Chapter Twleve
Noah
I had no idea why I was so nervous. I wasn’t the kind of guy to get nervous about much of anything, let alone a date. When a little blonde girl walked up to Nick and me on our first day of kindergarten, kissed us both and told us she was going to marry us, I knew then that ladies weren’t going to be a problem for either of us. I’d never had a “bad date”. I rarely had anything to contribute when friends mentioned girl troubles. And that’s the way it should be. My life had been hard enough and I liked to think that having luck with girls was the universe’s way of saying, “hey, sorry about the terrible parents”.
And yet, even with all the good luck, I still stood there full of nerves and self-doubt.
Jeannie was the real deal, drop dead sexy, brains and razor wire wit. Those last two I knew first hand from all the snarky, hilariously sharp comments she left scrawled in red ink on my papers. It was almost like she knew I was better than the garbage I handed in and she wanted me to put effort into my work.
I stood outside the bar, both shivering and sweaty and waited for Jeannie to show up. Just as I was about to resign my nose to frostbite, she stepped around the corner.
“Holy fuck,” I breathed as she walked toward me. She looked like a fucking goddess, street lamps lighting her from above and dark hair blowing in the wind.
“Hi,” she said as she came in for a hug. “Holy shit, how long have you been waiting out here? You’re frozen! Let’s get inside.” Jeannie pulled me into the bar and looked around for a table. “I don’t see anything open. Do you want to sit at the bar?”
It took a minute for my brain to thaw but when it did I remembered that I had a plan. “Not necessary,” I said and led her to a private back area reserved for large parties.
As soon as Jeannie agreed to a date I called the owner of the bar and reserved the back room. Then I called my cousin Serene. She was the personal assistant to a self-made billionaire and had contacts everywhere and could get pretty much anything done in a few hours. One call to her and she’d organized and designed everything, and hired everyone I needed to make this night the best date Jeannie had ever had.
“Whoa,” Jeannie whispered as we entered the back room.
I stifled a “whoa” myself. Serene had outdone herself.
“Is all this for me?” Jeannie asked.
I nodded and led her to the only table in the center of the room. I pulled out her chair and Jeannie looked around the room.
Serene was getting an extra nice Christmas present this year. I’d said I wanted something romantic but this, this was something out of a movie. Warm-hued string lights draping the length of the ceiling and a few candles were the only light source in the room. A string trio played softly in the corner as a low fire crackled in the fireplace across the room.
There were no menus on the table, just our place settings and a bottle of champagne. Within moments a young waiter appeared, filling our water glasses and pouring the champagne. Then, two formal waiters came with tiny plates of amuse-bouches.
“Good evening,” said the older waiter as they placed the plates in front of us. “Tonight you have the honor of dining on Chef Francis’ five-course tasting menu. We begin with a selection of amuse-bouches.” I stole a quick glance at Jeannie. Jesus, she was beautiful, perfect posture, pouty mouth, attentive, sparkling eyes focused on the waiter. “Chef has designed this menu to effortlessly build flavors from one course to the next. First is the pork belly topped with a currant glaze,” he gestured to the leftmost item on our plates. “Then we have a savory pâté macaron, which you will enjoy most in one bite followed by a sip of champagne. Then lastly, we come to the deviled quail egg topped with the barest hint of dill and chili powder, also enjoyed best in one bite.”
“Wow,” Jeannie said looking at her plate.
The waiter smiled at us both. “Take your time, enjoy the food and each other, and we’ll take care of everything.” He and the other waiter disappeared behind a partition, leaving Jeannie gaped mouthed and staring at me.
“What did you do?” she whispered.
“I wanted you to have the best first date you’d ever had,” I said simply and popped the pork belly in my mouth. “Oh my god,” I said as the delicious, soft meat melted into a very satisfying bacony-flavor. “I’m no stranger to Michelin rated food, but this...”
“Heavenly,” Jeannie finished my thought, eyes rolling up as she swallowed. “I’ve never had such amazing pork belly.”
I smiled, raising the champagne flute in Jeannie’s direction. “To amazing food, an amazing night and an amazing woman.”
Jeannie smiled as our glasses clinked. “Very smooth, Noah,” she said around the rim of her glass and took a sip. “Oh wow, this champagne is...”
“The best I’ve ever had.” This time I finished her thought.
She nodded and set the glass down. “Tell me, Noah, why’d you go to all this trouble?”
“I already said. I wanted you to have the best first date of your life.”
