I gave her a serious look and raised an eyebrow. “Is that glare because you don’t like sandwiches and you wanted the chicken, or you secretly want to jump my bones but you’re playing it off like you’re angry at me instead?”
“None of the above. But one of my deal breakers was that I was not going to put up with someone with weird eating habits. Who doesn’t like couscous?” she railed.
“I like couscous but just not this kind,” I said flatly.
“Couscous is just a grain. It’s not scary food,” she argued.
“I will eat other couscous but not that couscous,” I said stubbornly.
“You’re a six-foot-five toddler!”
“It tastes weird, and it has a weird texture, and for the price you have to pay for a tiny little container of it, it’s insulting.”
“Man-child.”
“You eat it.” I opened the top and stuck the container out at her.
“I’m sure it's perfectly fine,” she said, taking up a forkful of the cold salad. She took a bite and chewed…and chewed.
“That’s—” She swallowed and took a long sip of water. “That’s actually pretty nasty.”
“Told you,” I said, taking a satisfying bite of my Italian club sandwich.
“What is that? Why does it have such a weird texture?” She made a face.
“I think it’s turnips, but they aren’t cooked all the way,” I mused as we peered into the tiny container.
“And how much is one of these?”
“Like twelve dollars!”
“For a tiny little cup?” she exclaimed.
“Told you,” I said. “Robbery. Have an Italian club to cleanse your palate.”
She took a bite. “Man, I forgot how good this is,” she said, closing her eyes and leaning against me briefly. “Heaven.”
Damn, I thought.Sitting in the sunshine with Grace laughing and joking, it feels like heaven.
27
Grace
“You didn’t tell me you were bringing your new toy!” the bride exclaimed when Chris and I arrived at the venue for the surprise anniversary party.
“I’ve upgraded,” I joked, giving her a hug.
“You know, I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate you even more after I saw my friend’s wedding photos.” She lowered her voice and shook her head. “Seriously, I don’t know what that photographer was doing. My poor friend. Somehow she looks like her skin has a blue tint.”
“Bad lighting,” I said. “And probably the wrong color temperature flash.”
“My photos look great. And I told her to call you and see if you could at least do some bridal portraits.”
“I’d be happy to!” I replied.
“But when is your wedding?” the bride asked.
“Er…actually I already had it,” I admitted.
