Page 136 of Embriagado
SANTIAGO
For the next few weeks, Ariyan took me out to eat after every fight.
He always insisted on paying, rarely spoke, and only ever ordered a cup of green tea, which he never even touched. Yet, his company, just like tonight, was more than enough.
“Do you even like tea?” I asked, mouth full of meat.
Tonight, we went to a steak house I’d always wanted to try. It even had a dress code, which was a nice excuse for me to stare at Ariyan’s sexy suit.
“Don’t speak with—”
“Your mouth full,” I mimicked him. “Yeah, yeah. Now, answer my question.”
He huffed, looking full of disdain, before he leaned back in his chair.
“No, I do not.”
“So why always order it?”
“Because I feel like it.”
What an odd reason.
“Don’t you feel like ordering something you’ll actually enjoy? I dunno, like coffee?”
“Caffeine is bad for you.”
“Coke?”
“Too many calories.”
“There’s diet.”
“No, thank you.”
“Beer, then—”
“Don’t even get me started on alcohol.”
I placed my fork down and raised both hands. “I give up.”
Not finding me amusing, Ariyan’s expression remained unfazed as his lips set in a hard line.
Already used to it by now, I just went back to eating my T-bone.
“Your shirt is hideous, by the way,” he said.
Still chewing, I glanced down at my clothes. “Is it?” My brows creased as I eyed the denim button-up shirt. “I bought it when I was eighteen. It’s the best shirt I have—”
“Well, it’s hideous,” he hissed without looking at me.
“Sorry…”
“Not to mention, it’s two sizes too small.”
He had a point.
“Why don’t you use some of the money you’ve made to buy proper clothes?”
