My Sort-of, Kind-of Hero (8 page)

I clamp down on my need to whip out my notebook right here and now and start recording everything; I did promise Travis I would be a little more subtle than that.

I see Travis sitting in the corner of the restaurant, all alone. He lifts his hand in greeting, but I frown as I make my way over to the table.

“Did she leave already?” I ask, looking around.

“No, but thank you for the confidence in me,” he says wryly. “She hasn’t arrived yet.”

“You didn’t go and pick her up?” I ask incredulously, putting my bag down on the table next to him. “That’s so unromantic.”

“She had to work late and told me she would meet me here,” he says, oblivious to what he has done wrong.

“Okay, it’s alright. I’ll just use a little creative discretion on the lead up to dinner,” I say, assuring myself that this is just a small kink.

Travis looks really handsome tonight. I’m so used to seeing him in his toque that I forgot how nice his hair is when he decides to do something with it. The jet black colour almost has a tinge of blue in it under the candlelight, which accentuates his strong jawline and brown eyes. He looks more suave than the Travis that threw snow on me yesterday. In his black dress shirt, with the top two buttons undone, he would sweep any woman off her feet. I think I picked the perfect hero for my book.

I take my jacket off and hang my purse on the back of my chair before taking my seat at the table next to Travis.

“You… umm…” he clears his throat. “You look really nice tonight.”

I beam at him as he looks from my hair to my new blouse.

“Thank you.” I put my hand up to my hair to make sure the hairpins are still holding everything in place. “Which reminds me, make sure you compliment Sara’s shoes.”

I see a flash of irritation cross his features, but he hides it quickly.

“I thought you weren’t allowed to talk on my dates,” he says.

“She’s not here yet,’ I wave away the argument.

“You know, it might come as a shocker to you to know that I actually don’t need your help to get a girl to fall in love with me,” he says pointedly.

“Oh really?” I ask, though I already know the answer. I’ve seen plenty women fall all over themselves in his presence− it’s that dimple, it gets them every time. But, obviously those women weren’t the love of his life or one of them would still be in the picture. Therefore, I see no harm in giving him a little helpful advice; I mean, I do know a thing or two about the female psyche.

“Word on the street is I’m a pretty big catch,” he smiles.

I can’t help the snort that escapes. “Alright, Casanova. Just try not to look too assured of yourself when Sara gets here. It’s kind of a turnoff.”

“Me? Self-assured? But you always love it when I boss you around,” he says.

I smile at him while shaking my head.

“You drive me crazy when you boss me around, and you know it,” I say, smacking him lightly on the arm. “And don’t order her a hot chocolate.”

I see a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Only for you.”

I look at him from under my lashes and wonder how he does it. How he can be so insufferable but charming at the same time. One minute I want to punch him so hard in the arm and the next…

He opens his mouth to say something, but then something catches his eye and he suddenly stands.

“Hi Sara,” he says.

I stand too. I have no idea why, but it’s just a knee jerk reaction.

Sara is really cute. She has a heart shaped face, and bright curly red hair. With a light dusting of freckles on her nose and cheeks, her smile is wide and inviting. I look down and notice that she’s wearing a simple black dress. I quell my disappointment; she would look stunning in green. Maybe I could change that little detail for the purposes of the story.

Before she has a chance to respond to Travis I reach out my hand to her.

“Hi, I’m Etty,” I say, my voice coming out in an excited whisper. I’m not sure why, but I feel like this is my first date too.

“Er− Hi,” she says, and takes my hand before shooting her gaze to Travis.

“I’m the author,” I say to her, not sure if she thinks I’m just a stranger at the next table.

“Travis mentioned it,” she says, nodding, and looking to Travis to rescue her.

I look to Travis, whose eyes seem slightly wider than normal.

“Well, feel free to get started,” I say, taking my hand back from the awkward handshake and sitting down.

His jaw tenses for a minute before he offers Sara a smile and indicates for her to sit down.

They both take their seats, and Sara picks up her napkin to place it in her lap. They look around and then meet each other’s gaze and offer an awkward smile to each other.

