“See?” he spoke in a soft voice as he reached out, tracing his finger up and down the inside of one of the slits. “A constant surprise.”
When his finger hooked around the strap of her thong, she pulled away.
“Uh uh, you can't unwrap this present until after dinner,” she warned him, shaking her finger playfully in his face before heading over to grab her backpack off the table. It had her purse in it, so she'd leave it in the back of Ari's car while they ate.
“Dessert is better at the beginning of the meal.”
“I guess we'll never know. Now take me somewhere expensive, I feel like lobster.”
They drove through the city, not speaking, just sitting in a comfortable silence. It was nice. And then when they pulled up to the restaurant, it took Valentine a second to recognize it. She gasped softly, then started laughing.
“I wondered if you'd remember,” he murmured from behind her. She snickered and glanced back at him.
“Ari, this is the restaurant where you almost fucked me in the women's bathroom, all while your psycho ex was and my date were just a couple yards away. I will never forget this place.”
“Good.”
A valet attendant helped her out of the vehicle, and a moment later, Ari was at her side. His hand came to rest on her lower back, and then he was guiding her into the restaurant.
“It's Friday night – you were able to get a table at such short notice?” she asked as they made their way slowly up the steps to the maître d's stand. He snorted at her comment.
“I'm insulted. I'm Ari Sharapov, Valentine – of course I got a fucking table.”
He wasn't lying – the maître d' didn't even ask who they were, he just called Ari by name, then gestured for them to follow him. They were led to an excellent table, in a far corner of the room. Her back was against the wall behind her, and then an entire wall of glass was next to them, overlooking a garden full of glowing lanterns.
“This is gorgeous,” she sighed after Ari had given the wine order. “Last time I was here, I was a shitty table in the center of the room.”
“That's because the last time you were here, you were with someone else.”
She looked back at him.
“Wanna know a secret?” she asked, leaning low over the table. His gaze dipped to her chest.
“Sure.”
“I think you had a crush on me back then. I think that's why you were so angry about me being on a date,” she teased him. Ari rolled his eyes.
“I was angry because we had a literal contract that said you couldn't go out with other men. I don't get crushes. I get what I paid for,” he informed her as their wine was delivered.
It stung a little, that he hadn't gone along with her, but Valentine was actually glad for it. It helped remind her of how incompatible they really were; it didn't matter if they looked good together or not. Looks would fade. So would good sex and passion, and then what would be left? Wandering eyes and broken hearts. No, no thank you.
“You certainly did,” Valentine chuckled, and she toasted him with her newly filled glass. He lifted his glass, as well, and then they drank. They ordered their meals and were finally alone again.
“You're in an awfully good mood this evening,” Ari commented. Valentine shrugged.
“It's been a weird, rough couple weeks. Felt like it was the right time to ... start a new chapter,” she answered sideways. He nodded.
“Good, I'm glad.”
“And what about you?” she asked. “That day, when Gam-Gam passed, you said you'd slayed a dragon for me. I don't remember why, or what kind.”
“A small dragon,” Ari corrected. “When you called me that day, I was actually talking with my father in my office.”
Yes, Ari talked to his father often. She'd overheard several phone calls between him and the senior Sharapov. Excuses made about why he wasn't working or why he'd missed meetings.
“Oh?”
“I told him I was seeing someone else, and that it was serious – or that I hoped it was,” he said, giving her a Look. “And that I didn't want anything else to do with Harper Kittering.”
Valentine had spoken with her teachers about her grandmother's passing and hadn't been back to classes since it had happened. She'd have work to make up, but they all seemed very understanding. The only thing she was really dreading was going back to dealing with Harper.
“Ah. And how did father dearest handle that news?”
“Much better than I thought,” Ari said, and Valentine was surprised. “But was still an asshole. He wants to meet you to see if you're 'up to snuff'.”
“And what if I'm not?” she asked quickly. Ari shrugged.
“We'll just make sure you are, don't worry about it.”
Sting number two. Valentine already was up to snuff – by her standards and by her friends' standards. She should be for Ari's, too. He said it off the cuff, obviously not giving much thought to what came out of his mouth, but that just made it worse. This was her life he was talking about; his life, too. He should care about it more.
Should care about me more.
“Couldn't have a sub-par girlfriend, now, could we?” she laughed darkly, then crossed her legs, one of her slits falling open to reveal her leg clear up to her hip. She was sitting at an angle, her chair and person open to the restaurant. Ari glanced down at her exposed skin.
“Sometimes sub-par is sexy. I wonder if the women's room still has that accomodating bathroom attendant.”
Their food was brought soon after, and they tucked into their meals. There hadn't been any lobster on the menu, so Val had settled for a filet mignon. Ari had salmon. They made idle chit chat, Valentine waiting for dessert before addressing anything serious.
“I wanted to tell you something,” she said after a choclate torte had been sat in front of her. “Or some things, I guess.”
“Oh, god. And here I thought we were having a nice evening,” Ari joked, grabbing a fork and reaching over to steal a bite. She moved the plate to the center of the table so they could share.
“All good things, I think,” she assured him.
“I'm intrigued.”
“Three weeks ago, I thought I'd hate you forever,” she told him. He watched her warily. “You were a jerk the entire time we were together, and then you did something awful. But I have to admit – you've more than made up for it. You've done so much for me, and you've ... still been kind of a jerk, but also wonderful. Thank you.”
Ari leaned back in his seat and nodded his head.
“You're welcome. Where is this going?”
“I just ...” Valentine had practiced what she was going to say to him, but her nerves were getting in the way. “You have the potential for so much greatness, Ari. You're a great lawyer, and a great son, I'm sure. But you could be a great person, and you can be that with or without your dad's support. Who cares if he cuts you off? Will you die? If I can survive something like that, being alone in the world, then I know you could – you're the strongest person I've ever known.”
Ari was silent for so long, she began to get nervous that she'd said something wrong, or offensive.