“I’m a-okay now. I carry Benadryl.”
“Well, let’s make sure you don’t need it today.” The server swung by with field greens and lemon dressing. I stuck my fork in mine while Ford said, “That night. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was your…first time. It was a dick move.” His eyes were glazed over with a faraway look; I could tell he was back in my dorm room in his mind.
I set my fork back down. “The famous and well-heeled Ford Conway using that kind of language?” My hand came to my heart as I fake gasped.
“I was a dick. Period.”
“You were a dick not contacting me all these years.”
“If I had called you, would you still have married that creep?”
“You don’t know anything about that. Don’t pretend to.” I shoved a forkful of greens into my mouth. I wasn’t answering that.
“I’m waiting.” He took a bite of his salad.
“I don’t know, Ford. It was a long time ago. And the fact is you didn’t call, and let’s not forget you married someone else too.” I didn’t know where I found the nerve to mention it, but I did.
He nodded. “You didn’t call either, but I get it. I hurt you. You moved on too.” He brushed off my marriage comment, and I was too embarrassed to bring it up again. It reeked of my internet stalking of him.
“Can we move on now? Forget that night. I did. What did you want to do for the wing?” It was abrasive, but I didn’t want to discuss losing my virginity and being heartbroken, or be reminded of his marriage to a beautiful socialite anymore.
“I thought I’d give some additional money. I think it can be expanded…serve more patients.”
The server whisked our plates out of the way and served the next course. A frittata and frites. Staring at the little potato devils, I willed myself not to gobble them down.
“I know they’re your favorite,” Ford said, reading my mind.
“These are not fast-food fries.”
“Remember when you used to make me take you for fries and you would dip them into the chocolate goop?”
“It was ice cream.” I defended myself. “Not everyone grows up on gelato.”
“Touché. Although these are better than fast-food fries.”
“I know,” I said with an eyebrow raised. “I’ve been here before. Maybe I didn’t run in your circles growing up, but I live in this world now.”
“I didn’t mean anything…”
“It’s fine. Let’s get back to the wing. We don’t turn down money, so if you wanted to expand, that’s possible. It would all depend on how much you wanted to donate.”
I took a bite of my frittata. Goat cheese, buttery eggs, and mushrooms melted in my mouth.
“I plan to give a sizable amount from my dad’s trust. Obviously, things are not looking great for him.”
“I’m sorry. I know this must be painful.”
“He’s lived a great life. The hospital is taking immaculate care of him in the end.” He picked up a fry in his hand and dipped it in aioli before bringing it to his mouth. I watched his lips open. “If I didn’t know you well, I would think you’re lusting after me. But it’s my fry you’re after.”
Even though the joke was at my expense, this had me laughing. He was not wrong. Instead of telling him so, I plucked a fry, dipped, and devoured it. This time it was Ford with the lusty look on his face.
“You know how to push my buttons,” he said into his sparkling water.
“Right back at you,” I tossed over to him.
Over the next few bites, I described how much it would cost to add ten beds versus fifteen, and realistically, how quickly plans could be drawn up.
“I will go along with whatever the hospital needs, and the time frame set forward. But I need one thing.”
