“So,” Dan said, removing his specs and rubbing at one of his eyes, “we’ve earned ourselves that beer, right?”
“Definitely. And dinner. My treat for you being so talented.”
When he angled to look at me, I mirrored the movement. “I could definitely be up for a meal.”
“Great.” My gaze darted around his face before trying to ease off the staring. “Early, about six do you?”
“That’ll give me time to head to mine and get showered and changed.”
“Cool. Let’s pack away, and I’ll book a table somewhere.” While there weren’t that many choices in town, it was still a good idea to book on a Saturday night.
An errant thought of reaching out to Craig and inviting him hit me. The question hovered on my lips about whether Dan wanted to ask him to come along. I held back, which took more effort than it should have. It wouldn’t be the first time Dan and I headed out for a drink together. Dinner, though, was different, seemed more date-like.
Despite knowing it would be a shared meal between friends, as well as an extra thank-you from me, I liked the idea of it just being just the two of us too much to make the offer.
“Sounds good.”
* * *
By the timewe got to Blossom Garden, the night had fully drawn in, the streetlamps leading the way. I’d driven over to Dan’s, and we’d walked the couple of blocks into town to the Thai restaurant.
“I’ve never eaten here,” Dan said from my side. “How long ago did it open?”
“A little before I came back to town, so maybe ten years.”
I reached for the door and held it open, indicating for Dan to head on inside. He did so with a small uplift of his lips.
“Thanks.”
We stepped into the warm space.
The restaurant was dimly lit, atmospheric almost. My eyes widened in surprise. The place hadn’t been quite so romantic last time I’d come.
“Cosy.” The dip in Dan’s voice was enough to make me glance over. He playfully bounced his brows up and down, and ease settled in my chest.
“Low lighting helps the volume.” My lips twitched at my bullshit explanation. “Stops people from being too loud and taking pictures of their food for Instagram.”
Dan chuckled. “There go my plans for the night. I only came for the food presentation and photo ops.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond before the hostess appeared, asking if we’d booked. A moment later, we were settled around a small table on surprisingly comfortable chairs.
“Looks like they’ve refitted the place.” The room, despite being large, managed to feel warm and intimate with an array of planters and dividers spread across it.
“It’s been done out well.”
I smirked at Dan, knowing that he looked at the quality of the fit-out when usually out and about. It was the nature of his job, just like I couldn’t pass a bookstore without being drawn to the crisp or much-loved pages of a book.
“Let’s hope the food’s just as good as I remember and lives up to the new décor.”
Looking at the menu, I saw so much on offer, it would be a struggle to decide. There were all my favourites, plus a few I’d never tried before.
“This is too hard,” I grumbled.
“It all sounds amazing.”
I transferred my focus to Dan, whose focus was on me.
“Wanna share a few starters and a couple of mains?”
