“If you want to spend my money, get the Wagyu.”
“What’s that?”
“Way better than caviar.”
I scan the menu and find the listing. It’s Japanese steak, apparently. Andboyis it expensive.
But I’m feeling a little stubborn. I might want revenge for Morgan scaring the shit out of me.
The waiter stops by to take our appetizer order.
“I’ll get the caviar,” I cut in before Morgan can stop me.
“Which variety?”
I point at the most expensive one. He nods. “And for you?”
“The Wagyu carpaccio,” Morgan says, staring me down.There’s an edge in her expression, but it’s not anger.
My heart flips. But I stand my ground.
The waiter returns up the cliff walk.
I make it through another half-glass of wine before our appetizers arrive. The volume of caviar in the miniature bowl is surprisingly small for the price, though Morgan’s appetizer isn’t much larger by mass—the steak is sliced paper thin and arranged across the surface of the plate with a drizzle of dark sauce and a garnish of arugula.
“Well,” Morgan purrs, her eyes blazing into me. “Go on.”
The plump black eggs are arranged on a bed of crushed ice, and the spoon is iridescent. Mother of pearl?
I take a bite. I’m ready to have my mind blown. To prove Morgan wrong.
It’s certainly a… unique experience. It’s salty but not as fishy as I expected. The pop of the roe and the shift of the flavor towards nutty is… deeply unpleasant to my brain.
I frown reflexively, taking a big drink of wine to clear my mouth.
“How is it?” Morgan presses.
“It’s… um, good.”
“So go ahead. Take another bite.”
“Let me try yours, too. Then I can properly compare before I get too into mine.”
Morgan scoffs. “Absolutely not. You could have ordered Wagyu, like I told you to. But you didn’t.”
“Aw, c’mon. I thought youcould share.” My teasing backfires as I remember sitting next to her on the bed, my blood ticking a degree warmer. I muster my focus, pushing the memory away.
“When I want to,” she returns.
I want to read into that. I shouldn’t. “Well, you want to, now.”
“Oh, do I?”
“Because… how can I tell you just how right you are if I haven’t tasted both?”
“I don’t need you to validate objective reality.”
“You don’tneedme to, but I think youwantme to.”
