East Of Eden

Chapter 7

"I forgot to tell Eric about Jamie." I tell Jenna. "Jamie? His ex?" She asks confused. "Yeah."

"You forgot to tell him what?"

"That I saw her." I let out a breathe. I turn onto the freeway to find this 5-star restaurant called, Joe's, which apparently is very expensive, but I don't care. I haven't eaten a real meal in a few days. "Where did you see her?" Jen asks. "At Radio Shack. I hadn't seen her in a long time."I answer her and she raises an eyebrow at me. "It was when I went to sell my phone and buy a new one, which I have to buy you a new one, so remind me." I smile at her. "Alright, but so what? She works at Radio Shack. You don't have to tell him." She laughs. "Yeah, but we had a conversation about him and I told her stuff and she told me stuff and.." I groan. "Stuff that I need to tell him. It just slipped my mind." I say.

"Holl, you know this restaurant is super expensive." She says as she scrolls through my phone. "Yeah?" "Well we only have like $5,000 left." She warns me. "Um plus $10 million." I tease. "Well yeah, but when are you going to actually get that money?" She questions me. "Um I didn't even think about it, really." I admit. "I'll just do it when we run out of money." I settle my decision.

"Holly, winning $10 million is going to cause a lot of attention and publicity." She says. "I know." I groan. "I'll just do anonymously." I tell her. "Can you do that?" She asks. "Well yeah they can't release my identity and where I'm from and all that if I don't want to. They need my permission." I explain. "Well where do you need to go to cash in $10 million?" "Well since it's the Texas Lottery, I'm assuming Austin, but I have to check."

I hadn't really thought about where and when I would cash in the money. I'm assuming a few days when we get to Hamdon and I'll just fly us out to Austin when we get settled. I can't fly Jen. She's under 18 and she would need parents permission to go. I need to buy her a new phone as soon as we finish dinner. I promised her and I've been selfish not getting it sooner.

I pull in to Joe's and the parking lot is packed. I have to park in the movie theaters parking lot. Me and Jen get out of the truck and I lock it. "Did you put the ticket in the safe?" I whisper to Jen. "Yeah." She simply answers. "Here." She hands me my money. "How much?" I ask. "$200? Is that too much? I didn't know how much it would be." She explains. "No, it's fine." I smile.

We enter the restaurant and we are seated quickly which is surprising since the parking lot was so packed. We get our drink orders and are deciding what we want from the menu. Most of the stuff on the menu is steak, seafood, and different salads.

FLASHBACK

"So what are you going to get?" Nathan asks. "Um I don't know, I've never been to the Outback." I laugh. "Well I recommend the prime rib and steamed veggies. It's delicious." He tells me. "Okay I'll get that." I say as I look for it on the menu. I finally find it on the back and it's $24! "Nathan!" I shout. "What?" His eyes wide. "It's $24." I whisper. "And?" He smirks. "That's really expensive, I will pay for half the bill then." I state. "Umm of course not babe." He laughs. "Nate." I look at him. "Holly." He says back. "I will walk out." I'm not serious. "I dare you." He gives me a wicked smile. "Holly, it's our one year anniversary, I want to spoil you." He grabs my hand from across the booth. He pulls it up to his lips and kisses. "I love you so much." I tell him. "I love you so much." He tells me squeezing my hand. "Alright prime steak, it is." I give him a nervous smile.

After dinner we stroll around on the sidewalk. The trees on the side of us are lighted up with Christmas lights. "I can't believe Christmas is in three days." I tell him. "I know, I'm still upset that you won't spend it with me and my dad." He says. "I know, I wish I could, but my parents will not let me." I sigh. "But the night of Christmas you're flying to Washington." He whines. "To see, Eric. This is the first time I am going to see him in two months since he left to boot camp." I explain. "Alright, alright. I guess you're just going to have to see your present until you get back." He tells me. "What?" I shout and he just laughs. "You really thought I was going to listen to you when you said not to get you something for Christmas?" He asks. "Well if I say I don't want you to buy me something, I expect you not to buy me something." I laugh. "Maybe I should tell you to buy me something then you won't buy me something." And he laughs with me. "Well thanks for telling me." He says as he pulls me into a hug. "Are you cold?" He asks. "No. I'm warm." I tell him. "Good." He kisses the top of my forehead.