sophisticated is beyond me, “… but Happy Birthday, again, darling.”
I take a dark, wicker seat by the low, glass wall over-looking the water and lush greenery, and Oliver sits next to me. I have birthday cards and a couple of gifts sitting in front of me and I feel a little embarrassed but so grateful to have wonderful friends like these, who treat me so specially.
My stomach rumbles as the waitress arrives at the table and hands us all a menu. No breakfast and lots of sex makes Clare a hungry, hungry girl. She takes our drinks orders and I look through the list of mouthwatering dishes to select my lunch.
“Do you think we should have a big lunch and a smaller snack later, before we go out?” Alexia asks.
“I was thinking exactly the same,” I respond and everyone else agrees, pleasing my poor, empty belly.
A short while later, having ordered and opened my cards and gifts, feeling very much the centre of attention - which is quite unnatural for me - our food arrives and I swear I dribble a little when my starter is placed in front of me.
I decided to try something new, and as I’ve never had it before, I went for ‘Chef Carlos’s Gumbo’ . It looks incredible, and the description - ‘House Smoked Andouille Sausage, Shrimp and Crawfish’ really made my mouth water. Of course I had to ask my table-mates what ‘Gumbo’ is - the only Gumbo I’ve ever known was the awkward, chubby boy we went to college with… and even that was a nickname, I think…
Oliver chose another dish I have never tried ; ‘chowder’. I’ve always been a little put off by the name; it sounds like a cross between something someone has regurgitated, and talcum powder. But it looks absolutely incredible too, and I kind of wish I could have had half portions of both!
“Hey, you’re drooling, stop looking at my food like that…” Oliver says with a smile as he nudges me with his elbow.
I giggle. “Sorry, it just looks so good, everything does. But yours looks lush.”
“Would you like to try a bit, darling?” Oliver asks. ‘Help yourself.” He sits back, allowing me room to lean in and try it.
“Thank you, yes please.” I take a small amount on my spoon. “Mmm! Wow, that’s yummy!”
“Shall we share? Because you know I want to try that Gumbo…”
“Ooh, yay! Yes please!” Thank you Olly!
We continue to eat, greedily, Daniel and Alexia giving us the odd questioning look as to why we’re eating like gannets, and Bea trying to hide a huge grin. I presume, from their reactions, that she hasn't yet told Daniel about what Oliver and I got up to last night, yet.
We have a nice, well timed break between courses, in which we talk about the plans for the rest of the day. As we always make birthdays quite special, the day tends to centre around whoever’s birthday it is. So, as I love the sunshine, after lunch we’ve decided to relax around one of the pools, catch some rays and have a swim, and then go in late afternoon to get ready and have a snack before this evening’s shenanigans.
Entrees arrive at the table and look just as delicious as the starters, although this time, mine looks so good that I don’t want to share with anyone. A petite 6oz filet mignon with a side of buttered baby french green beans. Luckily, I don’t have to share, because Oliver has the same, only his isn’t petite at 9oz, and he has a side of Country Club french fries instead. Mmm, I may have to steal one of those.
I have to say, although everyone’s food looks delicious, I don’t think I have a clue what anyone else ordered, my attention only seems to be on Oliver and I today… how rude. I must wake up out of this Oliver trance and get back to being wide awake, alert Clare.
It’s annoying how he affects me so much when we’ve had one of our ‘moments’; every time, I know nothing is going to go any further, but I seem to have a buzz about me because I’ve had his attention all on me for a little while, and that’s
I take a dark, wicker seat by the low, glass wall over-looking the water and lush greenery, and Oliver sits next to me. I have birthday cards and a couple of gifts sitting in front of me and I feel a little embarrassed but so grateful to have wonderful friends like these, who treat me so specially.
My stomach rumbles as the waitress arrives at the table and hands us all a menu. No breakfast and lots of sex makes Clare a hungry, hungry girl. She takes our drinks orders and I look through the list of mouthwatering dishes to select my lunch.
“Do you think we should have a big lunch and a smaller snack later, before we go out?” Alexia asks.
“I was thinking exactly the same,” I respond and everyone else agrees, pleasing my poor, empty belly.
A short while later, having ordered and opened my cards and gifts, feeling very much the centre of attention - which is quite unnatural for me - our food arrives and I swear I dribble a little when my starter is placed in front of me.
I decided to try something new, and as I’ve never had it before, I went for ‘Chef Carlos’s Gumbo’ . It looks incredible, and the description - ‘House Smoked Andouille Sausage, Shrimp and Crawfish’ really made my mouth water. Of course I had to ask my table-mates what ‘Gumbo’ is - the only Gumbo I’ve ever known was the awkward, chubby boy we went to college with… and even that was a nickname, I think…
Oliver chose another dish I have never tried ; ‘chowder’. I’ve always been a little put off by the name; it sounds like a cross between something someone has regurgitated, and talcum powder. But it looks absolutely incredible too, and I kind of wish I could have had half portions of both!
“Hey, you’re drooling, stop looking at my food like that…” Oliver says with a smile as he nudges me with his elbow.
I giggle. “Sorry, it just looks so good, everything does. But yours looks lush.”
“Would you like to try a bit, darling?” Oliver asks. ‘Help yourself.” He sits back, allowing me room to lean in and try it.
“Thank you, yes please.” I take a small amount on my spoon. “Mmm! Wow, that’s yummy!”
“Shall we share? Because you know I want to try that Gumbo…”
“Ooh, yay! Yes please!” Thank you Olly!
We continue to eat, greedily, Daniel and Alexia giving us the odd questioning look as to why we’re eating like gannets, and Bea trying to hide a huge grin. I presume, from their reactions, that she hasn't yet told Daniel about what Oliver and I got up to last night, yet.
We have a nice, well timed break between courses, in which we talk about the plans for the rest of the day. As we always make birthdays quite special, the day tends to centre around whoever’s birthday it is. So, as I love the sunshine, after lunch we’ve decided to relax around one of the pools, catch some rays and have a swim, and then go in late afternoon to get ready and have a snack before this evening’s shenanigans.
Entrees arrive at the table and look just as delicious as the starters, although this time, mine looks so good that I don’t want to share with anyone. A petite 6oz filet mignon with a side of buttered baby french green beans. Luckily, I don’t have to share, because Oliver has the same, only his isn’t petite at 9oz, and he has a side of Country Club french fries instead. Mmm, I may have to steal one of those.
I have to say, although everyone’s food looks delicious, I don’t think I have a clue what anyone else ordered, my attention only seems to be on Oliver and I today… how rude. I must wake up out of this Oliver trance and get back to being wide awake, alert Clare.
It’s annoying how he affects me so much when we’ve had one of our ‘moments’; every time, I know nothing is going to go any further, but I seem to have a buzz about me because I’ve had his attention all on me for a little while, and that’s
Similar Books