Why aren’t they saying anything? I mean, I haven’t been on a lot of dates, but the ones I
have
been on, we usually actually
spoke
to each other.

They probably feel awkward. I feel awkward, so they must feel really awkward.

Do they feel pressure because I am looking to base the next ultimate love story on them? I know it sounds like a lot, but I don’t expect them to fall in love this second. And I hope they don’t feel like they have some unattainable expectations to live up to. I want this story to be real, not some romanticised fantasy.

I knew I should have printed out those novel objectives for them to look over. I would have, but Travis was a little touchy after the whole Ground Rules discussion, and I feel like I have to tip toe around him to keep him from changing his mind. Obviously I don’t want him to back out, but at the same time I need them to give me something. Right now I only have a sentence in my head about the unsure first glance of young love. I’m going to need a little more than that for a full length novel.

“Everything okay at work?” Travis asks Sara.

Oh, wrong move. You never bring up work with someone you don’t know very well. For all he knows, she could hate her job and go on and on about it all night. Or they could get into a gossip fest about their coworkers. Either way, I can’t use any of that in the book.

“Everything is fine,” she says, nodding.

I look to Travis, and then to Sara, who is looking at me, but as soon as our eyes meet she quickly looks away.

I knew it: she feels awkward with my presence on this date. Which is completely understandable, but at the same time she’s going to have to get over this quick. Maybe I just need to put her mind at ease a little, get her relaxed so she can forget about me.

“I love your shoes, Sara,” I say, leaning over my table to get closer to theirs. “Travis was just telling me you always have the nicest shoes.”

Travis narrows his eyes at me, but I pretend not to see it. Honestly, it’s not like he is saying anything of substance, and
someone
has to talk.

“Thank you,” she says to both me and Travis as a blush rises up her neck.

“You and Travis work together?” I ask.

“Sara is an assistant to one of the architects in the building we are completing right now,” Travis answers.

“And he finally asked you out,” I say, leaning my chin in my hand. “That’s so exciting!”

“Yes, I guess so,” she answers, and darts her eyes down to her lap.

It’s going to take a little effort to get this one out of her shell, I realise.

“So what do you like to do in your spare time?” I ask her.

“I− umm− I like games,” she offers.

“Board, carnival or computer?”

“Uh− all I guess,” she shrugs.

Oh, I think we are going to get along really well. Travis better not screw this up.

“We should go to a carnival for the next date!” I say, looking to both of them for encouragement. “It’s the ultimate setting for falling in love.”

“And that’s my first veto,” Travis says.

I turn to him frowning.

“You don’t like carnivals?” Sara asks him.

“He doesn’t like heights,” I say.

Whenever we went to the carnival as kids, Travis always used to stay with my mom while Scott and I went on the rides. No matter how much we teased him, he wouldn’t set foot on them.

“Etty,” Travis warns, and offers an apologetic smile to Sara.

“What?” I ask. “I’m just trying to get to know Sara.”

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be doing?” he asks.

“Okay, then you do it,” I say, gesturing to her.

“I don’t mind her asking some questions,” Sara shrugs.

“Don’t encourage her or she’ll never stop,” Travis says ruefully. “I asked her a question when she was four and she hasn’t shut up since.”

I scrunch up my face at Travis’s words.

Sara laughs. “I think it’s nice you have the confidence to speak your mind,” she offers.

“That mind gets us all in trouble,” Travis says. “I’ve been banned from any magic show in the Greater Toronto Area because of a special surprise she planned last year. Not to mention her latest scheme at convincing two people to be the objects of her next novel.”

Hmm… I like that they’re finally talking, though I’m not entirely impressed with the direction this conversation is taking.

“I think it’s kind of romantic,” she says, shrugging, and I see the blush rise further up her neck.

“So Sara, what
do
you like to do in your spare time?” Travis asks, leaning forward.

Over drinks they discuss things that they each like to do, and surprisingly they actually have a lot in common. And I say surprisingly only because it’s shocking how everything Travis says he likes, miraculously Sara likes the
exact same thing
. Travis says he likes hockey, and apparently it’s Sara’s favourite thing in the whole world; though she seems to gloss over any questions about specifics− which makes me think she knows exactly zero about anything to do with hockey.

