He's staring at me. Not in a creepy vibe like at the diner the first time we’d met. It’s more… curious now.
He leans forward slightly, head just tilted. “Is it true?”
I furrow my eyebrows together in confusion. “Is what true?”
“Landon said you’re in recovery, so no alcohol.”
Heat flares on my cheeks, and I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. My eyes dart to Landon, and I glare at him for a moment, but he isn’t paying attention to me. I really don’t feel like ruining this dinner by getting on his ass for telling secrets that aren’t his to tell, so I don’t say anything. I’ll have to take care of it later.
I turn my attention back to Colton. “Yes, it’s true.” I force the words out, the sting of tears burning the corners of my eyes.
His face drops. “What’s wrong?”
I drop my eyes to the table, unwilling to say anything I feel like will start something.
“Hello, I’m Krista, your waitress today. Are we all together?”
I look up as Landon responds, telling her that we are, in fact, a group. The cheerful woman takes out her notebook and pen and takes our drinks. I get a simple iced tea and don’t pay much attention to the rest of the drink orders. When she bounds off to get them, I sit back to pick at my cuticles. It’s become a habit these days, but it keeps my mind off wanting other stuff. For the most part, that is.
“I’m getting the feeling I wasn’t supposed to know about your recovery,” Colton says, just loud enough for Landon to hear. “Was I?”
I blink, looking up at him and then at Landon. He’s staring at us, his ears red in embarrassment at having obviously been caught.
Colton turns to him, annoyance now coating his words. “You should’ve asked before telling me.”
“I, um, I didn’t want you ordering an alcoholic beverage and making her uncomfortable.”
It’s my turn to be embarrassed. Again. “It’s fine, Colton, really.”
“No,” he says sharply and looks at me, then back at Landon. “I get you were trying to help, but that’s not your choice, Landon. I’m sure Gracie can hold herself regardless of what anyone orders to drink. Right, Gracie?” He looks pointedly at me.
I open my mouth, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. So, I close my mouth and look down at the table.
“Gracie,” Landon turns to me, and I draw my eyes up to him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think. I was just trying to help.”
A kind heart, just like his dad. I can’t help but nod and smile. “I know, Landon. It’s okay, really. But it’s also okay if you guys order alcoholic drinks too. I have to learn to handle myself around them. It isn’t fair for me to ask everyone to stop their lives around me.”
Landon nods but doesn’t say anything as our drinks appear and are handed out. I look down at the menu that had somehow been given to me, and I just didn’t realize it. It's unopened, and I have no clue what I want to eat. The waitress asks, though. I listen as the other three order, fidgeting when it’s my turn.
“Just a salad,” I say quickly, knowing it’s too late to look for anything on the menu.
I know these places well enough. It’s always a bunch of meat of some sort. Not many have a vegetarian side of the deal. When she bobs off again, Colton looks at me in curiosity. “Trying to lose weight?”
It’s a half-tease, but I grimace anyway and shake my head. “I don’t eat meat.”
It’s natural for me to say so, but it always amazes me the flash of surprise in other people’s eyes when I tell them so. Being a vegetarian is like having a rare disease. Once people know, they tend to be wary around you. I’m waiting for Colton to treat me like that, but he shrugs it off.
“I’ll remember that,” he promises and then side-eyes the two next to us.
I glance as well and roll my eyes at them kissing again. But at least they’re happy and do like each other.
“Let’s play a game,” Colton tells me.
I look at him in surprise. “Game?”
He nods. “A guessing game. You come up with something about yourself, and I guess what it is. Like for example, you say, ‘my favorite color,’ and I guess what it is.”
I cock an eyebrow. “And if you get it wrong?”