"That would be great, Delilah."
"You better be happy folks haven't really started showing up yet."
The both of us follow Delilah to a table on the far side of the room. It's pretty isolated. There's a small opening beside it that leads straight to the bar.
Once we're seated at the high top, Delilah sets the silverware and menus on the table. “Anthony will be here in a few to take your order. Enjoy."
"Thanks, Del." Kai gives her a salute.
"No problem." She waves and hurries back to the stand.
"What's so special about this table?" I pick up a menu and look it over before it's snatched out of my hands.
"You don't need that you're getting the wings," he sets the menu on top of his untouched one. "This is the closest table to both the bar and kitchen. It's also sort of secluded, so I don't have to socialize if I don't feel like it."
"That sort of makes sense, but why do I have to get the wings?" It's not that I don't like them. I just like making my own eating choices.
"Because they are the best in the county and my girlfriend is making them."
It's cool Kai is supportive of his girlfriend but that doesn't mean he gets to tell me how to eat. "Can I see the menu please? I'm getting the wings, but I want to see what else there is."
He mumbles something under his breath and hands me a menu. A few moments later, a guy comes over and takes our order. He's back within minutes with our drinks.
Kai watches me for a few seconds. My stomach is in knots. What if this is all a ruse to accuse me of seeing his sister? I mean, it's a correct accusation. He doesn't know that, though. My hand tightens around my glass in the silence.
Finally, he speaks, "How is the job working out for you? Are you settling in, okay?"
My entire body relaxes, and I hope he doesn't see it. I don't need him asking more questions. "The job is great. Even though it's in the same realm of my previous job, delivering flowers is much better than pizzas. Seeing the pure joy these folks have when they get a delivery is pretty freaking amazing."
Kai rolls his eyes, “You sound like Emily. She’s the romantic of the group.”
“I’ve noticed.” Our food arrives and I grab a wing to take a bite. “You better hope I don’t regret this.”
“You won’t.” Kai doesn’t waste a second as he bites into the wings. He truly loves these things.
My teeth sink into the tangy meat, and he’s not wrong. The flavor is amazing, and I don’t think I’ve had wings that taste quite like this. There’s just enough sauce covering them that it’s flavorful, but not messy. I stop chewing when I notice Kai staring in the direction of the door.
“What are they doing here?” Kate, Emily, Sam, and Caroline just walked through the door. She can’t answer a text, but she can come out? I knew she wanted to keep things low profile, but that still requires some sort of communication.
Chapter Fifteen
Kate
As much as I love hanging out with my friends outside of work, this is not where I want to be right now. The bar is actually pretty slow right now. It’s weird because the past few months have been full of holidays and it’s been hard for us to get a table. Tonight, though…Delilah walks us straight to a high top in the middle of the room.
“Are we ever going to get a different table?” Samantha groans. “Caroline got the guy; she doesn’t have to make eyes with him across the room anymore.”
“Just because the rest of us are single doesn’t mean we have to bash Caroline flirting with her other half.”
“He’s not my other half…yet,” Caroline grins and stares at her ringless finger. “But I have a feeling our day is coming.”
“I swear if you are a difficult bride, I’ll throw you out of the shop.” I grumble. The last bride I met with keeps changing her mind. We really need to update our contract on how many changes can happen throughout the process.
“In case you forgot, I have a key.” She pulls her keys out of her pocket.
“Yeah, yeah,” I wave her off, “I’m gonna get a drink.”
Yes, they’ll come take our order, but I need some space. Turning toward the bar, I stop in my tracks. My brother and Xander are sitting in a table in the furthest corner in the room, both of them focused on me. What in the hell are they doing here?
