SAVANNAH
The River Café was a restaurant under the Brooklyn Bridge. Its riverside location exhibited the gorgeous New York City skyline views. They offered classic American cuisine and various outstanding wine lists on the menu. The place was one of my favorite spots where Edward bent on his knee and proposed. Everywhere I went, the ghost of my past followed me.
Live piano music was playing when we entered the elegant fine dining room. Daniel, the maître d’, greeted him with a firm handshake and a good evening. Rafael answered him warmly.
“Have you been here before?” I asked.
“Yes, once.”
The head waiter greeted me politely and then led us to the back of the side, where he provided us with his best and most romantic table for two by the window. It took Edward two months to get a table at this place, but Rafael could enter here without one.
Daniel asked me if I would like a bottle of their vintage red wine. Rafael answered he would be delighted with whatever he would offer. I thanked the head waiter profusely. He grinned and swiftly withdrew.
“How about you? Have you dined here?”
“Yes.”
“With Reed?”
“Yes, and my brother, on special occasions.”
“Your brother—what did he say about your divorce?”
“Michael supported me with everything, so he always supported my decision. He’s not only my brother; he’s practically my only parent.”
“You’re lucky.”
I looked at the view and rested my chin on my palm. “Indeed. But I’m still embarrassed. I haven’t done anything for him, yet his only sister is already a divorcee at age twenty-nine.” I pouted.
“You’re still young. When did you get married?”
“Five years ago. He broke up with me on our anniversary. How dare he? Edward was my boyfriend from high school.” My eyes darted back to Rafael’s curious look. “Do you think I’m still young? Edward said I’ve neglected myself. My traitor friend said I looked exhausted.”
“Did he say that?” He scowled. “Forgive me, Savannah, but your ex-husband is an asshole. You’re beautiful. He would be an idiot if he didn’t see that.”
Blood rapidly rushed to my face, and my cheeks grew warm. My heart leaped, and I wasn’t able to speak right away. “H-How old are you?”
“I’m thirty-six.”
He was the same age as Michael and still hasn’t settled down.
Daniel returned just then and presented a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. I smiled as he uncorked the bottle and poured a little into my glass.
I swirled the wine in my glass deftly, then I brought the glass to my nose, closed my eyes, and sniffed. I placed the glass lightly on my lip and tasted the wine, holding it in my mouth for a moment to relish its taste before swallowing.
God, it was heavenly. That was the only word I could think to describe it.
“Thank you,” I said to Daniel, grinning.
The maître d’ smiled, then enthusiastically filled both of our glasses.
“I didn’t know wine could be taken like that,” Rafael commented, with a curve on one side of his lips.
“What?”
“Never mind.” He dragged his gaze away from me and looked at the menu, still smiling. “Order whatever you like.”
“I don’t know what to choose.”
“I can order for you if you prefer.”
I nodded and closed the menu.
Rafael ordered our meals. He requested caviar service for the appetizer and steak for the main course. I gained the courage to choose dessert when Daniel asked me. I decided on a coffee soufflé.
The mood was so light and welcoming that I was pleased to be with Rafael. For a moment, the images of Edward on his knees in this very restaurant were only part of a distant memory. Was it perhaps I was beginning to open myself to more possibilities? I didn’t have to be right now or while my heart still needed to heal; it wasn’t specifically Rafael. The man seemed to be the type that avoided commitments. However, he was the man in front of me at the moment.
“Hey, have you had a girlfriend?”
He gave me a passive look. “Where did that question come from?”
“Well, you said don’t do relationships.”
“Is having a girlfriend, a wife, or a friend a requirement in living a life?”
I gaped at him, surprised at his over-the-top reaction. “I’m sorry. I’m just... curious.”
“Yes, I had a girlfriend. Once. But that’s a long time ago.”
“And now you’re just sleeping around, but don’t commit?”
He exhaled, then gritted through his teeth and moved closer. “If you’re curious about how I fuck, you can just ask without procrastinating.”
I pressed my lips into a thin line. His blunt declaration had me squirming in my seat and my head feeling light. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound offensive, and that’s not exactly what I meant.”
His eyes glimmered. “You’re curious about those things, yet you’re blushing. Are you sure you’re married?”
I touched my cheeks. “I told you that’s not it,” I whispered.
The servers delivered our dinner. I already felt full just by looking at them. They served Caspian golden ostera, Acipenser baeri, scallops, potato galette, and caviar canapes. For the main course, I had Niman ranched strip steak with béarnaise sauce, and finally, the coffee soufflé for my relish.
I began focusing on my dinner, trying to ignore Rafael’s perfect features at the side of my eyes. He ate his steak silently and gracefully. I wasn’t used to awkward atmospheres, so I started another conversation.
