I take a few seconds to think, wondering if the fancy vinaigrette comes at an extra cost. I’ve never heard to pay extra for something like that, but you never know.
“House dressing is fine,” I say, a tight smile in place.
“Very well, sir.”
He is just about to take his leave, when Mona stops him. “It will all be on one bill.” She points at me. “He’s paying.”
I try not to shake my head at her in amusement, and instead watch the waiter disappearing behind a curtain, presumably to place our food orders with the chef. I can’t believe I’m having a salad. It better be damn good, because this is bullshit.
“I can’t believe you’re having a salad,” Mona snickers from next to me. It’s like she can read my mind. “Does it hurt knowing that you’re going to be paying an arm and a leg for my steak, Alex?”
I don’t know how to respond to her question. How I should explain that it’s not the fact I am paying all this money for her, that it would be like this regardless of the person. I wouldn’t do this for Kyle, and I love him like a brother.
“This is working out really well considering my date was a bust,” she continues. “I was looking forward to a nice and romantic dinner. I didn’t expect so much entertainment on the side.”
I frown at her, latching on what she just said. “Romantic dinner?”
Why would she be expecting a romantic dinner with someone she found on theHolidatesapp? Isn’t that supposed to be like a date for hire type of thing? Is she looking for something permanent? On the internet, of all places?
She seems taken aback by my question. “Well, it sure wasn’t a business meeting,” she snaps at me.
I can feel my nostrils flaring in anger. The thought of her with someone else is killing me inside. It only makes me wonder what she’s been up to in the months since our most recent separation. If she let someone else touch her the way I used to, I will legit have a stroke. But I’ll kill him first.
My eyes fall to the cleavage she’s showing. While tasteful, it’s definitely not for a business meeting.
“How many guys have you been with since you’ve been with me?” I growl under my breath, careful so that no one around can hear.
Mona stares at me in awe right before she bursts into laughter. Her head goes back, and she lets out a hearty laugh. A few of the patrons at the nearby tables turn their heads to look at her, and I see the looks of lust on the men’s faces. I have never felt jealousy like this before.
“The audacity,” she says through gasps of air once she stops laughing. “You are so full of yourself that you think I would not allow anyone but you to touch me, huh?”
I can’t believe this never occurred to me until now. What about all the times from before, when we kept on breaking up, then getting back together? Did she have other men during those times?
Taking a deep breath in, I force myself to calm down. This is not the place where I should lose my shit. She is doing this just to rattle my cage, or at least that’s what I have to tell myself so that I don’t go on a murder spree.
She takes a sip of water before turning her attention back to me.
“I’m sure you’ve been so very faithful to me, Alex,” she snickers. “For all I know, you were accusing me of being a gold digger while you were screwing actual gold diggers, so you were projecting with me.”
I shake my head, unable to process what she just said. “What are you saying?” And as I ask, her words finally make sense. “Are you saying that I was cheating on you?”
There is so much anger invading my system at the same time, threatening to suffocate me with its intensity.
“And when the fuck did I ever say you were a gold digger?” My voice may have gone up a notch. I realize it as I hear someone clearing their throat uncomfortably.
Mona doesn’t seem to care. She doesn’t worry about making a scene in a very expensive and posh restaurant. Quite the opposite, I think she’s enjoying all this.
“I’d say the implication was right there,” she shrugs, “when you told me that you were not my ticket to a free meal.”
I stare at her, wanting to drop my head in shame, but I don’t want to lose the eye contact. I need to remind myself that her talking to me is a good thing. It’s way more progress than I was expecting as I headed over here.
“I misjudged you.” I swallow hard. “And I apologize for it.”
Mona rolls her eyes at me. “Whatever. I don’t need your empty words. This expensive meal will be my revenge, I suppose.”
Just as she says that, the food appears out of nowhere. The waiter places a plate in front of her with what must be the biggest steak in history. It also looks cooked to perfection. The smell of it wafts through the air, and now I wish I’d have ordered that, too. The sides come next, and I don’t see any Brussels sprouts in sight.
When a plate gets placed in front of me, I stare at it. It’s not that it looks bad, but it’s a salad, and you can’t eat a salad while pretending it’s a steak. I’d really rather have the steak.
