I chuckle and nod. The server comes up and looks between us, she cocks an eyebrow at me.
“Just the two of us.”
She nods, shooting me a funny look. I notice that some of the other patrons in the building are doing the same. It’s rare that I am out with a woman, so maybe they’re shocked to see it happening.
The waitress hands us menus and takes our drink orders.
“Guess we’re the entertainment for the night,” she mutters under her breath.
“Small-town love,” I chuckle. “Probably just jealous.
“Jealous of what?” she giggles as she rolls her eyes.
“Of me,” I drawl, sliding into the seat across from her. “Getting to have dinner with the most beautiful woman in town.”
She snorts, shaking her head as she picks up the menu. “You’re laying it on thick tonight, aren’t you?”
“Maybe I am, but it’s all true. Is it working?”
She doesn’t answer right away, pretending to be engrossed in the list of toppings. Finally, she glances up at me. Her cheeks are pink, but she smiles softly back at me. “Maybe.”
I grin widely back at her. We order a large pepperoni pizza and two sodas. I also place a to-go order for Caleb.
“What’s new in the exciting life of Sutton?”
She rolls her eyes. “You’ve been around all day. You already know everything.”
“Humor me,” I say, my lips twitching as I try not to laugh. “Give me the highlight reel of the last ten years.”
I shrug. “Same old, same old. Work, chores, more work. You?”
“Same old, same old. It seems we live a similar life.”
“Somehow, I doubt that.”
“What makes you say that?” I ask.
She shrugs and glances away quickly. The waitress brings us our dinner. I grab a plate and put two slices of pizza on one before I hand it to her. I do the same for myself.
“Really, though. I want to know what the last ten years of your life has looked like.”
“I graduated, got a job, worked the job.”
“Why are you being so modest? You’ve won a ton of awards.”
She shrugs again, sighs as she shakes her head. “I graduated from A&M as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, with honors. I was the valedictorian of my class, and my father didn’t show up, too busy to be there. I’ve spent so long trying to be seen by himthat it’s almost like the things I’ve done aren’t that big of a deal because he never noticed or cared about them.”
I let out a low whistle, my gut twisting at how hard that had to have been for her. How can you not watch your daughter graduate from college? I could never imagine not being there for all of Caleb’s accomplishments.
“I’m sorry you dealt with that.”
She nods, her eyes looking down. She takes a bite of pizza, closing her eyes as she does and letting out a long sigh.
“Man, I forgot how good this tastes.”
“Best in the state, I’d say.”
“Maybe it tastes better because it holds so many memories.”
