On One Condition

First Date

I tapped a nearby employee and asked if they'd take the picture. With a nod she grabbed the camera and waited for us to pose.

"On the count of three." She counted.

Amya placed a small hand above my chest and tilted her head on my shoulder. Trying not to look as gullible as I felt, I looked directly at the camera and smiled. This felt good.

"I love it." The waitress complimented,  "Is it your anniversary?" She asked.

"No actually. We're just good friends." Amya corrected her.

The waitress gave us a look before offering to escort us to an empty table. We sat in an awkward silence as we scanned over the menu. Momentarily I'd sneak a peak at Amya and her funny faces at some of the entrees.

"I cant believe people pay over twenty five dollars for a burger and fry!" She placed the menu on the table. "Jaxon. Are you sure you want to eat here? We could go to Starters or Golden Coral or something."

I chucked at her discomfort.

"Woman relax and let me spoil you." I laughed.

After contemplating, she submitted. When the waitress came back we placed our orders.

"Do you like this place?" I asked.

She held onto her cheeks and smiles.

"I'm eating a billion dollar steak inside of a castle." She mocked.

I gloated at the fact she was in awh. Meaning no one else had ever done this for her.

******

Dannielle.

I was overwhelmed. I knew he had money to flaunt and all but this was a bit much. This place looked expensive and the people here all looked like they could afford it. I felt out of place and uncomfortable. 

Every time I heard him called me Amya my skin crawled. The urge to correct him burned on the tip of my tongue, but the fear of what he might think of me after stopped me. What would I say?Worst of all-what would he say?

"This looks delicious." I started at the juiciest steak I'd ever seen.

The steak looked even better than I did.

"Enjoy it. Dont worry about looking messy. I love a woman who can eat." He teased knowing that I was a shy eater.

A blush burned through my cheek. I was my most comfortable self when I was around him. It almost didn't seem like I'd just met him a few weeks ago.

Without much wait I dug into my plate.

"How are things with your mom?" He broke the silence.

Not realizing this was the longest I've gone without thinking about her, I shrugged.

"I'm taking things day by day." I chewed. "It still doesn't feel real,"

He shook his head while twirling his fork through the pasta.

"It'll never feel real. You'll look up years from now opening your own club, making a decent living for yourself, without a care in the world, and you'll still feel like shit because she isn't here to see it all."

My heart ached for him as he confessed about his mother. Though he didn't speak much about her, I could tell he truly adored her.

"You two must've been close?" I asked.

He swallowed a forkful of food, grinning as he swallowed.

"Oh, God no. I resented my mother." He began. "There wasn't a woman bloodier than her... Well there was my ex-wife. They were perfect for each other."