“So... Wesley has a sister, Riley. She’s also been my best friend since middle school. She owns a restaurant that serves good food like this.”
“Then take me there next time.”
Next time? Would there be a next time? “You don’t mind hanging out with a married woman?” I ate a piece of my scallop dipped in its sweet and savory syrup.
“I usually mind.”
He probably didn’t want complications. He was still a well-known man, after all. “Ah. I’m an exception. What are we friends now?”
“Is this what friends usually do?”
“I think so.” I blinked, wondering if he was serious about not having any relationship. “You can’t possibly have zero friends to say that.”
“If siblings count, I have three.” Rafael pierced a piece of his steak and ate it without breaking eye contact.
“Siblings can be your friends, but...” Was that counted? Could Wesley and Riley see each other as friends? I didn’t think so. There were times they fought like cat and mouse. This man could get more mysterious by the second. I laughed because I couldn’t help it. “You, mister, are missing a lot in life.”
He smirked. “So I’ve been told.”
“Look around you.” I spread my arms. “Everyone has friends. They are someone you can rely on, someone who will be there for you in the hard times. They are people who will be with you without expecting anything in return.”
“I still can’t grasp its significance. I usually rely on myself alone.”
“That doesn’t bother you?” Because I would be.
“Why would it?” he asked innocently. “I have Billy for that.”
“Billy?”
“My executive assistant.”
I grunted inwardly. “A friend is different. You can be open and honest with them. Can you even tell Billy your deepest darkest secret?”
“Is that how you define friendship? Who shares their darkest secret with anyone?”
“I did,” I told Riley and Edward about it, and the burden of carrying it with someone had given me the courage and freedom to become self-aware and true to myself.
“That’s unwise. They can use it against you when you’re not friends anymore.”
“I suppose they can, but they’re not real friends then. Having friends don’t usually have qualifications. It just happened. For example, didn’t we meet in unexpected situations and constantly run into each other?”
“I ran into you once.”
“Twice. And we will run into each other often because I work for your brother now.” I still couldn’t believe I was having dinner with the owner. I lifted my glass and then drank my wine.
But befriending Rafael wasn’t a good idea. He was hands down the sexiest man I’d ever met. No person in their right mind would lust after a friend. I would constantly try to stop myself from falling so hard.
Rafael laughed softly, and the delicious sound hit my belly. See? Not a very good idea.
“Well, I haven’t met anyone like you, Savannah. You speak your mind, and you’re not afraid of it.”
“As long as I don’t hurt anyone’s feelings, yes. You have to be open to building trust. Building trust is important in making friends, too.” I continued to eat my food because it was becoming more flavorful now.
“Which you and your ex-husband failed to build.”
“Don’t put it like that. I trusted him, but he cheated on me with a friend,” I defended.
Rafael’s eyes narrowed. “With Allen’s sister?”
“No. There’s another one. Edward actually brought her to the party. They have no shame.”
I hated to think that it was my fault. It was no one’s fault if their spouses cheated on them. Cheating was a choice. As Rafael said, Edward was an asshole. And Sofia was a bitch. That was the truth of it. I couldn’t believe they actually suited each other.
My heart began to feel cloudy again. I was ready to accept that Edward and I were separating, but I wouldn’t forget Sofia’s expression while he caressed her face and held her in his arms as he once did with me. What was she thinking? She was beautiful, single, and successful. She could have any man in the world, but she coveted a friend’s husband.
“How about you?” Rafael asked nonchalantly.
“What about me?” I frowned, but then I gasped in horror. “Hell no. I never cheated. I’m proud to say that.” But I didn’t want to enter another relationship until my heart became whole again. It was unfair to the new guy.
By the end of the evening, I said goodbye to the maitre d’ as we checked out. I thanked him for the delicious dinner, and he gave me a small gift nestled in a fancy paper bag. Rafael carried it for me, and we headed to his Rolls Royce.
When we arrived at Michael’s house, Rafael obligingly opened my door, held it out for me, and took my hand as I stepped down.
“Thank you, Rafael. It was a nice evening despite the drama. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“You’re welcome.” He handed me the paper bag. “And it’s Rafe.”
“What?”
“That is what my family calls me.”
Rafe... Shorter but more personal. I liked it. “Then just call me Savi. I hope we don’t feel awkward when we bump into each other in the office.”
“I don’t talk to employees in hallways.”
I laughed. “Of course not. So, I’m going in. Michael is probably waiting. But hey...”
“Yes?”
“This is how you make friends.” I gave him a sweet smile. “Good night, Rafe.”
“Good night.”
And with that, Rafael slid into the car and drove away, leaving me breathless and thinking about dreaming of him tonight.