Call the Shots (Swim the Fly #3)(74)

“Really?” I laugh nervously behind the cover of my menu. “I don’t know. I’m actually having a hard time deciding. And I had a big lunch — a really big lunch — so . . .”

“Well, I’m ordering the five-course tasting menu. And since the whole table has to order it, I guess that’s what you’re having too. It’ll be fun. We’ll get to try a little bit of a lot of things.” She snaps her menu shut like it’s already a done deal.

I glance over at the tasting menu and nearly fall off my chair. Sixty dollars per person. That’s . . . a hundred and twenty bucks! Plus tax. Plus tip. Holy cannoli, there goes the rest of our movie budget. I think I’m going to cry.

“I . . . I don’t know, Evelyn,” I squeak. “That’s . . . It’s . . . maybe too much food.”

“Oh, poo on you.” She paddles my words out of the air with the back of her hand. “This is a special night. It’s our first Valentine’s Day together. We’re going to remember this for the rest of our lives.”

Our waiter returns with our flutes of sparkling apple juice. He places them carefully on the table, then stands tall. “Monsieur. Mademoiselle. Have we decided on dinner?”

“Yes,” Evelyn blurts. “We’re having the tasting menu, please.” She holds up her menu and the waiter takes it from her. “Both of us.”

The waiter turns and smiles at me, suddenly much happier than he was a moment ago. He nods and removes my menu from the table. “I will get that started for you, tout de suite.”

As soon as the waiter is gone, Evelyn hoists her glass in the air. “To us.”

“Right,” I say, clinking her glass with mine.

I’m about to take a sip of my cider when Evelyn continues, “To trust. To honesty. To seventy-six more Valentine’s Days spent together. To best friends, partners, and soul mates.”

“Okay.” I raise my glass again, thinking, Yes, it’ll be great to find all that someday. With someone. Someone who’s not at this table. I bring my glass to my lips but apparently Evelyn’s not finished yet.

“To being there for each other. In thick and thin.” She stares at me over her glass. Her eyes wide and intense. “To never ever cheating on each other. To being true and faithful. To listening to each other. And respecting each other. And being supportive in every way possible.”

Jesus Christ, it’s like wedding vows from hell.

“Mm-hm.” I quickly bend forward and take a sip of my juice before she can say anything else. I set my glass down and try to think of a way to change the subject. “So, um, yeah. I guess . . . I sort of . . . have something for you.” I reach for my inside jacket pocket, but I’m so sausaged into my suit that it’s nearly impossible. “It’s . . . a gift.” I have to swivel my entire body around, and even then I can only just grasp the top edge of the pocket. The threads on my sleeves make a straining sound as the tips of my fingers just graze the top of the box wedged inside the pocket.

“What is it? What is it?” Evelyn’s bouncing up and down. Clapping her hands like one of those insane wind-up cymbal monkeys.

“Just . . . Almost . . .” Finally I’ve got a grip on the jewelry box and tug it from my jacket. “Here you go,” I say, out of breath. “It’s just . . . a little something . . . I thought you might like.”

She leaps up and snatches it from my hand. “I know what these are!” she squeals. “Nick told you, didn’t he?”

“Yeah. He was a big help,” I say, my smile strained.

“They’re beautiful!” Evelyn beams at the earrings. “I can’t believe you spent this much money on me.” Big swollen tears start to form in her eyes. She sniffs. “You must really, really love me. I can’t believe I ever doubted it.” She stands up, walks around the table, and strangles me in a hug. “I love you too, Sean,” she declares.

“Wow,” I say, blinking hard. Confused how the L word got thrown in the mix here. “That’s . . . Wow.” I should have seen that reaction coming. Damn you, Nick! “I’m just . . . glad you like them.”

“They’re perfect. And so are you.” Evelyn returns to her seat and grabs her giant purse. “I got you something too, snuggle boo.” She pulls out a large gift-wrapped present and hands it to me.

I shake my head. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“It’s nothing compared to what you got me. But just because I don’t have as much money as you doesn’t mean I love you any less.” She motions at the gift. “Go on. Open it up.”

I force a smile and start to tear away the paper. As soon as I see the blue fabric of the shirt, the GUESS label in the collar, my stomach lurches. “Oh. Thanks,” I choke out, afraid to even touch the stolen goods. “It’s . . . nice.”

“You really like it?”

“Sure. It’s . . . great.” My belly is in so many knots I think I might hurl. I glance back over my shoulder, thinking this would be a good time to go to the bathroom. Splash some water on my face, have a quick look at my Leyna photo to help calm me down. “Excuse me for a moment,” I say, placing my napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back.”

I push my chair back, start to stand, and hear a low ripping sound. The cool draft I feel on my butt is all the evidence I need that tonight is going to be the longest night of my life.