“There’s a lot of pleasure in art,” Marco said, nodding.
“Yes,” Grayson said, smiling softly. “A lot of pleasure.”
The waiter came and delivered our meals, the plates all dotted with artfully arranged portions and with lines of sauce dribbled in patterns. The wine bottle was emptied and another opened, and we took turns trying each other’s meals and commenting on the surprising flavors.
The conversation kept flowing, and Grayson kept impressing me. He spoke with so much confidence about himself. I always thought men who understood themselves were particularly sexy. When a man knew himself, he knew what he wanted, and that was hot.
For a moment, I opened the possibility in my mind that this could be more than just a fun date. I was so used to dealing with people who were either lost in the nightlife scene or hyper-focused on getting something from me. Spending time with a guy as down-to-earth and self-assured as Grayson felt easy and relaxing, and I could tell Marco was having a similar experience. If we could show Grayson a nice time so easily, why not consider seeing him more regularly, instead of just ending things at another hookup?
Assuming he would even be into that.
I was filling Grayson in more on what life at the club was like when I noticed a strange look on his face. He coughed, then put his fingers against his lips, scratching lightly.
“Something wrong?” Marco asked.
Grayson pressed his hand over his mouth as his eyebrows shot in the air. “There wasn’t eggplant in any of those dishes, was there?”
I thought back over the menu.
Fuck.
“The curry puffs!” I said suddenly. “The inside was baingan bharta.”
Grayson’s eyes got wider. “But it wasn’t listed as an ingredient!”
“I think it was listed as brinjal,” Marco said. “Are you allergic? Is it bad?”
He bit down on his lip, then coughed lightly again. “It’s probably not bad, but sometimes, it can be really bad.”
My muscles tensed, and a chill went through my veins. “What should we do? What do you need?”
Grayson rose to his feet, and I tried to not panic when I saw a pink rash spreading up his neck. “I think there was a twenty-four-hour pharmacy around the corner? They’ll give me a thing I can inject.”
Immediately, I split off to deal with the restaurant while Marco helped Grayson out. My heart was pounding while I muttered some excuse and threw money at the manager. Hurrying outside, I caught up with the guys while they entered the pharmacy.
“I’m sorry,” Grayson said. “I should have paid more attention.”
“We brought you somewhere with a confusing menu,” I said. “It’s our fault.” Without thinking, I placed my hand on the small of Grayson’s back, guiding him around some people who were exiting the store. He tilted his head when I touched him but didn’t pull away.
“I have to check my account balance,” he said, pausing by the ATM machine to stick his card in. “Can one of you walk back to the pharmacy and let them know what I’m here for? The reaction might not progress, but I need to have the injection ready if it does.”
I was struck by how calm he seemed, even though Marco and I were both fidgeting and anxious. Grayson shoved his card in the machine, and Marco hurried back to the pharmacy. Grayson’s breathing seemed fine, but I did notice the red flush rising up his neck, getting higher.
Fuck. Really not the outcome I had in mind for this date.
“Could I grab you a bottle of water?” I asked.
Before Grayson could answer, however, the ATM started beeping loudly, and a message flashed on its screen. He cursed under his breath and punched a few buttons, and I turned away, not wanting to see his private information. When I glanced over my shoulder again, he was standing there, holding a printout in his hand.
“It ate my card.”
The disappointed, dejected look on his face tore my heart in two, and I kicked myself again for taking us to such a fancy restaurant. He wasn’t the kind of guy you impressed with flashy things, I realized now. He was just happy to share our company. Somewhere friendly and easy, and somewhere familiar, would have been a much better choice.
Really, any restaurant that wouldn’t poison our date would have worked…
“Let us buy the injection for you,” I said. “It’s the least we can do.”
Marco turned the corner, walking with a quick jolt in his step. “They have what you need,” he confirmed.