He spends ten minutes telling her his thoughts on the latest NHL trades and it takes all my willpower not to let my eyes glaze over.

“Travis, I’m sure Sara doesn’t want to talk about the NHL trades,” I finally interrupt, shooting Sara an apologetic smile.

Travis turns to me with a tight smile. “Why don’t we let Sara decide that?”

“I don’t mind,” she volunteers, but I brush it aside.

I’ve always been a firm believer in starting as you mean to go on, and I honestly doubt that she wants to discuss this for the rest of her life.

“Okay, well, I don’t want to
write
about the NHL trades,” I say, offering him a tight smile in return.

He blinks at me before turning back to Sara.

“How about we order some more drinks?” Travis suggests.

I sit up straighter and fidget with my napkin. Travis has never ignored me before. I know it sounds stupid, obviously I expected him to give his attention to his date, but sitting here I feel a little angry at Travis for trying to shut me out.

Which is stupid. And childish.

But it still hurts.

The two of them place their dinner order and I hum and haw over what to get. Jacob and Co. is famous for its steaks, but I’m not sure if I’m in the mood for red meat.

“The sides are served family style,” the waiter volunteers to me.

I purse my lips and turn to Sara and Travis, who are talking about the completion date of the building that they are working on.

“What sides did you order?” I ask.

“Why?” Travis asks.

“Well, there is no sense in us all getting the same thing,” I shrug, looking back at the menu. “The scallop potatoes sound good.”

“I don’t think you are allowed to share with other tables,” Travis looks like he is losing his patience and turns his head back to Sara.

“Did they order scallop potatoes?” I whisper to the waiter. He looks uncomfortable but nods. “I’ll just take the 6 ounce steak then please.”

He takes my menu, and I turn my attention back to the two love birds.

Sara’s currently in stiches over a joke he just told her about snowmen.

“And then he says: do you smell carrots?”

“Oh, god. That’s so funny!” she says, grabbing her side.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a funny joke. Of course, it was funnier the first time he told me two months ago.

I mean, obviously he is free to tell the joke to whoever he would like.

But that was
my
joke.

“Excuse me sir, I’m here to make your tableside Caesar salad.”

“Oh, I was hoping you ordered that!” I say, leaning forward to look at the cart with all the ingredients.

Sara smiles at Travis as though they are sharing a secret joke, and I have a sneaking suspicion the joke might have something to do with me.

Sara and I might not get along after all.

The waiter starts by grinding up the ingredients for the salad dressing, adding liberal amounts of garlic and hot sauce. It’s actually quite mesmerizing to see him making it, and I find myself slipping into a daze with the rhythmic strokes of the grinder and his low voice explaining each step.

He adds the lettuce, croutons and fresh bacon bits and at last serves the salad to Travis and Sara.

I let out a small sigh and bite my lip looking at the bowls. It looks beyond yummy.

“Would you like some?” I hear Travis ask and I look up to see the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. It’s the first time since Sara has arrived that he actually looks semi happy that I am here.

“I don’t want to intrude…” I hedge.

Travis rolls his eyes and puts his entire salad bowl in front of me.

Oh my God, it tastes like heaven. It’s a little spicy from the garlic and hot sauce, which of course makes me think that it might be a good idea Travis didn’t have any.

“It’s really good. Would you like to try some of mine?” Sara asks Travis, gazing at him from under her lashes.

“You won’t like it,” I tell him while continuing to devour my bowl. “It’s pretty spicy.”

“You don’t like spice?” Sara asks, putting down her fork.

“Not particularly,” Travis shrugs and I can’t help the laugh that escapes.

“He has to down a glass of water if something has pepper in it,” I say, finishing my last bite. If it was socially acceptable I would lick the bowl.

“I’m sensitive to spices too,” Sara says, pushing her bowl away slightly. I look to Travis, who is trying to hide a frown on his face. Didn’t she just say the salad was really good?