“Yeah, well.”
Jack dragged the ladder over to where he needed it. When he had himself situated again, he asked, “I take it dinner was a success. Did she like the restaurant?”
“Yeah, she did.” He might as well admit the rest. “And wouldn’t you know it? Of all the bazillion restaurants in the Greater Seattle area, I had to pick the one that her parents consider to be ‘their place.’ Seems that’s where her father proposed to her mom, and they still have a special table there.”
He didn’t mind his brother laughing. Much.
“So on your first date, you actually ate dinner at her parents’ special table? I’m not sure if that’s romantic or kind of creepy.”
Tino would vote for creepy. “The maître d’ actually gave us a nice table in a completely different room right next to the window looking out over the Sound. The view was great and the food even better.”
“How about the movie? Did you tell her you hate subtitles?”
“We ended up going for a walk along the waterfront instead, and then I took her home.” There, that should be enough detail to make Jack happy. It would have to be. No way he’d mention the kiss.
“Did you ask her out for a second date?”
“No, but I told her I’d be back to help at the center tomorrow. She seemed really pleased about that.”
He refilled his paint pan. “Now can we change the subject? This conversation feels a little too gossipy teenage girl for my comfort.”
“Fine, be that way.” Jack pulled out his phone and started texting. “I promised Mikhail that I’d keep him up to date on things and wanted to make sure I had all the juicy details before I texted him.”
Tino held up one finger. “Text him this from me.”
Jack snapped a picture. “Done!”
A few seconds later, Jack’s phone pinged. He started laughing as soon as he read their brother’s response. “He says right back at you and wants to know if you’re going to call her dad to see what other special places you should take her.”
The phone pinged again. “Better yet, he thinks you should see if her folks want to go on a double date. I think that’s a great idea. Maybe you and her dad could wear matching outfits or something.”
God, there was no winning with those two. Knowing any kind of response at all would only encourage them, Tino kept painting, which only made Jack laugh harder. At least the idiot was back to swinging that paintbrush.
By the time they were finished, every bone in Tino’s body ached, but at least they’d crossed the finish line. He’d go home, grab some dinner, and crash early.
When they were both in the truck, Tino leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “Thanks again for staying late. Tell Caitlyn I’m sorry if I screwed up any plans you may have had for tonight.”
“Actually, she called while I was inside. We decided to go to the movie tomorrow night instead. Ricky somehow convinced her that he was suffering from severe pizza withdrawal, so I’m meeting them at the restaurant. Mom is picking them up, so they can ride back home with me. I can either drop you off at the annex on my way, or you can come with us and ride home with Mom. Your choice.”
Tino opened his eyes just a slit. “Who’s buying?”
Not that he didn’t trust his brother or anything. Jack laughed again. “How about you and I split the tab fifty-fifty?”
Maybe it was time for a counteroffer. “Sixty-forty, with the sixty being my part if you promise to quit feeding Mikhail information about my love life.”
“Sorry, bro, no can do. I can’t leave our baby brother out of the loop like that. It wouldn’t be fair. Besides, he’d sulk.”
“Like I said, gossipy teenage girls.” He sat up straighter. “But that makes dinner your treat, including the beer.”
“Fine, but the first round only. That’s my best offer.”
“It’s a deal.”
They’d reached the pizza restaurant they all liked best. Jack parked the truck but made no move to get out. What now? Tino waited patiently for the man to have his say. It didn’t take long.
“I don’t know where this is going between you and Natalie, but it’s nice to see you really interested in something again.”
Before Tino could think of a response, Jack was out of the truck and heading for the restaurant door.
