“Looks busy,” she said when they got off the elevator.
“It’s a hot spot. Lots of people are getting off of work, I’m sure. I requested a table outside so we should be good.”
“I’ll be happy with anything,” she said. “It will be nice to just not have to wipe food off of Archer’s face or ask him to close his mouth while he chews.”
“I promise to eat quietly,” he said. “Just like I’m kissing quietly.”
She laughed. “We don’t have to be quiet tonight. I don’t plan on it.”
He groaned and dropped his head to her shoulder. “Now I want to turn around and go home.”
“We’ve got all night,” she said. “I’m looking forward to this.”
“Me too.” They moved to the hostess stand. “McCarthy.”
She looked down at the tablet in front of her. “Follow me. You’re in the corner on the patio.”
“Perfect,” he said.
Once they were seated, they could see the skyline of the city.
“I often forget this is considered a big city. It doesn’t always seem it to me. It’s just the place I live.”
“It’s a third of the size of Charlotte, so yeah, doesn’t seem like it to me,” he said. “But I’m getting used to being back.”
The server came over and poured them water, handed them menus and took their drink orders.
“How did it feel returning for the house closing?”
“Better than I thought.”
She frowned. “Were you dreading it?”
“Not really. I stopped in to see my old boss. I’ve been getting more frequent texts asking me things, questions from him and others in my department.”
“It’s been two months. They haven’t moved on?”
“They did, guess Kylie isn’t working out. I didn’t think she would, but that wasn’t my call. I was leaving regardless.”
“Doesn’t sound like it’s your problem,” Farrah said.
“No. It wasn’t and isn’t. I realized that part of the reason I never got much work done was because everyone was stoppingto chat. I get a big part of my job was communication, but it was more about finding out personal aspects of my life rather than the job.”
“Are you someone who shares?” she asked. “It’s not something we’ve talked about much. I feel bad that looking back most of our time is spent with Archer around or even talking about him or my past. There are things about you I don’t know.”
“You know the important things,” he said. They stopped for their drinks.
“What can I get you to eat?” their server asked.
“Why don’t we just get a bunch of things to pick at?” he said.
“Works for me. You order. I’m good with everything on the menu.”
“Why don’t we get the charcuterie, the nachos, and the smoked fish dip,” he said.
They were left alone after that. She picked up her wine and took a sip. “Tell me things I don’t know that might not be as important,” she said.
He shrugged. “They want me back.”
