to Elsu. “She's
my
date.”

Elsu sat, but unhappily.

Casper picked up my plate and handed it back to the chef. “My kind sir, if you ever want to be hired by our team again, you might want to think carefully about your decision here. The lady would like a steak.”