Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“What is togarashi spiced ahi?” he asks, pronouncing it slowly.
“It’s tuna. Do you like tuna?”
“You know I’m not a foodie like you. I’ve only had it from a can, mixed with mayo and smooshed between two slices of white bread.” He mimes putting together a sandwich. “But I have a feeling that’s not what they’re serving here.” He looks around at the restaurant, which isn’t an upscale establishment, but it is stylish and trendy, with a lot of elements that convey it’s not a place where you’ll get basic food.
“If you like tuna sandwiches, you’ll love a tuna steak. Togarashi is a spice mixture that’s kind of sweet and a little bit spicy.”
“I’m going to order a regular steak,” he says, “but I hope you’ll let me taste a bite of yours.”
And why does that particular wording give me a shiver? I seem to be having a second childhood by turning into a horny teenager.
“Of course,” I say, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.
When the waiter comes to take our orders, Brax listens attentively while I go first, and then orders a medium-rare ribeye for himself. I love how respectful he is with the server, punctuating his requests with please and thank you, though his good manners don’t surprise me, because he’s always been a gentleman with me.
“Thank you for being so gracious tonight.” I reach for a piece of bread as something to focus on while I talk. Also because the bread looks amazing. “I’m pretty sure a lot of men would not have been so understanding about me showing up with Erik tonight.”
“It was a surprise,” he says, and I feel a twinge of guilt, but his unwavering smile lets me know that it’s okay.
“I’m impressed by how honest and straightforward you were about everything. I appreciate that you’re not playing games.”
That makes me laugh. “I’m not sure I know how to play any games. I never learned the rules.”
He slides the small plate of butter closer to me. “Good. That’s good. No one benefits from those kinds of games.”
“Have you been hurt by games like that?” I ask.
“A long time ago. I’m a better judge of character now.”
The implied compliment warms me as I spread butter on a small slice of baguette and take a bite.
“I’m curious,” Brax says, reaching for the bread basket. “Do you still attend the church you grew up in?”
“I do …”
“You sound hesitant.”
I take another bite of bread as I think about how to approach something that’s a complicated subject for me. “There’s a lot I like about the church,” I say finally, “but also a lot I don’t like.”
Brax nods, waiting for me to go on.
“I probably would stop going if my family didn’t have such strong expectations about my attendance. The situation is further complicated because I work for and with other church members.”
“Oh, people from your church own the yarn shop?”
I nod. “I have some friends outside the church, Lexy being one of them…” Brax nods at this. It’s through Lexy, a friend from long ago who moved back to town last year, that I met Brax. “But most of my life is entwined with the church. My entire family, my job, most of my friends. So, it’s easier to keep attending services, even if I no longer subscribe to everything I’m being told there.”
He looks thoughtful for a moment before asking, “Does anyone know how you feel?”
I shake my head. “No one except Erik. He used to attend the church.”
“Is that how you met him?”
The waiter approaches to deliver house salads to each of us, so I pause our conversation. As Brax thanks the server, I take the opportunity to study the man sitting across from me.
He’s so handsome and so thoroughly masculine, with his dark tattoos, his facial scruff, and all those muscles. But even though he’s big and rough looking, I’ve seen his inner teddy bear. That leads me to imagine what it must be like to cuddle with him; I’m sure it would be wonderful.
“Yes, Erik attended the church from a young age,” I say, picking things back up after we’ve started into our first course.
“But he no longer goes.”
“He feels similarly to me. He was dissatisfied about a lot of the same things I am, but he was strong enough to break away.”
Brax frowns at that. “You feel like you’re not strong enough to leave it?”
I shrug a shoulder. “I don’t know. The thought of leaving seems incredibly hard, and usually, I just try not to think about it.”
“I’m sure you’re making the decision that’s best for you.”
I’m not sure of that at all, but it’s kind of Brax to say so. “How’s school going?” I ask. It’s definitely time for a change of subject, and I’m always curious about his mechanical engineering studies.