She's still holding onto my hand as she stands in front of me.
“Just so you know, a flaw doesn't have to be a red flag.”
Releasing her hand, I push her door shut and begin to head in the direction of the restaurant. I wait for her to fall in step beside me and we walk to the front together.
We're both silent as we walk up to the hostess' desk and I give her my last name. She smiles, collecting the menus and asks us to follow after her. I step to the side, my hand finding the small of Ella’s back instinctively. She doesn’t move away from my touch and a pink tint creeps across her cheeks as she walks in front of me as the woman guides us out onto the back deck.
When I called, I requested a private table out here. I love the view, with the way it looks out across the plains with themountain right behind you. She takes us to a table that is tucked away from everyone else. I move in front of Ella, pulling out her chair for her before she sits down.
“Here are the food and drink menus,” the woman tells us with a bright smile as we both sit across from one another. “Your server will be with you in a few minutes.”
Ella and I both thank her at the same time and I don't miss the way the blush creeps across Ella's cheeks as she drops her eyes to the menu. She lifts it up in an attempt to hide from me. I give her a few moments of that before I reach over and push it down, just enough that her gaze can meet mine above the laminated pages.
“I’m surprised you’ve never been here before,” I admit, looking over my own menu.
“I haven’t had anyone to bring me,” she says quietly as she reaches for the drink menu. “Is there anything you'd recommend?”
My gaze lifts to hers. “I’ve only been here once before with my family. I can tell you what everyone liked, though.”
I go through the things I would recommend, along with the drinks. When our server appears and Ella orders one of the bourbon drinks I suggested, I can't help but smile and tell the woman I'll have the same. We fall into a comfortable conversation, one that's relatively mundane as we both discuss what we'd like to eat. Ella settles for a fish entree and I end up choosing the same again.
Ella lifts an eyebrow at me after our server leaves. “Are you copying me?”
I take a sip of my drink and smirk as I set it down. “What can I say? You have good taste.”
“Tell me your flaws, Cole Wild.”
Tilting my head to the side, I lean back in my seat and let my hands fall into my lap. “Are you lookin’ for a reason not to like me?”
“Answer my question first.”
Technically, she didn't ask me a question, but I keep that thought to myself. Even though she's still guarded, something has changed about her. She appears to be comfortable with me right now and I have no intention of sabotaging that.
“Flaws... okay.” I pause and look past her, sifting through my brain for things that might fit her criteria. “I have a habit of forgettin’ about the clothes in the washer, I mismatch my socks frequently, and I am a poor sport when it comes to playin’ board games.”
Ella doesn't say anything for two heartbeats. “Those aren't flaws, Cole.”
“I may or may not have flipped a few Monopoly boards in my life.”
Conflict and relief mix together in her expression, warring with one another. “Tell me the worst thing you've ever done.”
The worst thing I've done. What the hell? I want to strangle the person who gave her the reason to have these questions about people.
“I don't know that I have an answer for that, Ella,” I admit, disappointed I can't give her what she wants. She's looking for a reason to run in the opposite direction and that's not something I can offer her. “When my brother and I were kids, Cash and I were tryin’ to trip the other and I ended up fallin’ and scraped my knee, so I pushed him and he fell face first into a pile of cow manure.”
She stares at me for what feels like an eternity. “That's the worst?” It's almost as if she's having a difficult time trying to understand or believe me.
“That's the only memory that sticks out in my mind.” I lean forward, resting my forearms on the table. “I won't pretend like I know what happened in your past, but I just want you to know that not everyone is bad. Not everyone has ill intentions.”
Ella's lips part and the conflict laces in her expression again. “Maybe not,” she breathes, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze locks on mine. “I have difficulties trusting people.”
I nod in understanding. “I get that. I'm not askin’ you to trust me,” I explain to her in an attempt to remove any pressure or expectations. “All I'm askin’ for is a chance to show you that you can trust me.”
“That's it?”
A smile lifts the corners of my lips. “That's it,” I repeat.
She’s silent again as if she's at war with herself. I don't miss the tortured look in her eyes that is washed away by resilience. A confidence she's still trying to get a grasp on. As she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, she blinks, releases her lip, and lets out a soft breath.