“Yes, but why?” she prodded further, golden eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
I looked at my plate and popped the savory macaron in my mouth. I wasn’t ready to give up all my secrets. I didn’t want to scare her off and tell her I’d wanted to ask her out the moment I saw her. “Because you deserve it,” I said simply. As the waiter instructed, I took a sip of champagne and the smooth, meaty flavor of the pâté turned into something fruity and smoky when the bubbles hit my tongue.
Jeannie and I looked at each other wide-eyed and smiling.
“I’ve had my share of five-star food but this is something else entirely,” Jeannie said, fanning herself.
I nodded. Serene wasn’t just getting an awesome Christmas gift. I’d buy my cousin whatever the hell she wanted.
Five courses and a bottle of champagne later, Jeannie and I were leaned across the table, holding hands and I was spilling my secrets to her.
“The care facility was amazing, the best in the state in fact. But, because it was on the west side, and visiting hours were so short, Nick and I were often late to Webb’s class. They passed in September but then we were tied up in the legal junk of their estate.” I hadn’t told anyone about my parents in a very long time. Jeannie didn’t look at me with pity or concern, she listened and let me talk until I felt lighter about it. “Our last meeting was today, so I won’t be late anymore. All that’s left is to sell the house.”
“The house you live in?”
“Yeah. It’s weird. Nick moved out as soon as he could but for whatever reason I stayed. I guess a part of me always hoped they’d wake up and come home and we’d be a family again. Not that we were much of one when they were alive. But, I don’t know, maybe the part of me that wasn’t angry about how terrible they were at being parents, just wanted them to be okay.”
Jeannie nodded and squeezed my hand. “I wish I’d known. I wouldn’t have been so hard on you guys.”
“No, that’s what I needed. That’s one of the reasons I’m so drawn to you, Jeannie. You push me to be better, I love that about you.”
She ducked her head down, but not before I caught the blush spreading up from her neckline. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“Did you enjoy the meal?” I asked as the waiters cleared the table.
She smirked at me. “I think you know the answer to that.”
I smirked back. “Good. Then you’re really going to like what I’ve got planned next.” I took her hand and led her to the front of the bar. “Grab your coat.”
When we were both bundled up, I opened the bar door for her.
Jeannie gasped, eyes wide and gloved hands covering her mouth. “You didn’t!” she squealed.
“I did.” I climbed the two steps into the carriage and held my hand out to her. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”
Instead of taking my hand, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and held up a finger. “Just one minute,” she said and ran to the man atop the carriage. “You take care of these horses, right?”
“Yes ma’am,” the man said. “They only work three hours a night and they get a break in the middle. These Clydesdales are the envy of the city.”
Jeannie smiled and nodded at the man and then climbed up with me. I covered our legs in wool blanket stowed under the seat and pulled her close. She leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’ve never been on such a romantic date before.”
“Well, I’m glad I was able to surprise you.”
She sighed and wrapped her arms around me. “You’re not what I thought, Noah.”
I didn’t want to ruin the moment and ask her what she thought I was. Instead, I laid a kiss on top her head and enjoyed being close to her. The carriage ride was touristy and kitschy and the horses smelled just a little. But the look on her face and having her so close made it worth it. We went up and down the block, talking about our hopes and dreams, touching on the painful parts of our childhoods, finding out we both enjoy British comedy, and when the carriage dropped us back off at in front of the restaurant I found myself unwilling to end the date.
But I knew better. I wouldn’t invite Jeannie home. I wanted a real relationship with her. I wanted to get to know her. It took every bit of self-control I had, but I said goodnight and walked her to the subway station.
“I had a great night,” I said.
She looked up at me, shivering slightly. “I did too, Noah.”
“When can I see you again?” Jeannie bit her lip as a shadow crossed her features. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. Are you free tomorrow?”
I grinned at her. I couldn’t help it. “Certainly.”
She nodded, shadow of sadness on her face once more. “Really, what’s wrong?” I asked.
Jeannie smiled at me. “Nothing you need to worry about now. Now kiss me so we can end our perfect date perfectly.”
I did just that. Champagne and still on her lips, I kissed Jeannie Kingston with as much restraint as I could muster. My hand slid down her back as I pulled her closer. I broke off before I got too deep and couldn’t stop myself.
She looked at me, eyes hazy with lust. “Jesus fuck, what am I going to do?”
“Wha...?”
“Never mind.” She shook her head and her features went back to normal. “My house, two p.m., here’s my number.” She put her number in my phone and handed it back to me. “Text me so I have yours.” She backed away, taking a step into the subway station. “I have to catch the next one,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” And with that Jeannie Kingston ran down the steps into the East street subway station.
I watched her descent, knowing that if I had my way, Jeannie would be the women I’d spend the rest of my life with.