Almost as soon as Olivia and I sat down in the restaurant, an adorable pout surfaced on her perfect lips. I\u2019d never seen her pout like a spoiled rich kid before, but seeing her do it now was unbearably cute.<\/p>\n
I chuckled at her, which caused the pout to deepen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe this.\u201d She muttered. \u201cI don\u2019t know why I couldn\u2019t have just cooked something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe your dad is just giving you a day off from the cooking duties?\u201d I suggested, lifting my shoulders lightly.<\/p>\n
Olivia shook her head. \u201cI doubt it.\u201d She shifted her hair over her shoulder. \u201cI think that if my dad doesn\u2019t get here in fifteen minutes we should leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t do that, Liv. Your dad is like a celebrity around here.\u201d When we walked in, the wait staff had been immediately rude and claimed that every table was full. The moment Olivia told them her father\u2019s name, we were taken to a reserved table near the back. It was obvious that her father must have been a big spender there. The waiter offered us drinks and claimed the cook could make us anything we wished regardless of whether or not it was on the menu.<\/p>\n
Olivia ordered a glass of water and I ordered a coke. It was as if the waiter was solely working our table. He brought us drinks before we could even finish the last sip of the ones we had.<\/p>\n
In an effort to distract Olivia, I decided to change the subject. \u201cSo,\u201d I leaned on the table. \u201cWhat is it about restaurants that you hate so much?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia drew in a deep breath. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I think I just much rather prefer to cook for myself, you know? I think I\u2019m just hugely resenting the fact that this is a steak house. Who know\u2019s what they do in that kitchen? Even if I order a salad they might accidentally put\u2026 cow brains in it or something\u2026\u201d She shuddered.<\/p>\n
\u201cCow brains, huh?\u201d I flipped open my menu, \u201cI think I saw that in here\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIsaac!\u201d She scolded in a hushed tone. \u201cStop it, you\u2019ll make me sick.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d I smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I might just stick to water tonight.\u201d She mused. \u201cI don\u2019t see a single thing on this menu that\u2019s vegetarian.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019ll make an exception.\u201d I offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure they will.\u201d She mused. \u201cI think my dad spends a small fortune here every day\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaking of a small fortune.\u201d Her father said, suddenly appearing next to Olivia. \u201cI\u2019m starving. Who\u2019s ready to order?\u201d He asked, pulling back his chair and sitting down.<\/p>\n
The waiter immediately arrived with a glass clinking with ice. He immediately placed it in front of Olivia\u2019s father, right beside his left hand. It looked like Scotch on the rocks.<\/p>\n
Olivia pursed her lips tightly and glanced at me.<\/p>\n
I looked away from her. My mouth was watering, and I could practically taste the alcohol from across the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I guess\u2026\u201d\u00a0 I replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you be having your usual, sir?\u201d The waiter asked with a stiff formality that he hadn\u2019t shown with us.<\/p>\n
Judge James nodded. \u201cYes, thank you William.\u201d He replied.<\/p>\n
The waiter turned to Olivia with a considerable amount of disinterest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have a Caesar salad.\u201d She said. \u201cBut please, please make sure there is no bacon on it. Please make sure it is prepared as far away from meat as possible, and please make sure that the person who makes it washes their hands if they\u2019ve touched any meat products\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I was having a hard time keeping a straight face. I found this hilarious at how picky she was\u00a0 being.<\/p>\n
When Olivia finally finished delivering her long list of demands, the waiter turned to me. I simply ordered a steak, well done. He shot me an appreciative glance.<\/p>\n
Once the waiter was out of ear shot, her father took a long sip of his scotch. \u201cHow was shopping. I see you\u2019ve found a suit?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded, glancing down at the uncomfortable suit I was wearing. I straightened my tie out of habit and discomfort. Olivia had warned me this was a fancy restaurant, and she wasn\u2019t wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, and I found something too. I thought it was best if I looked presentable. Since I\u2019m giving a character testimonial too.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but you do realize that your testimony won\u2019t be as heavily weighted upon as his, right?\u201d Her father mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d Olivia nodded.<\/p>\n
I swallowed roughly and reached for my glass of coke. My hands were starting to sweat at the thought of sitting in court on the witness stand and testifying against a police officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you prepared for your testimony?\u201d Olivia\u2019s father asked me.<\/p>\n
I could smell the scotch on his breath and the tangy scent of alcohol. My mouth was instantly watering again. This was the closest I\u2019d been to someone drinking near me, and the pull of it was dragging me in.<\/p>\n
I knew I had a problem with alcohol. There was no denying it. But I wondered if I could resist it with everything else going on at that moment. My stomach was screaming at me, my skin was on fire, and my brain was calculating ways of stealing even just a sip of Judge James\u2019 drink. But I knew I couldn\u2019t stop at just one sip.<\/p>\n
I nodded. I couldn\u2019t even remember the question any more. \u201cExcuse me.\u201d I pushed back my chair and stood up from the table, politely leaving the area. I found my way to the bathrooms and slipped inside the men\u2019s room door.<\/p>\n
I studied my reflection in the mirror, expecting to see something different\u2014some kind of monster staring back at me\u2014but it was just me in the mirror.<\/p>\n
I sighed and splashed some cold water on my face. I dried my face with a towel. This restaurant was fancy enough that instead of paper towels, it had actual fluffy white towels and a laundry bin to dispose of them in.<\/p>\n
I raked my hands through my hair and stole another glance at my reflection. I loosened my tie and the top button on my white dress shirt, trying to bring some extra air into my lungs. I was suffocating on the desire for a drink.<\/p>\n
I paced the washroom for a few minutes. When I decided I just needed to man up and get on with it, I exited the washroom. Olivia was standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsaac?\u201d She asked gently. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
I drew in a deep breath and nodded. \u201cYeah, fine. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou kind of left quickly\u2026 I thought something might be wrong. Are you worried about Friday?\u201d She asked. She took a step toward me and with both hands began adjusting my tie.<\/p>\n
I sighed, and quickly kissed her.<\/p>\n
She frowned in response, her pretty green eyes seeing right through me.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, Liv. It\u2019s not nerves\u2026 well, not entirely\u2026 I\u2019m just\u2026\u201d I sighed. \u201cI\u2019m really, really craving a drink right now. It\u2019s harder when someone around me is drinking and I can\u2019t\u2026 It\u2019s killing me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia nodded. \u201cAnd my dad ordered alcohol\u2026\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
I sighed again, placing my hands on her sides. I hoped she couldn\u2019t feel my hands shaking. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, though. It\u2019s something I have to get over. People are going to be drinking around me all the time and I have to get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia shook her head, laying her cool hand on my cheek. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t have to be tonight, Isaac\u2026 do you want to switch seats?\u201d She offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a little obvious, isn\u2019t it? Your dad is a smart guy, he\u2019ll see right through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can go out there before you do and mention it to him. I can suggest he order something else\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cLiv, I can\u2019t do that. He\u2019s done a lot for me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia pursed her lips. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to stay long. We have something to do tonight after this, so as soon as we\u2019re done eating, we can make an excuse and leave early. Just eat quickly, okay? And if you need to, you can hold my hand.\u201d She offered with a small smile.<\/p>\n
I sighed. \u201cThanks, Liv.\u201d<\/p>\n