Rusty bit into the white, puffy pastry-like thing. He expected sweet fruit inside, but instead it was a savory meat. It was the latest plate on their table. Every few minutes, carts with small plates would come by and they would pick one or two.
“Do you like?” Laura asked. She had just finished one off.
“I think so. It’s different.”
She sipped her rose wine. “I love the variety. And no matter how many times you come here, there’s always something new to try.”
“That I believe.” He glanced around the table at all the plates. There were several he hadn’t even tried yet.
A woman in a traditional red Cantonese dress stopped at their table and held a glass of champagne. She turned to Rusty. “Are you sure you don’t want something to drink with that?”
He held up his glass of grape juice. “This is all I need.”
She raised the bottle. “But this tastes so good with that.” She looked down to the rice and vegetable dish on his plate.
“Maybe later.”
“Okay, then.” She walked off.
“Now you’ve done it,” Laura said.
“What do you mean?” Rusty asked.
“You told her later. I guarantee she’ll be back.”
“We’ll see.” He sipped on his juice. Part of him wanted to accept the drink. More than part of him, if he was being honest with himself. He didn’t want to admit to her that he was a recovering alcoholic—and that scared him. It meant he cared about what she thought. That he was dangerously close to opening himself up to another person again.
Laura stopped a young man pushing a cart. She pointed to something near the middle. “We’ll take that.”
Rusty slid a hand down to his lap and felt his sobriety coin in his pocket. He traced the shape over his jeans and remembered the struggles he’d endured to earn the chip. He didn’t want to start over. Go back to day one. He’d come so far. Years without a drink. He hadn’t even craved one in such a long time. It had become easy.
Now, not so much. In fact, he might be wise to find a local meeting to keep his focus.
The lady in red returned. She smiled sweetly and held the champagne bottle up.
Rusty pressed his palm against the coin and shook his head. She held it higher, smiling wider. He shook his head and picked up his fork. Something pink was now on his plate. Laura must have slipped it there.
“You’ll love that. I could eat those all day long, but they rarely prepare them.”
He cut it and took a bite. Whatever it was, the sweetness melted in his mouth.
“Good, huh?” Laura asked.
Rusty nodded, his mouth too full of food to respond. He finished it off and took a bite of his rice.
A group of teen girls walked by, giggling. They stared as they walked by Rusty and Laura.
Laura rolled her eyes. “I feel like I’m back in junior high.”
“Maybe next time, we should eat somewhere else—far away.”
“I’m sold.”
The champagne lady walked by again and smiled at Rusty. His gaze lingered on the bottle. He almost said yes, but shook his head no. He would stay strong. He had to.
His gaze lingered to Laura. Her face was pinched, like she was in pain. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah… headache. I think I need to take something.”
“I’m sorry. Do you want to go back home after this?” Going anywhere else public was sounding less and less appealing, anyway.
Laura shook her head. “I’m glad to be out with you, and I’ll be fine. It’s just one of those things.” She dug into her purse, opened a tiny pill bottle, and dropped one into her palm.
Someone bumped into their table. Two women walked by, whispering to each other.
“Do you see them?” asked one. “Losers.”
“What do you expect? They’re associated with the Oates family.”
Rusty glared at them, but kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t worth it. He glanced back at Laura, who was drinking the last of her water. Hopefully she’d been too busy with her painkiller to notice the loudmouths.
How could Mandy have lived in this place? If people could talk so badly about her after her death, how rude had they been when she was alive? It almost made the suicide theory seem believable. Who would want to live in a community where people were so rude and condescending?
His chest tightened as he thought about what she’d gone through—without being able to talk with her parents or brother. Guilt hit him, this time like a punch to the gut.
The lady in red came by. She held up a different bottle. “White wine this time. Goes well with your rice.”
Rusty nodded.
“You’ll have some?”
“Please.”
“A wine man. One of good taste.”
Laura’s eyes widened. “I thought you didn’t drink.”
He took a deep breath and put his palms on the table. “Tonight I do.”
The server set a wine glass in front of him and filled it about three-quarters full. “Enjoy.”
Rusty flicked a nod. “I will.”
She walked away, smiling.
“It’s just one drink,” Rusty muttered under his breath. “Not a big deal. It won’t even give me a buzz.”
He picked up the glass and stared at the almost-clear drink. His pulse picked up speed and mixture of emotions ran through him—guilt, excitement, and the desire to escape the pain. He raised the glass. “To Mandy.”
Laura raised hers and arched a brow. “To Mandy.”
They clinked the glasses and Rusty brought his to his mouth. The smell tickled his nose and made his mouth water. He had a moment of doubt. Did he really want to do this? Break his sobriety?
He glanced around the room. Two couples sat kitty-corner from them, laughing loudly. One of the guys turned and glared at Rusty. The group burst into louder laughter.
Rusty filled his mouth with the sweet wine. It had a citrusy, slightly-floral taste. He closed his eyes for a moment and focused on the taste and the sensations of the alcohol. His heart raced, wanting more.
