Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“You look perfect,” Frank assures her, his blue eyes roving hungrily over her curves. “You’re the most beautiful woman here.”
Our girlfriend giggles, a flush going down her décolletage and I wonder if we can speed this dinner up in order to spirit her home sooner rather than later. Fortunately, we’re seated right away and a young man wearing a black suit hurries over with a carafe of water.
“Can I start you off with drinks?” he asks politely.
April merely shakes her head.
“Not tonight, thanks,” she says with a blush. Frank and I shoot her a strange glance, but let it go. After all, our girl is moderate in her approach to alcohol, and as a result, she doesn’t always imbibe. Of course, that doesn’t stop us from ordering cocktails.
After the waiter departs, our woman flips open the menu eagerly.
“What’s good here?” she asks. “OMG, I’m so hungry.”
I laugh. “We love your hearty appetite, sweetheart, and the steak here is phenomenal. Especially if it’s paired with caramelized onions, mashed potatoes, and broccoli.”
“Eew, broccoli?” she asks with a playful pout.
“Especially with the broccoli,” Frank adds. “Your taste buds will explode, sweetheart. Just give it a try.”
It’s settled then.
“Then that’s what I’ll do,” she decides, closing her menu.
Sure enough, when the waiter comes, April puts in an order for steak with double broccoli, shooting us a naughty glance. Then she looks around with a happy sigh. The dining room is elegant with white tablecloths, flickering candles, and tendrils of ivy trailing from the ceiling. The low hum of Sinatra greets our ears and we’ve got the best seat in the house. It’s in the back, where we can see the other diners, and yet also removed a bit, so that they can’t see us.
“This is wonderful,” our girlfriend breathes. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“Of course, sweetheart,” I growl. “But tell me: what makes you happy? Fancy restaurants? Expensive purses? Designer dogs?”
She giggles.
“You guys know me better than that, and it’s no to all three options because I’m not a snobby type of girl. No, I think I just want the regular things like marriage and a family. I definitely want kids,” she says quickly, her cheeks blushing. Plus, is it my imagination, or do her hands go down to curve over her belly? Hmm, that’s strange. But April turns the tables on us then. “How about you guys? Do you see yourself as family men one day?”
I nod.
“Yeah, definitely. It might be a while before it happens, but we’ve always wanted kids. It’s just that we want to make sure that everything works first. After all, marriage is more complicated when you have a lifestyle like ours.”
April frowns, but it disappears in an instant, replaced by a bright smile. “How would that work, actually? Isn’t bigamy a crime?”
I nod.
“It is, so the woman we choose would only be able to get married to one of us, legally. But really, it’s the relationship that counts. The three of us would be married in our hearts and minds, even if the certificate only has two names on it.”
Our woman smiles beatifically while letting out a happy sigh.
“Oh, I totally agree. It’s the feeling that’s most important, and not what the State of New Jersey says. OMG, you can’t let the government control something like this. Of course, there are benefits to being legally married, but I completely agree. It’s your partners who matter, and not what the law says.”
I nod with approval because I knew our sweet girl would understand. In fact, Frank and I have been talking privately among ourselves about taking this relationship to the next level, but we don’t want to jump the gun before April’s ready. After all, she’s young and potentially very skittish.
At that moment, our food arrives and our girlfriend inhales deeply with anticipation.
“Mmm,” she moans. “This is going to be so good.”
“It is,” growls Frank. “Dig in, sweetheart.”
April devours her steak, only stopping to take a quick sip of water. She catches our eyes and then blushes.
“OMG, I ate like a starving bear coming out of hibernation,” she stammers. “Sorry about that.”
“No, don’t be sorry,” Frank begins.
“Because we love seeing a woman who eats,” I elucidate. “We’re glad you’re not like those girls who order a salad and then only chew on a piece of lettuce.”
April smiles happily.
“Oh, that will never be me. I love food too much! And I’m even looking to start my own ice cream parlor, so you can tell that I adore food in all its forms.”
I nod.
“Why not? Eating is one of the joys of life.”
April bobs her head happily.
“Exactly. And this place is amazing, so you were right. The steak is cooked to perfection, and it’s so tender that it melts in my mouth like butter.”
I grin. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it, honey.”