He sips his wine. “I suppose I’ll have to get used to it. Toddlers are notorious food thieves, I hear.”
“That’s right. You’ll need to practice for when he or she snatches little bites here and there.”
He glances down at my belly. “Speaking of the baby, does he or she approve of the meal?”
I place my hand on my middle. “Baby definitely approves.”
When the waiter returns with the dessert menu, I glance at it briefly, then set it aside.
“Nothing for you?” Gabriel asks.
“I’m full.” The lie comes automatically. Old habits.
He studies me for a moment. I love and hate that look all at once—it means he’s looking through me, seeing what I’m hiding.
“The chocolate souffle caught your eye when it passed by earlier. I could see you looking at it.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “It’s fine. I don’t need?—”
“Thea.” His voice is firm, though not without care. “Look at me.”
I do as he says.
“What do you want?” he asks.
“Gabriel—”
“Not what you think you should want. Not what you think is appropriate or reasonable, or whatever bullshit you’ve been taught to tell yourself.” He leans forward. “What do you want?”
That’s easy. The chocolate souffle, with vanilla bean ice cream and raspberry coulis.
“It’s too much,” I say quietly. “I already ate?—”
“You’re eating for two now.” His hand covers mine on the table. “And more importantly, you’re eating foryou. When’s the last time you let yourself have something you really wanted without apologizing for it?”
The question gives me pause.
“I don’t know,” I admit.
He nods, as if that was the reply he was expecting.
“Then we’re changing that tonight, and for good.” He signals the waiter. “Two chocolate soufflés, please. With all of the accompaniments.”
He brings my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles. “You’re going to stop denying yourself things that make you happy. Understood?”
Tears prick my eyes. “It’s silly. I’m getting emotional over dessert.”
“It’s not about dessert, and you know that.” His thumb strokes over my skin. “It’s about you believing you deserve good things, sweet things, pleasure without guilt.” He pauses. “You deserve all of it, Thea—the soufflé, the happiness, the love. All of it.”
The dessert soon arrives—warm chocolate heaven with perfect clouds of ice cream and raspberries. I take the first bite, then close my eyes in bliss.
“Good?” he asks.
“Incredible.”
“Then enjoy every bite. And never hesitate to ask for what you want again.”
I grin.
