"You ready to order?" I ask.
She unfolds her menu and takes a quick glance. "I can be ready."
I don't look at mine. "You have a grilled wild-caught fish?"
"Yes, sir, we have a barramundi and we had a red snapper."
"The barramundi on mixed greens, oil and vinegar on the side." I hand over my menu.
Lacey smiles knowingly. She looks to the server. "Make that two." She hands over her menu. Her eyes fix on mine.
Her smile gets goofy.
I cock a brow.
She smiles wider. "Nothing."
"It's something."
"You ordered diet food."
"And?"
"I've never been out with a guy who orders diet food."
"You go out with a lot
of different guys?"
"No. But still… I have friends. We go to restaurants." She leans back with a smile. "I'm not judging."
"You sure?"
She nods. "You're expected to look a certain way. If you just shot a video, you're probably in the middle of promo shit. I bet you have photo shoots lined up. Another video maybe."
"Not yet."
Her eyes light up. "Not yet?"
I nod. I want her shooting our next video. But I'm not going to pitch that until I'm sure she's receptive.
She presses her lips together. "You didn't order a drink."
"Alcohol is bad for the vocal chords."
"Are you singing sometime soon?"
"We have a few local shows. Some shit to re-record. It's easier staying on my tour diet."
"Sounds like a drag."
"It's mostly skipping coffee and booze."
"The fish and salad?"
"Nothing that will irritate the throat or the stomach."
She looks at me funny. "I shouldn't be surprised you take your work seriously. It's just…"