But my paranoia is set to rest, with Kane chuckling as he informs me that he likes to eat.
A lot.
“Plus, the loser pays,” Abby chimes in, ribbing her dad just one more time about the volleyball game.
“Come on, dig in,” Kane says to us both, handing Abby and me a plate each, warning me to eat as much shrimp and lobster as I can before he finishes it all himself.
“I’m so hungry, I could eat a…,” he starts to say aloud, and his eyes lock on mine, making him flush a little as he chooses to leave his statement hanging in the air.
“Eat a what, Dad? Some humble pie?” Abby chortles, laughing so hard at her joke she snorts.
But I can only smile.
Kane’s eyes are lit with a fire that tells me exactly what he’d rather have in his mouth right now.
Food be damned.
But for now, we have to play-act a little for Abby’s benefit, and once I see how much Kane actually eats, I know he wasn’t kidding.
I find myself hungrier with each bite he takes, matching him shrimp for shrimp and lobster tail for tail until I’m totally stuffed.
Abby’s a picky eater and only has a tiny plate. But once she’s done, she’s more than happy to talk and fill the silence in between me puffing air.
I lean back in my seat at the kitchen table, listening to the smacking sounds of Kane devouring whatever’s left of the ocean mixed in with Abby starting to go on again about her maybe job offer.
She brings up the show details on her phone, showing her dad, who actually sounds interested.
“It’s the real deal, Dad. I know it’s short notice, but it’s an off-Broadway show, see? Real dance company and a paying audience,” she jokes.
Kane’s impressed but also relieved, I guess.
The idea of Abby going off on her own startled me, so I can only imagine how her dad must feel about it.
“I tell you what,” he says, wiping his hands and mouth with a napkin.
“If…I mean, when you get the call and have to go, we’ll both fly out and see the show, and that way, I can see for myself just how they’re treating you,” he says.
“We?” Abby asks.
“Sure, Jen too,” Kane says casually, flashing a smile in my direction.
“I…I can’t really afford,” I say, but Kane’s hand goes up like he’s just settled everything in his mind, which means that he’ll be paying like everything else so far.
Loser pays, right?
“Would you?” Abby asks, letting out a huge sigh of what sounds like relief.
I expect her to get suspicious and upset again. But the idea of her dad and me in New York seems to have eased her nerves.
“I’d really appreciate it, Dad. Not the opening night, though… give it a few days for me to settle in. But it would mean a lot if you and Jen could be there,” she says, giving me a tender look.
“What are friends for,” I hear myself croak, staggered at how easily Kane’s just made plans for us both, revolving around a job that Abby doesn’t even have yet.
And Abby’s fine with it.
“Then, that’s settled,” Kane beams triumphantly, lifting his mineral water and proposing a toast to Abby.
“To the next big thing off-Broadway,” he smiles, and as much as Abby’s glad for our support, I can’t help but feel the dread creeping up inside me already.