He swallowed it and took another large sip. It would take more than a couple sips to relax someone his size. He took another sip and then another. Before he knew it, the glass was empty. His heart sank.
That had gone too fast.
The server returned. “More white wine? You seemed to enjoy it.”
Rusty opened his mouth to speak.
“Maybe you should try one of these.” Laura held up a plate of spring rolls. “You know, since you don’t usually drink.”
He glanced back and forth between the two women. The server held up the bottle higher. Laura gave him a knowing look.
Rusty picked up the glass and held it toward the server. “Maybe just one more.”
Laura stopped a guy with a cart and asked for a plate with something that looked like dumplings.
The server poured Rusty more wine and headed to a different table.
“Try these,” Laura said. “They’re very filling.”
He sipped the wine. “I’m fine. It’s just two glasses. Not even enough to give me a buzz.” He leaned back against the chair, feeling himself relax.
She put one on his plate. Then a spring roll. “Eat up.”
Rusty set the glass down and picked up his fork and bit into a dumpling. It didn’t taste anything like a dumpling—it was extremely sweet, like a dessert.
“Good, huh?” she asked.
He nodded and took another bite. “Are we going to be able to eat all of this?” There were so many half-full plates covering the table.
She shrugged. “If not, leftovers are always delicious.”
“Of course.” He picked up the spring roll and took a bite. At least that tasted as it should. His stomach started to protest all the food, so he returned it to his plate and sipped the wine. It had never tasted better.
The lady in red came by again. “More?”
“Actually,” Laura said, “we’ll take the check now.”
“Oh? Are you sure?” She turned to Rusty.
“We are,” Laura replied.
The server stared at him, waiting for an answer.
Rusty moved the glass. The little bit of wine swirled around. It was barely two sips.
“We have someplace to be,” Laura said. “Can we get the check?”
“Sir?” asked the server.
He nodded. It was time to stop. He was only going to have one glass, but now he’d had two already. And then he needed to stay away from the stuff after this.
Laura smiled at him. “Do you want to split the leftovers?”
“You can take them. There’s plenty of food at Mandy’s.”
“I won’t be able to eat all this before it goes bad.”
He shrugged. “Maybe the kids will want some.”
“Perfect.” She stopped a guy with a cart and asked for some to-go boxes.
While they were divvying up the leftovers, the wine lady came by with the check. Rusty slid her a credit card without looking at the bill. She returned just as Laura was scooping the last of the food into a little white box.
Rusty signed the slip and handed it to the lady.
Laura looked up. “I can help with that.”
He shook his head. “I’ve got it.”
She gave him a funny look, but then a slow smile spread across her face. She was really gorgeous. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
Her smile widened even more. Rusty couldn’t help admiring it. Her. She was a beautiful person, inside and out. Not only was she being a friend to him, but she’d been one to Mandy.
“Do you just get used to it?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.
“What’s that?” She held his gaze.
“People.”
“Come again?” Her eyes softened, appearing inquisitive.
“The rudeness around here.”
“Ah, that.” She rested her chin against her palm. “I suppose I’m used to it. But then again, I’ve never been one who fit in very well to begin with.”
“Haven’t you? All the girls jealous of you?”
Pink crept into her cheeks and her stunning smile widened again. “Hardly.”
“I can’t see one reason anyone would have a problem with you. You’re smart, sophisticated, and dazzling.”
She laughed. “I’ve never had anyone describe me like that. Must be the wine talking.”
“All me. And why wouldn’t anyone think that?”
Laura tapped the table. “I’ve always dressed a little eccentric. Growing up, kids would accuse me of being a witch.”
“Eccentric? No, you have your own style, that’s all.”
She glanced around. “Though I’ve toned it down quite a bit, it doesn’t stop rude comments and stares.”
“Let me guess. You grew up around here, with all these fine people.” He swept his hands, gesturing around the room.
“Actually, no. I’m a move-in. People are just people.”
“Stupid, you mean.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Maybe.”
Rusty rose and walked around the table. He helped her out of her chair. “What do you say we get this food into a fridge?”
She let her palm linger on his. “Sounds like a plan.”
They gathered the boxes and managed to get to the car without even one person giving them a sideways glance. Rusty put the food in the trunk and then held open the passenger door for her.
“You okay to drive?”
“After two glasses of wine? On a full stomach. Definitely.”
“Just checking.”
“I wouldn’t put your safety on the line.” And the last thing he wanted to do was be another drunk driver and risk killing someone else’s family. He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the car. “Where to?”
“Somewhere without a lot of people.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, I don’t know of a lot places around here. I’d suggest the beach, but that’s bound to be packed.”
“There’s a park just outside of town. It’s usually pretty empty, and it has a nice view of the lake.”
“Perfect.” He put the car in reverse and brushed his arm against hers. Their gazes met and Laura flashed him her beautiful smile. He returned the grin and then pulled out of the spot. “Tell me where to go.”