Hooked on love

Chapter 14

Like I mentioned in the previous chapter, this is going to be a pretty long date. I like it to be detailed and through, I hope you enjoy.
Also, this chapter go me 300 reads! I know it's not much but it's enough to make me happy, so thank you!

Chapter 14

I see the 4 seated booth ahead, I stop and start to take off my jacket. The waiter turns round at the table in front and walks back to us. “Excuse me miss, this isn’t your table.” I flush red. Jason cuts in “I think you’re mistaken, we reserved a 4 seated table as our other guests haven’t arrived yet.” The waiter starts to panic and looks at his clipboard. “Sorry sir, it says 2 seats here, let me go check at the front desk again,” and leaves us standing here.
“Cassie and Kyle haven’t cancelled have they?” Jason looks at his phone, “it looks like it, I’ll ring him now.” I can feel the irritation coming from him, what is that?
“I’ll just go use the toilet while you do that.” He nods.

I quickly reach the bathroom, check it’s vacant then grab my phone and click the dial button. 5 rings later and there’s an answer, “hello?”
“Cassie! Please tell me you two haven’t cancelled?” There’s no reply.
“Don’t be mad, we decided that we wanted to go to the cinema and have a proper first date alone, like you should.” I can’t believe her, but I can’t fault her either, she’s right.
“I’m not mad, you could have rung me earlier and told me exactly what you just said now. Did you change our table?”
“Oh, yeah. Kyle did not long ago, is Jason angry?” Wouldn’t you like to know!
“He sure looks like it, he made the waiter panic and run off to double check our table’s correct. This is what phones are invented for Cassie! We looked like idiots.”
“Really? So sorry Ava, he’s on the phone to Kyle now, I’m sure I’ll hear all about it shortly.” I know her too well to know she’s rolling her eyes.
“Like wise, well enjoy your date, say hi to Kyle for me!”
“You too! I will do, will you do the same for me please?”
“Gotacha, catch up through the week?”
“How about Tuesday?”
“Oh, I can’t. I have evening classes, Wednesday?”
“Oh yeah, okay! I’ll see you then, bye!”
“Bye” I hand up. So it’s just me and Jason, be confident Ava!

I find Jason at our table, it’s in a small compact area so I’ll be closer to him than I thought. My skin starts to burn. I sit down and his eyes are on me, what’s he thinking about?
“They cancelled, do you want to go home?” What?
“Of course not, why would you say that?”
“I thought you only agreed to this because your friend was coming.” He looks at his hands, it makes me want to go over and hug him.
“I agreed because I like you, not because of Cassie.” I grab the menu, “I’m hungry.”
He has a warm smile on his face, “How about drinks first?”
“Yeah, I want sangria with red wine, would you like to share?” I look at him through my eyelashes.
“Ha. I don’t do wine.” I raise my eyebrow, “You made me try out this place. You owe me.” He sucks a breath in through his teeth, “ahhh, already on IOU’s? I’ll give it a try as long as it makes you happy.”
“Yes, and it would. If you don’t like it I’ll allow you to eat the fruit out of it, if all that fails then I’ll just buy you a beer.” He smiles showing his white teeth, “deal, I’ll go to the bar now and order it.” As he ventures to the bar take the opportunity to have a look around.
 As expected, there’s subtle Spanish music in the background – enough to make you want to dance. There’s 4 types of seating areas, along the bar you can sit on high seated stools, opposite from those are red booths kind of like an American diner style, 3 round family tables in the middle of the room and a couple of two seated tables in each corner for privacy, which is where were allocated. In between each family table there’s two sets of ten barrels of what I’m assuming wine/beer that’s been preserved for god knows how long stocked in a tower. On every table there’s an empty bottle of wine which the employees have lit a candle and let it melt completely until the spout had melted layers of hardened wax to add to the atmosphere. Lastly, just to make you feel that much more like you’re in Spain, there’s Spanish quotes stuck on the walls by adhesive stickers.

I see Jason on his way back with a huge jug with ‘Sangria’ written on the side and two wine glasses, I can’t wait to see his reaction.
“I can’t believe how sweet it smells!” Scrunching his face while placing the jug in the middle of the table.
“It’s probably the fruit and sugar you can smell,” I pour his drink first and hand it to him. “Here. Any complaints and I’ll quote the oh-so-famous Jason, ‘try it, you’ll like it.” I stick my tongue out, feeling smug and relishing in my triumph.
“You’re not the only one who bites, I’d put it back in, unless you want me too.” I instantly pull it back in, he leans back showing how complacent he is counter-attacking my shot. God dammit! Where’s my banter gone? He chortles, “I see you’re not good with flirtation, banter – yes, add a bit of flirting into it and I render you speechless. Gotta step up your game if you want to outwit me.” Just as he’s basking in his speech, he takes a sip of his drink and suddenly spits it back into his drink. The look on his face is priceless, yeah, put that in your pipe and smoke it! I break into laughter, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“You owe me a beer, wood, this crap is nasty!” I wipe the tears from my eyes careful not to smudge my make-up, “more for me then.” I drag the jug on to my side, pour my own drink and take a big swig. The mulled, fruity taste infects my body and stimulates my blood, and once I breathe out I taste lemon, lime, orange and red wine combined. Jesus that’s strong! As I regain my taste buds and my nostrils aren’t filled with fruity gases, I’m ready for whatever comes my way.

I place my glass down. So, tell me about yourself, who is Jason Morris?” He cringes at his name, what was that?
I have a confession to make. Oh no, he has a girlfriend or wants to leave. I take another swig of my drink, if it’s bad this will pad the blow.
“Are you a murderer? If you are I called it days ago!” He chuckled and slowly shakes his head, “no, but we will come back to that another time. Here I go.” We both simultaneously take a breath in.
“My name is Jackson, not Jason.” It comes out like a bullet and the target was my heart. I stare at his speechless, his name is Jackson? Not Jason? I’m confused, he lied?
“I’m sorry! I was drunk when I said it, I also was a bit angry at you for not asking for my name until we was parting ways so I lied as a joke. If I knew that I’d get your number and we’d be on this date then I wouldn’t have lied. I shouldn’t have.”
I continue to stare at him with no expression on my face until I can’t take it anymore. Struggling to contain my smile and amusement, I crack up, howling. Jackson is staring at me with worry and surprise not knowing what to do.
“Ava, this isn’t a laughing matter. I think you’ve drank too much.” I hold my hand up to signal that I need a minute to calm down. “It’s just, I find it so ironic that you’re called Jackson after all this time.” Guilt washes over his face.
“I know, I’m sorry-“
“I know you are, let me speak. When I was angry at you when we first met, I called you a jackass for being rude, and, now I find out you’re called Jackson, I find it hilarious.” My laugh finally dies off, now I’ve said it out loud it isn’t so funny.
“Jackass? Ouch! You’re ruthless. So you’re not mad at me?” He’s playing with him fingers.
“A bit, I’ve been calling you Jason since we met and all my friends think your Jason too. You’re lucky because the sangria is helping me cope. At least you’ve told me, so thank you.” He relaxes in the chair. I want this date to be fun not serious. “Tell me about yourself then, Jackson.”