Cassian smiled. “Because I trust you, Mr. Morrow. I trust your judgement when it comes to the meals served here by the White Star Line. And, so far, you’ve been nothing but a competent server. One who has providedexceptionalservice throughout our voyage.”
Slowly, James lifted his chin. His bottom lip trembled a little, and Cassian’s heart splintered from the mere sight of it wobbling like that. Affection nearly overtook him, and he smiled as comfortingly as he could.
“Exceptional friend service, James,”Cassian wished he could say.“Never middling. Not even once.”
James let out a breath and blinked a few times in rapid succession, clearly overwhelmed.
“Thank you, Mr. Livingston. I promise the meat will be flavorful. In fact, I’ll make sure it is. I’ll make sure that it’s perfect.”
“Alright, then, I’ll have the sirloin of beef, but with the horseradish sauce on the side.”
“Fine choice. Exceptional choice.”
Cassian let out a breathy laugh. “Thank you.”
James hurried off, and Cassian pursed his lips to temper his smile. Across from him, Jacob chuckled.
“Cassian, I think that poor man was trying not to cry,” he said.
“Icanbe rather intimidating, I’m afraid,” Cassian said with a shrug.
“He made one of our waiters cry once,” Ethel said. “In New York.”
Everyone laughed a bit, and Cassian rolled his eyes.
“Don’t make me out to be some sort of monster, sweetheart,” he chided with a light scoff. “All I said to the man was that he’d havebeen better off choosing some other kind of work. I was merely being helpful.”
Ethel hummed, a teasing smile pulling at her lips.
“Oh, Cassian,” she said.
Cheeks warming, Cassian couldn’t help but laugh at himself for a moment, though unease settled in his stomach only seconds later. He hoped that he hadn’t been too harsh on James at any point on their voyage so far. He might have been, had James forgotten the potatoes the previous evening. But, of course, James had surprised him with the ridiculously large platter of them instead. So, then, Cassian hadn’t needed to chastise him at all. And they’d been friends ever since.
Their appetizers arrived shortly, and they all enjoyed their soups and oysters while waiting for their main courses. Cassian chatted with Jacob about their previous voyages across the Atlantic, and both men shared the opinion that their experiences onTitanicso far very much surpassed all previous ones.
Cassian was one-third into his second Bordeaux when James came back carrying everyone’s main courses on one large, flat tray, which he had firmly balanced on one of his shoulders. One by one, James placed the plates in front of each passenger, once again saving Cassian for last. When James reached him, he and Cassian exchanged small, but hopefully meaningful smiles as James lowered Cassian’s plate in front of him.
But then Cassian saw that the perfect-looking cuts of beef were topped with horseradish sauce, and his face fell.
“Oh, no,” James said from beside him, apparently having realized his error before Cassian even had a chance to voice it. “Oh, God.” Cassian’s eyes snapped up to meet his. James’s face was contorted into an expression of horror. “Cassian. Mr. Livingston. I-I’m so sorry. I forgot about the sauce. I forgot and I shouldn’t have forgotten and there’s no excuse for my forgetting.”
Cassian’s splintered heart swelled with more fondness and sympathy than he would have ever thought possible. Oh, this poor, sweet man. Did James really think that Cassian would bethatharsh with him? Even after everything they’d shared over the last twenty-something hours?
“Don’t worry about it, Mr. Morrow,” Cassian said, trying to sound positive. “I’m sure I’ll still enjoy it.”
“I’ll have the chef make a new one for you,” James said, reaching for the plate.
Cassian caught it with his hand before James could take it. “It’s not necessary.”
“It is,” James said, pulling the plate toward him.
Gently, Cassian pulled back. “It’s not.”
James pulled some more. “I want to fix it.”
“But there’s nothing to fix,” Cassian countered with a soft chuckle, pulling the plate back toward him yet again.
“Yes, there is,” James said in a measured tone. “I clearly failed to provide the exceptional service—”
