Messy

I cringed at the sound of the bottle shattering and cursed again.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“It’s fine, It’s just a little wine I shouldn’t have startled you like that-“

“Let me clean that up.” A waiter said, a barely hidden grimace on his face. I could feel a lot of eyes on us and my cheeks turned bright red as I tried to wipe the mess on the table.

Carter’s hand slipped over mine again and gave me a reassuring squeeze. When I looked up, he was smiling. “Let me do it.” He said and collected the table cloth from my shaking hands.

“That was a disaster.” I muttered under my breath as the waiter left to get a broom.

“It’s not that bad, a disaster would be someone slipping and falli-“

A waiter chose that particular time to walk by and I guess he did not see the dark liquid on the ground with the dim lights because he slipped, hovering in the air for a split second before his body came down, and the lobster dish he held, rained down on him.

“Oh my God!” I gasped and bent down to help, removing the lobster tail that slipped inside his breast pocket as it fell. This was all my fault, I was turning the restaurant to a circus. “Are you okay?” What a stupid question to ask, the man had bisque in his hair, he was far from fine.

While it smelled wonderful, it would be a pain to wash out.

Carter helped him to his feet while I tried to get the mess and glass shards onto the tray. The waiter from earlier returned with the broom, a very tired expression on his face.

“We should leave, before we make anymore messes.” Carter stated as he pulled out his wallet and dropped a large wad of money. The waiters’ mouth rounded into an ‘O’ as they gaped at the money next to our meals. “That’s for our food and for the damages.” He said as he pulled me to my feet. “You both can split the rest as a tip. Come on, Myra.”

“Sorry about the mess, the food was great!” I called out as he tugged me away.

It was only when we got out that I took my first proper breath, my arms prickling in the cold air. Between thinking about canceling this date and Pierce visit I had forgotten about bringing a jacket. Carter still held on to my hand or I would’ve wrapped it around myself.

I bit my lip, remorse on my face. I had ruined our date because I couldn’t keep Pierce out of my head for a couple hours.

I started to apologize again when I heard it. Laughter. It started quietly like he didn’t want me to notice, but one look in my direction and he was full on laughing, his eyes twinkling with tears. He let out a sigh finally and wiped the corner of his eyes.

“I’m sorry, I’ve just never seen something go that wrong in a couple seconds. That’s a gift, goddess.”

He grinned at me, and the situation felt less bleak in my head. If he could laugh that way after dropping cash that could feed me for weeks then maybe it wasn’t so bad. He guided me through the parking lot, a wide grin still on his face.

I let out an awkward laugh. “I’m pretty sure if we didn’t leave the time we did, they would kick us out themselves.”

He chuckled, squeezing my hand. “That’s why we always have a contingency plan.”

“I don’t think I can do another fancy restaurant tonight.” I admitted.

“That’s fine by me. What do you wanna do?”

Go home and make sure my daughter was in the house.

“Order burgers and maybe eat them in your car?” I waited for him to refuse. To tell me I was mental for thinking he would let us eat a ten dollar messy smash burger in a 100k car. Especially after I had just caused that whole accident in the restaurant.

“That sounds like fun. I actually know a good burger place around here.”

“What? you’re not worried I’m gonna mess you car up?”

“If that’s what it takes, goddess. I need to make my sacrifices after all.” He winked at me and opened the door, waiting for me to step in before he went to his own side.

I sucked in air into my lungs and blew out, thinking about Yvette. Pierce was a evil bastard, yes but he wasn’t cruel enough to take her with him right?

He wouldn’t do that to me. So there was no use worrying about it and ruining what was supposed to be a good time.

Even after my pep talk, I spent the rest of the ride to the drive through and to a quiet parking lot staying silent- except when I was asked what I wanted in my burger- wondering who on earth I could call to check on the house. I could not make Hannah drive all the way out there to make sure he was gone, I didn’t know of my neighbors yet, nor did I have any of their numbers. Maybe I could call my landlord? Yeah that made sense.

“I don’t want to call you out or anything, but you’re spacing out again.” Carter said after a while.

I grinned sheepishly biting back the apology at the tip of my tongue. I had said enough ‘sorry’s for one day.

“I don’t mean to, I’m just worried.” I eyed my burger and my lap, wondering how I would manage the feat of not spilling a sauce covered lettuce or pickle from the pile.

“What are you worried about.” He asked, placing his blazer over my lap. “There, get as messy as you want.”

“I can’t-“

“You can and you will. Either that or the car, your choice.” He sucked sauce from his hand and leaned against the door. “This is a good burger by the way.” I sighed and took a small bite, humming in satisfaction as flavors exploded in my mouth. He wasn’t lying about the burger. “So, what are you worrying about?

H