We’re going out to dinner if you want to join.
I should say no. I was hungover, felt like shit. But I couldn’t resist an opportunity to see her, to feel that peaceful calm any time I was in her presence. I’ll be there.
After a day of hydrating smoothies and a love affair with my bottle of pills, I finally felt better. The girls left when they woke up, leaving their numbers even though I would never call. I was back to my old ways, a Manhattan playboy.
I felt too old for this shit.
Instead of walking to the restaurant, my driver took me. There was no reason to hide my wealth anymore, and I wasn’t in the mood to walk five blocks there and back. The car pulled up, and I got out before I headed inside.
They were sitting in a booth, their drinks on the table with an appetizer in the center. It was Charlie, Matt, and Carson. Carson had just dipped a cheese stick into the marinara before dropping it into her mouth.
I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
“That looks good.”
Carson chewed quickly so she could talk, but she bit off more than she could chew.
Charlie was beside her and rolled his eyes. “She says hi.”
Matt patted the seat next to him. “Hey, man.”
I took a seat across from Carson, who was still chewing as quickly as possible.
Charlie watched her and slightly shook his head. “Why do you shove the whole thing into your mouth? Why don’t you take a bite like a normal person?”
She smacked him as she continued to chew.
The waitress came over, and I ordered water.
“Water?” Matt asked. “That’s it?”
“Just not in the mood today…” If I drank another drop of alcohol, I might die.
Matt grinned. “Oh, I got it…crazy night, huh?”
I shrugged. “A bit.”
“It was your birthday, right?” Charlie asked.
I nodded. “Yep.”
Carson finally finished with her bite. “Okay, hi. Sorry. That was bad timing.”
“No, that was a bad bite.” Charlie eyed her with his elbows on the table.
“And happy birthday,” she said. “You make thirty-one look good.”
I gave her a slight smile. “Thanks.” I noticed the bread crumb in the corner of her mouth but didn’t tell her about it, because I thought it was cute. She was in jean shorts and a purple top, her curled hair over one shoulder, revealing her lovely fair skin, her beautiful complexion. Her mascara and eyeliner were heavy, giving her a sultry look that was nearly irresistible. I barely noticed the guys because she was the most addictive thing I’d ever seen.
“So, what kind of wild night did you have last night?” Charlie asked.
I didn’t lie. “Strip club.”
Carson didn’t give any reaction, like that knowledge didn’t bother her in the least.
“Not a bad way to spend a birthday.” Charlie gave a glance at Carson before grabbing a cheese stick.
“It was my friend’s idea.” I didn’t want to make it seem like I was the dirty playboy Carson had assumed I was when we first met. “They pooled their money together and rented the place out.”
“Damn,” Matt said. “Those are good friends.”
I shrugged. “I think it was more of an excuse to party.”
“You don’t look hungover,” Charlie noted.
“I’ve had a couple smoothies and lots of pills…” I took a lot to get rid of the headache that had nearly incapacitated me. I couldn’t remember all the details of last night and I could handle booze well, so I really must have reached my limit.
“Well, I’m glad you were able to join us.” Carson took a drink, but she licked her lips, and that was when she caught the breadcrumb on her tongue. Her eyes were kind and open, like there was no jealousy or possessiveness on her part.
It was hard not to be disappointed, not to feel that emptiness inside me grow even more. How could she turn off those feelings so easily? Why did mine linger and hers disappear entirely?
The waitress came back over. “Ready to order?”
“Yep.” Carson didn’t look at her menu. “I’ll do the double-stack burger.”
I grabbed my menu and looked for something.
Charlie and Matt ordered, which turned the attention back onto me.
“Uh, I’ll do the Caesar.”
Carson looked offended. “You’re getting a salad?”
I hadn’t eaten anything all day, but I still had no appetite after all the scotch and cigars from the night before. “Had a big lunch.”
“Well, we can split my burger,” she said.
I grinned. “Like you would ever share your food with anyone.”
She took a drink. “With you, I would.”
I held her gaze a moment longer, felt that connection that spiraled all the way down to my soul. Just a single look from her was more exciting than a private striptease. It satisfied my body without even touching me. It gave me what I was missing, when I wasn’t even sure what that was. “Well, thanks.”
We talked about basketball, sports, the article Carson was writing about me, and other inconsequential things. There was no talk of money or fancy cars. It was a real conversation with real friends. It was nice, relaxing. Even with my high school friends, it wasn’t quite this casual, but there was always a subtle hint of distance from all of them. My wealth hadn’t changed our friendship much, but it did…a little bit. But with these guys, it really meant nothing, and it was so much better than my drunken night in the strip club.
Dinner was finished, so the waitress brought the tab.
I fished out my wallet.
“Nope.” Carson took the tab. “I don’t think so, birthday boy.” They put their debit cards in the folder so they could split it three ways.
“Don’t need to do that.” I was touched by the gesture anyway, because Carson really didn’t care about my fat wallet at all. She treated me like a regular person.
“Too bad.”
The waitress took the tab, but she came back a moment later with a small cake with lit candles.
I saw the writing on the surface. Happy Birthday, Dax! So, it wasn’t a free dessert offered by the restaurant.
Then Carson started to sing. “Happy Birthday to you…” The guys joined in.
I smiled as I watched the waitress set the lit cake in front of me. It was embarrassing, to have people sing to me on my thirty-first birthday, but I smiled as I watched Carson as her eyes lit up in excitement because it made her feel good to do something for me.
“Happy birthday to you…” She had a nice voice, could probably be a singer if she wanted to. Then she clapped quickly, with the guys.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to pull any stunts.”
She shrugged. “Guess I changed my mind. Now, make a wish.”
There were two candles on the cake, a three and a one. I stared at her for another moment before I took a deep breath and blew out the candles. Her request suddenly made me feel empty again, because the one thing I wanted was inaccessible to me. There was really not a single thing in the world I wanted more. Nothing.
The waitress took back the cake to slice it in the kitchen.