He chatted with our server over the two fish options, drawing it out until my stomach rumbled again.
“Wahoo. I’ll have the wahoo,” Mal finally answered.
“Vinaka.” She bowed her head and left the table.
All around us couples talked softly over candlelit tables as the bamboo ceiling fans above us twirled, cooling the open aired hut. Despite the humidity and the lack of air conditioning, I hadn’t felt overly hot at all during my stay.
Until I looked across the table at the heated stare Mal was giving me.
“Any chance we can get dessert to go?” I asked innocently.
Mal closed his eyes briefly and muttered a curse. “You gotta tone it down a little, baby girl. I’m trying to keep it PG considering the audience we have here.”
My eyes flicked to the table next to us where the couple were sitting next to each other and alternating between kissing and feeding each other bites. It was sickly sweet.
I felt a distant pang as I realized but for that bookie, that would’ve been me and Trent.
Was this too soon?
Was I making a mistake?
No. Trent was an asshole, and I was better off without him.
I looked back at Mal and his head was tilted, his eyes narrowed as he stared back at me. It felt like he knew exactly what was going on in my head.
After a shuddery breath, I blinked innocently. “We wouldn’t be the only ones acting inappropriately.”
He regarded me quietly for a moment then shook his head. “I hope they have a dentist on the island because all this is so sugary sweet I’m liable to get a cavity.”
I rolled my eyes at his weak joke. And then our server returned to the table with our dinner, saving me from having to come up with a reply.
Once she left, I leaned over the table and asked, “So what’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done on tour?”
Mal had been mid drink and he choked. Sputtering water shot across the table before he bent over the side of the table with huge hacking coughs.
“Oh my god. Are you okay?” I asked as his face turned red.
Everyone in the room turned to watch him cough.
“Is he choking?”
“Does he need to be Heimliched?”
“I volunteer as tribute!”
I glared at the overeager blonde giggling into her wine glass.
Mal raised his hand. “Sorry. Just went down the wrong tube.” He coughed a few times. “I’m fine.Really.”
A few servers came over to check on him, and he waved them off with a charismatic smile. After a few more murmurs and long glances, everyone returned to their dinners.
“Um, sorry about that.” I bit my lip as he wiped his face with his cloth napkin.
“No, I am. Didn’t mean to give you a shower.” He dipped his head charmingly. “Just really wasn’t expecting that from you.”
I picked up my fork and twirled it in my pasta. “Does that mean some things in your life are off limits too?”
“You want to go tit for tat again?”
