Page 27 of The Meeting
They were seated at a table overlooking a courtyard behind the restaurant. It was one Kailynn had never noticed before. Green plants and an array of beautiful flowers, all in different colors, took up root in various planters around the courtyard.
“What’s good here?” she asked.
“You’ve never been here?”
“Not since I was a child. My mom used to always say that buying Italian food was a waste since it’s easy to make ourselves.”
He stared. “Are you serious?”
She nodded.
“Nope. We are going to rectify this right now.”
He signaled the waitress to come over and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and took their menus before disappearing.
“I just ordered us the most delicious meals in this restaurant. You are going to try both and then let me know what you think.”
As if on cue, the waitress came back with a bottle of red wine. She held it out for Chase to inspect. He nodded at her before she poured them both a glass and waited for each of them to taste it.
The wine went down Kailynn’s throat smoothly. It was hands down the best wine she had ever had. She nodded in approval and the waitress filled her glass half full before doing the same to Chase’s. She left the bottle on the table and disappeared again.
Chase smiled over at Kailynn. “First, we are starting with my favorite Italian wine. Or, rather, my favorite that this restaurant serves. Have you ever been to Italy?”
“No. I’ve never been out of the country, actually.”
He stared at her again. “How is that even possible?”
She shrugged. “We couldn’t afford to travel when I was growing up. My parents only made enough to provide the basics. It was a great life, don’t get me wrong. I was loved, and that’s all that mattered.”
“I get that.”
“So you’ve been to Italy?”
He took a small sip of his wine before nodding. “Yes, actually, my dad was an immigrant. We went back to Italy every year while I was growing up to see his family. He and my mom still go back yearly. I try to go when I get a chance. It’s been a few years since I’ve been back though.”
A wistful look crossed his face as he went silent, clearly lost in his memories.
Kailynn smiled as she watched him.
“You must really love it there,” she commented.
“It’s incredible. My grandparents own a vineyard, actually. We spent a lot of time in the summers helping to tend to the grapes. I learned a lot about wine at that time.”
“Do you get to try a lot of the wines?”
“Oh yes. And, not to brag or anything, but my family makes the best wine in all of Italy.”
“Whoa! That’s a huge statement to make,” she teased.
“But a true one.” He lifted his glass in the air before taking another sip.
“Do you plan to go back soon?”
“I was hoping to make it this year, but I’m not sure that’ll happen. I’m still playing it by ear. Starting the new practice here has me pretty busy. Plus, after everything that happened with my ex, I’m still financially recovering from it.”
Kailynn nodded. Although she and Drew weren’t married, the financial toll that it had taken on her to move out of her place with him and just rely on her own salary for bills was huge. She caught a break by living with Abi, but she knew what everything cost. And adding up the expenses in her head, it was going to be hard to make ends meet. Not to mention she would have to buy furniture since she had left everything with Drew. She would have to start from scratch, essentially.
Then she reminded herself that she would probably have more money if Drew hadn’t given it all away to other women. She scowled at the thought, cursing the fact that he had probably put her in that financial situation.
