Gabriel shrugged. “I’ve trusted you with everything else.”
“And it’s just almonds you can’t have, right? Other nuts are fine?”
“Almonds aren’t nuts,” Gabriel said. “They’re seeds. But yes.”
Reid rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help smiling at Gabriel. He knew they were technically seeds, and he also knew that Gabriel was only correcting him because he was nervous, not because he was offended that Reid was wrong.
It was kind of cute.
Reid flagged a waitress, confident that he knew exactly what to order.
“Back again?” she asked, smiling broadly at him. “And this time you brought a cute friend.”
Gabriel blushed high on his cheeks, his eyes wide.
“I can’t keep you to myself forever,” Reid joked.
“Well, if you’re bringing in new business we might have to give you some free fries or something. What’re you two having?”
Gabriel looked at Reid expectantly, so Reid was definitely in charge of ordering.
“We’ll have beef burgers with maple bacon, peanut butter and onion rings on potato rolls, if you’ve got them today?” Reid asked.
“Sure do,” the waitress said. “Drinks?”
Reid looked over to Gabriel. “Still trust me?”
Gabriel nodded eagerly.
“Black IPAs. The local ones I’ve totally forgotten the name of.”
“Fancy,” the waitress commented, smiling a tiny, knowing smile. “He must like you,” she said to Gabriel, offering him a wink.
Gabriel blushed even darker, but he didn’t look unhappy about it. There was a smile turning up the corner of his lips, even as he looked down at the tablecloth.
Gabrielwasshy, Reid had realized. Just not all the time, and not about everything. He probably didn’t like to think of himself that way, either.
Reid didn’t intend to say anything about it. It was just something he figured was worth keeping in mind.
“Anything else?” she asked. “Way to a man’s heart is with a huge slice of cheesecake.”
Reid laughed at that. He was glad he’d brought Gabriel somewhere he was comfortable, because it was giving him one less thing to worry about. It was nice to be relaxed about the setting, even if he was a little anxious to impress.
“I’m planning dessert elsewhere, but thank you.”
“Let me know if you change your mind,” the waitress finished scribbling on her pad. “Wait should be about twenty minutes, I’ll get your drinks.”
“She seems nice,” Gabriel said as he watched her go.
“Everyone’s nice, here,” Reid said.
“That burger sounds amazing, too,” Gabriel said. “Weird, but amazing.”
“You’re gonna be blown away,” Reid promised, grinning. “And you’re okay with beer, right?”
Gabriel nodded. “I understand beer better than I do wine. I don’t drink a lot, though. I’m surprised you do.”
“Because of the whole… health and fitness thing?” Reid asked.
