“Now listen here, Thomas Dawson, you cut that shit out right now!” Char reprimanded. “That right there is your mom talking, and you and I both know that’s not how it has to be. She’s poisoned part of your brain.” She stared at him with angry eyes, nostrils flaring.
“Okay. Jeez, calm down, Char,” Tom said gently. “I know, but it’s not easy. I’ve been listening to that bullshit for so many years, it’s hard to think differently about it. Will promised to help adjust my attitude, too, but sometimes I forget.” His phonebuzzed and after looking at it, he smiled. “Okay, Will saw my addition to the calendar. He said, ‘Hell, yeah!’ so I guess he’s in.”
“Cool. The next question is, where should we go?” Char said, tightening the lid of the last pepper shaker and wiping it down.
“How about the Burger Boutique? I heard a couple of customers talking about it the other day, and they said it was good. After our meal together in P-town, I know we all like burgers.” The restaurant was on the edge of town and had only been open for a few months. It served artisan burgers with an assortment of traditional and not-so-traditional toppings along with some innovative sides.
“Yes, please. I’ve been dying to try that place,” Char effused. “I’ve heard good things about it too.”
“Great, the Burger Boutique it is. How ’bout Will and I pick you and Cee Cee up at six thirty?” Tom asked.
“Sure, that works.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Will
The four ofthem entered the Burger Boutique, and Will spoke to the host. “We have a reservation. It should be under Hargrove.”
They were seated in a booth in the center of the restaurant, giving them a good view of the space. It reminded Will of a steak house, with lots of dark-wood wainscoting, but the walls above the wood were painted in bright colors to match the variety of solid-hued tablecloths, giving the place a light, fun-filled vibe. As Will looked around, he saw that most tables were filled.
“Is it me, or do you find it strange that this place is so busy on a Wednesday night?” he said to no one in particular.
“I think it’s because the place is so new,” Char replied. “Everyone just wants to try it out.”
“Yeah, that makes sense,” Will agreed.
After their server took their drink orders—beer for both Will and Tom while Char and Cee Cee ordered wine—they perused the menu.
“How about we get the nacho fries to share?” Tom asked
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Char chimed in.
“Wow, look at these burger toppings,” Cee Cee said. “Onion jam, avocado, honey chipotle barbecue sauce, spicy slaw, kimchi, and the list goes on. I’ve never seen so many options.”
“I think I want a burger with that onion jam, bacon, and bleu cheese crumbles,” Will said definitively.
“I’m thinking turkey burger with cranberry chutney and Boston lettuce,” Cee Cee said.
“I’m looking at a teriyaki burger with kimchi and maybe bean sprouts,” Tom announced. “Or does that sound too weird?”
“Sounds good to me,” Will said. “You can have a bite of mine if I can have a bite of yours.” He grinned.
“Deal,” Tom said.
“Oh, I think the beef burger with Swiss cheese and spicy slaw is calling my name!” Char added enthusiastically. “And onion rings instead of fries for my side.”
Orders placed, they chatted about a variety of things until their food arrived.
“Oh my God,that was so good,” Will said as they all walked back to his car. He smiled, thinking of how much he enjoyed the feeling of Tom’s hand in his. “I don’t know whose idea it was to go there, but I approve.”
“It was mine,” Char said, smiling.
“Actually,” Tom cut in, “I suggested it, you merely agreed, saying you wanted to try it.”
“Okay, fine,” Char admitted. “But I agree with Will, it was so very good.”
“Definitely on our list of places to visit again,” Cee Cee agreed.
