“I know, I know,” Nally said, taking Jude’s hand and holding it tightly. Maybe a little too tightly. “This is the real thing. Definitely.”
They were doomed.
Jude despised that that thought jumped into his mind. They absolutely were not doomed. They were just fish out of water, gulping and flapping their way around as they got used to the new way things were between them. It was a huge change, after all.
Jude did the only thing he could think of to get the train back on its tracks. He let go of Nally’s hand and picked up the menu.“Look at all these amazing offerings,” he said as if it were six months ago and the earlier versions of themselves had gone out to supper to check out Walt Severance’s latest project.
“It all looks delicious,” Nally said, playing right along. “I hope the student chefs can actually pull all this off.”
“I’m sure they’ve got the best chefs in the business overseeing them and teaching them.” He grinned and added, “Just like I will teach you the proper way to document a meal at a fancy restaurant on social media.”
Nally smiled. “Lead on, magister. I love to learn.”
It was just the release of pressure that the two of them needed to actually enjoy their meal. They ordered the Chef’s Special, which was billed as whichever dish the student chefs were working on for whichever exam was coming next for them. Part of the offering was that the chefs themselves came out to serve their meal.
The pair of chefs that were even younger than Jude and Nally, along with their middle-aged teacher, Jude guessed, were excited to discover who they were serving.
“You’re Jude the Obscure,” one of them gasped. “And Ronald Hawthorne.”
“I heard a rumor you were dating,” the other chef said. When the teacher cleared his throat, the young man blanched and put on his game face as he rushed into, “This is roast cod, spinach, and roasted potato with a pea purée and parsley oil.”
“And for you I have Lake District lamb with a sticky meatball, heritage carrots and roasted feta,” the young woman said, setting her plate in front of Jude with pride. “I hope you enjoy. And, um….”
Jude knew what she wanted. He glanced to Nally, then smiled up at her and said, “Do you want to take a selfie with us and your brilliant food?”
“Yes, please!” the young woman squealed.
Supper was delayed slightly as Jude and Nally stood up and posed with the chefs. The teacher grudgingly took the picture while the rest of the restaurant looked on, whispering and probably wondering who they were and what the big deal was all about.
It was exactly the tension-breaker that Jude and Nally needed.
“Thank you for that,” Nally said once they’d tagged and posted the pictures all over their socials and were seated again and had tucked into their amazing food.
“For what?” Jude asked with a shrug of pretend innocence.
“Things were getting a little…you know,” Nally said, looking guilty.
Jude made a gesture to brush off his concern as he chewed, then swallowed and said, “All of this is new to us. Whatever keeps making us nervous, it’s just teething issues.”
Nally chuckled and his shoulders loosened. “Teething problems. I like that.” He took a bite, and his expression turned serious again. Once he’d swallowed, he said, “We’ve known each other for more than half our lives. We shouldn’t be having teething problems.”
Jude’s next bite hit his stomach like a rock. “It’s alright,” he insisted. “We’re also two freakishly neurotic, overly sensitive queer artists who overdramatize everything. This, too, shall pass.”
Nally laughed tightly at that, paused, shook his head, then laughed far more openly. “We’re such idiots.”
“We absolutely are,” Jude agreed.
Everything was fine. Again.
For about fifteen minutes.
“Oh, Goddess, I’ve just had a thought,” Nally said once they were served their desserts. They’d taken quick pics of them,posted them on their socials, and were about to enjoy the sugar explosion.
“What?” Jude asked, part of him bristling with impatience that what was supposed to be their first real date looked like it was about to be interrupted again.
Nally glanced from his chocolate ganache to Jude. “We’ve just posted a bunch of pics of exactly where we are and what we’re doing all over the internet.”
“So?” Jude asked with a shrug. “I do that all the time.”
