Crush Me

Twelve

Leanne 

Leanne took her first sip of the delicately pink champagne.

This is the soda of the wine world. Amazing. I bet that isn't the way it would be described though. Have to remember to research it. This could be a blog all on its own.

She kept her focus on Wilson as he took a sip. She could see him rolling it around his mouth, and she swallowed and took another one.

When she held it on her tongue, she could sense the faintest bit of different citrus fruits, mostly orange.

"Do you like it?" Wilson asked.

"Yes! I can see why some would get addicted. Just from the sensation of the bubbles and now, when I sniff the aroma before I sip, and stop to really taste it, well--- Wow!"

He nodded. "Let's dig in. This meal looks like it's fit for a king."

"I know. I'm taking a couple of pictures right away. Before we spoil the appearance."

"I'll do it." Wilson grabbed his phone and took several. "You could use this for your second blog."

"I was thinking I could do one on the champagne." She separated a piece of the fish with her fork. "Time for the first taste."

Wilson took his knife and sliced a piece off the filet under his fish. "Look at this. Perfect. Rare. The way Mom used to love it. She taught me it is a sin to over cook beef. All the lovely flavor disappears."

"The fish? Oh my! I've never had this before. Have to ask Frank what kind it is. This sauce, there's a spice in it that brings a real zing to it." Leanne attacked the rest of it. She knew she should slow down and savor each bite, but her appetite was right out of control.

Wilson was no better, demolishing his steak first. He took one of the asparagus spears next.

"Oh wow! I usually eat veggies because our housekeeper and cook forced me and I got used to it. You have to try these. Butter, a bit of pepper and salt, grilled, and a merest hint of garlic. They're fantastic."

Leanne stabbed a spear with her fork and bit the end off. He was right and she crunched through it quickly. Taking another sip of her champagne, she stopped to swirl it in her mouth.

Wilson attacked his mound of mashed potatoes and held up a finger as he swallowed. Leanne paused with her fork halfway to her mouth, as she waited for his verdict.

"These are real, not from a box. And there's some sort of cheese in them. I have no idea what kind. Amazing."

"You know, I think I understand what Frank meant by saying a wine, even champagne should enhance the food you are eating. The fish was somehow more, once I took a swallow of it. Those little green flecks in the sauce must be dill, and hints of lemon in there too. You have to try it."

Leanne wondered if he even liked fish. It was all that was left on his plate. His mouth turned down in a bit of a frown, but he separated a morsel and dragged it through the sauce pooled around it. He took a long sip from his flute, swallowed, and put the fish in his mouth.

His eyes widened, as he chewed. Swallowing he took another sip of his glass before he spoke.

"Okay. That's different from anything I've had. I actually like it."

Leanne grinned. "Told you. The steak was perfect too. Everything compliments the flavors of the other elements of this meal."

"You sound like a judge on one of those cooking competitions," Wilson said.

"Maybe," she admitted. "It's fun to dream about the flavors and the drama is addictive."

Wilson polished off his fish, as she cleaned up the last of the sauce with her potatoes. His smile of satisfaction warmed her heart.

Taking the last sip of her champagne, she concentrated on the difference the wine made. Far from the overpowering sweetness of soda, it made her feel like an adult for the first time.

"Why does this make me feel all grown up?"

"I know, right? I want to learn more about wines. How do you feel about what alcohol does to you?" Wilson's face turned serious as he asked.

"I feel mellow. And that's not normal for me. Usually I have have a tinge of anxiety all the time. I'm always afraid I'm not good enough, or I've done something wrong." Leanne knew her face was flushed. "And, I feel a bit overheated."

"And I don't feel like I have to look over my shoulder for the next punch. The tension is gone. I think I could easily let alcohol into my life for the wrong reasons." Wilson tipped his champagne flute to his lips and swallowed the last drop.

Leanne reached up and turned the air on.

"That should help. Let me get my laptop up again, and I'm going to write that blog. I think I'll tell the bullying story right now, then blog two can be the meal and the champagne."

As she spun the words together, telling the story of how a self entitled rich girl made life miserable as she went through the firsts of her trip, she thought about all the other things she wasn't going to write about.

"I have to ask Frank if I can use his name, and the jokes he told in the safety briefing. I think it will make people laugh as hard as we did. I'm going to add a warning about alcohol and the consequences. Ellis Mahoney, can't be mentioned by name, cause I don't know if he's undercover or not." Leanne spoke her working thoughts out loud as her fingers flew over the keyboard.

"Hmmm, change Jo-Jo's name, too. Don't want her to sue you, even if the event is the truth. Her mom is a bitch that way," Wilson advised.

"Right, of course, even if she knows it was her, she can't say anything if I make sure not to mention her by name. Or any of the other kids, either. I'll put a disclaimer in there too, about how names have been changed to protect the identity of those involved," Leanne went into word search. "What do you think we should call her?"

"A boy named Sue?" Wilson chuckled.

Leanne giggled. "Funny, but I think Karen would be appropriate considering the connotations these days."

"Great idea!" Wilson checked his back pocket.

"What are you looking for?"

"My charging cord. I think I'll go back and get our coats. It's in the inside pocket. I need to stretch my legs, and my phone is down to thirty percent." Wilson said.

"I forgot all about them," Leanne admitted.

"Not to worry, and here comes the cart. Looks like they're cleaning up the dinner trays. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Wilson disappeared and Leanne continued her story. The word count went just over a thousand, and she shifted to her spell checker and turned it loose.

There, that's done. I'll let Wilson proofread, and Frank too, so he knows what I wrote about him and he can give me permission to talk about it.

Leanne touched her fingers to her lips, remembering the sensations of Wilson's kiss.

I want more kisses. Can't wait for another one.