Miles gives my hand a squeeze. "Let's worry about that when it happens. But whatever happens with Gladys, you're not alone. I'll still be here."
I look away, taking my hand from his and placing it under the table.
He sits back and picks up the menu. "I think I'll get the broiled cod with polenta."
"What about the lasagna?"
"Too much fat."
"You said you were splurging."
"Changed my mind. I'm trying to win over this girl, and since my attempts to be nice to her don't seem to working, I'm going for pure physical attraction. Maybe I could win her over with my abs."
I smile. "You don't have to do that. Have the lasagna."
"Nope." He sets his menu down. "I'm going with the cod."
I put my menu on top of his. "I DO appreciate everything you've done for me. I just can't accept your help anymore."
"Which I don't get, but let's just agree to disagree." He smiles. "Or maybe my six-pack abs will make you change your mind."
The waiter arrives. "Can I start you with any drinks?"
"Just water," I say.
"Same for me," Miles says.
The waiter looks from Miles to me, then back to Miles. "Working late?"
"No. Why?"
He shakes his head. "I thought she was a client. Never mind."
"Why'd you think she was a client?" Miles asks. "I'm just curious."
"I've seen you here with some of the lawyers. I assumed you work at the firm next door."
"I do. But I don't usually work the weekends."
He nods. "So what can I get you?"
Miles motions to me. "Raine, go ahead."
"I'll have the lasagna," I say, not looking at the waiter.
"I'll have the cod," Miles says. "Actually, forget that. I’ll have the lasagna, and we'll start with a salad."
"I'll get that right in," the waiter says, then hurries off.
"What the hell was that about?" Miles asks.
"He knows me," I say, before taking a sip of my water.
"How does he know you?"
"He's seen me on the street. He was tossing a donut in the trash a few weeks ago and I took it. He saw me."
"And he thought my firm is representing you? For what?"
"Who knows? Maybe he thinks I'm trying to sue someone to get money. People always assume homeless people are trying to scam people out of their money."
"If he really thinks that about you, we should leave. I don't want to be giving this place my money. We'll go somewhere else."
"Just forget it. We're already here and I'm really looking forward to the lasagna. I haven't had Italian food since...well, since Rob took me." I take my cloth napkin and lay it over my lap. "He took me to places like this all the time. Trying to impress me, I guess."
"That's not what I'm doing," Miles says. "Raine, look at me." I do and he says, "I'm not him. I'll say it over and over again if that's what it takes for you to believe me. I'm not him and I never will be."
I want to believe him, and for the most part I do. But there's still a part of me that doesn't. Even if it did, I still want to do this on my own. I let guys mislead me one too many times. But it's not going to happen again.
20
Raine
"Thanks for dinner," I say to Miles as we're leaving the restaurant. "I'm so stuffed I may not need to eat for days. Aren't you glad you got the lasagna instead of the cod?"
"I am, but now I'll have to put in more hours at the gym, not just for the lasagna but for the cheesecake. But it was worth it. That cheesecake was amazing."
We shared the cheesecake after finishing off enough lasagna to feed six people. I was going to save some of it to take home but it was so good I couldn't stop eating.
"What now?" he asks, taking my hand.
"Hey. No holding hands.”
"I have to. It's dark out."
I smile at him. "You're not afraid of the dark."
"Maybe I'm afraid to let you go."
I look up and see the seriousness on his face. He's getting too attached to me, which makes me sad because I don't want to hurt him.
"What are you talking about?" I say in a cheery tone, trying to lighten the heaviness in the air. "I'm not going anywhere."
"But you will, and when you do, I have a feeling you won't tell me where you're going."
I don't respond because it's probably true. When it comes time for me to move on, there's a good chance I'll leave without telling him goodbye. It sounds harsh, but it'll be better that way. A clean break so he can move on with someone else.
"That's what you're going to do, isn't it?"
I pull my hand from his. "I don't know."
"Hey!" a guy says. I look over and see him coming toward us. He's wearing a puffy jacket with a fur-lined hood.
"What do you need?" Miles asks, taking my hand back and pulling me closer.
"Got a pretty gift for your lady," the guy says, taking something from his pocket.
"No thanks." Miles keeps walking, gripping my hand tighter.
"Wait up, man!" the guy says. "You haven't even seen it yet."
The guy's voice sounds familiar. As he approaches us, I see who it is.
"Levi?" I say, trying to see past his furry hood.
He looks at me. "Raine?"
"You two know each other?" Miles stops walking, still holding my hand.
"Unfortunately," I mutter. "Levi hangs out by that office building that looks like it has mirrors on the side."
"Are you the guy who sings?" Miles asks.
"That's me." Levi sings a line from a song, extending the last note to show off his vocal talents.
"You're really good," Miles says.
"Don't flatter him," I say, rolling my eyes. "If you do, he'll never leave you alone."
"She's just jealous I'm successful and she's not," Levi says to Miles.
"If by successful you mean reselling stuff you stole," I say.
"You don't know shit, girl. I only sell the best, and it ain't stolen. Like this here watch." He holds it out in front of us. "Found it on the street but it's like brand new."
I lean closer to look at it. "That's mine!" I whack Levi's arm. "You stole my watch!"
He rears back. "I didn't steal it. I found it."
"Really? And where exactly did you find it?"
"By the garbage can in the park. I swear, girl, I didn't take it."
"Did he?" Miles asks me.
"No." I sigh. "I lost it. It must've fallen off my wrist when I was digging in the trash can."
"Give it back," Miles says to Levi.
"Hell, no. I found it. It's mine now."
"But it was Raine's first, so give it back."
"It wasn't mine," I say. "I found it too. He can have it."