Trace

Chapter 11

Eventually, we pull into a parking lot of a restaurant. By the outside of it, it looks nice and expensive.

  "Harry-" I begin to protest.

"What?" he asks, stepping out of the car.

  "This...it's too much," I tell him, when he walks around to open my side of the car.

He holds out his arm and I hesitantly take it. We walk to the door and he holds it wide open.

   "After you," he gestures.

I groan as we continue to walk and everyone is wearing such classy and dressy clothes. The waitress looks us over, and I see a slight frown but she seats us, anyway.

   After we are seated, I take a look at the menu.

"Uh..no, Harry. I am not letting you pay for this!" I whisper angrily, setting down the menu.

   He looks up at me with wide eyes, "Who ever said I was paying? I'm the one that drove!"

My heart stops in my chest and I can feel my cheeks turning crimson.

    He lets out a loud laugh, "I'm kidding!"

I look down, and am still not quite happy with the prices, but give a small laugh of relief.

   "You thought I was serious?! Babe- your face!" he continues to laugh and poke fun, and I guess he senses my unease when he finally stops.

     "Sorry, sorry," he tells me, laying a hand on mine. But he doesn't go ten seconds without releasing yet one final chuckle.

     "Have you seen the prices for this food?" I finally get out.

Harry looks at me with a straight face. "It's okay! I got this, alright?"

   I cross my arms and when the waitress comes for our orders, I look at Harry to see what he will order.

   "Good afternoon, I'd like to order a filet mignon- medium- with a side of garden peas and potatoes, please."

   She jots down the order, nods, and looks at me expectantly.

"I'll just have a house salad, thanks," I tell her, despite my growling stomach.  

   Harry is wearing a frown, and I excuse myself to the toilets. Once inside, I stare at my reflection. I sigh and pull back some hair that had fallen and pin it tighter under a layer of waves. I wash my hands to pass a little more time, and finally exit the room.

   After I am seated, Harry is grinning at who knows what.

"After this, I want to take you to my place and bake for you a pie," he says.

   I laugh. "A pie? What for?"

"I like pies," is his response.

    I giggle at his randomness and we continue to converse while we wait for our food. Finally, some waiters come by and sit down two platters on each side of the table.

   "Oh, no that's not-" I begin to say, but Harry cuts me off.

"That'll be fine, thank you," he says to them.

   In front of me, I have the same steak that Harry ordered for himself. The waiters walk away and I glare at Harry.

   "What's this for??"

"You're hungry. I ordered another when you went to the toilets," he confesses.

     I roll my eyes and cut a piece.