The last time he saw Andrea, she was wearing red, her tits practically out, but his cock didn’t give a shit. Now, every second he spent looking at Maggie in that outfit—with no show of cleavage, as she always preferred—a pulse jumped through his dick.
“You’re being weird,” she said as the jazz band finished their opening song.
Of course, I’m being weird. I’m in love with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can’t even look at you without having a motherfucking erection. But I can’t tell you any of that.
“Sorry.” He feigned a smile as a waitress was approaching. “Ready to order?”
“You order for me,” Maggie said.
“You sure?”
“Don’t you know me better than anyone else? Impress me.”
He smirked. “I know I will, but can you do the same? I bet you can’t.”
“You want me to order for you?”
“Scared?”
“This is the easiest bet I’ll ever win. What will I get when I do?”
“Anything you like, but if I win, you’re coming with me tomorrow to Newark.”
She tossed her hair and squared her shoulders. “Deal.”
“Good evening, Mr. Gennaro,” Cheryl, the red-headed waitress greeted. “Good evening, ma’am. Would you like to hear the specials?”
“Thanks, Cheryl, but not tonight,” Mike replied, winking at Maggie. “The lady will have a well-done ribeye with grilled blue prawns, and a loaded baked potato on the side. She’d love a Cosmo, but she’s bold enough to try a Vampire.”
He took one look at Maggie, and he knew by the smile on her face that he had won.
“And you, Mr. Gennaro?” the waitress asked.
“Your turn,” he told Maggie.
She tilted her head, a smug smirk on her face. “He’ll have a rare hanger steak, no additions, no onions, mac & cheese on the side. Normally, he’d go for a Red-headed Amsterdam, but tonight he’ll have a Corona.”
“Oh dear God.” His hand sheltered his face in embarrassment.
Cheryl cleared her throat. “All right. One well-done ribeye with grilled prawns with a loaded baked and a Vampire for the lady. For you, Mr. Gennaro, the usual with a Corona instead. Anything else?” Her voice shook in the end. He glanced up and saw her eyes moistening. Merda.
Maggie laughed. “No, Cheryl. That will be all. Thank you.”
When the waitress departed, Mike swore. “You made her cry, you know?”
Maggie chopped off her laughter. “What?” Her stare followed the waitress as she disappeared. “Fuck. That was a joke. I didn’t know she’d take it personally.” She looked back at him. “But I’m sure you’ll find a way to mend her broken heart.”
He slapped a hand over his mouth, his shoulders shaking as he couldn’t hold his laughter anymore. “Anyway, you fucking nailed that order. Shit. I thought I had this one in the bag.”
“Well, you got mine right, too. Technically, we both won.”
“But that’s not how bets work.”
Her gaze shifted to the piano player as he started a new song. “Yeah. Sadly, neither of us is gonna get what they want tonight.”
“Just for the kicks. What would you’ve asked for?”
A faint smile touched her lips. “You don’t wanna know.”
