Free Edible Delectables by Amy Wiseman Page A

worked out anyway.”  He shook his head, seemingly to clear the negative thoughts from the air.
    "So was she your first?" Kara asked boldly, taking a rather large drink of her margarita.  She couldn't bring herself to look at him with her question.
    He coughed, choking on his drink slightly, causing her to look up.
    "Love, I mean!" Kara elaborated rather loudly, completely embarrassed.
    Still coughing, Jason grabbed his napkin and wiped his mouth and then began to laugh.  "She was," he admitted.  "Both," he added with a wry grin.
    Kara shook her head, covering her face with her hands as they both laughed at where their conversation had taken them.
    "What about you?" Jason asked.
    "First love?"  Kara questioned, quirking her eyebrow. Jason nodded.
    "First year of college, Mason Winters," Kara answered, as Jason's head snapped up in recognition.  Kara looked at him questioningly, "Did you know him?"
    "Yeah," Jason replied. A look crossed his face which Kara had trouble discerning; surprise, maybe?  She felt a little uncomfortable.
    "Sorry," he said quickly, waving his hands, "I guess I'm a little surprised, he was ..." Jason searched for the right word, finally settling on, "popular."
    Kara burst out laughing, "He was.  I was actually surprised he had any interest in me, but everyone kept saying college was different; people who didn't talk to you in high school would suddenly be your best friend, et cetera.  So, I went with it.  I was,” she paused searching for the right description of herself, “quiet - in high school.  In college I wanted to be different. He liked me, and I thought, why not?"
    A silence settled over them.
    "So something you said is bothering me a little."  Kara looked at him questioningly, her head tilted as she tried to subtly prod Jason, without words, to continue telling her what was bothering him when he didn’t continue.  After a moment, and a rather large gulp of his drink, he looked up and spoke, "You said you were surprised he wanted you.  Why where you surprised?" he asked, honestly curious. 
    "Well,” she hesitated, “I was a wallflower, and shy, not to mention a pretty ordinary looking kid.  I guess I just thought he was out of my league?" She finished, her answer sounding more like a question.
    "You're kidding right?"
    "I was eighteen!” Kara leaned forward more intently, “I mean, I know now that all my self-depreciation was crap, but, back then ..." she shrugged, then leaned back in her chair.
    Jason sighed and nodded in agreement, "Yes, school was hard," he relented.
    "It was.” Kara picked up her glass and leaned toward him once again, holding her hand out in a toast. Jason mimicked the motion and tapped his glass to hers, "To growing up,” she finished quietly.
    "And reconnecting," Jason added with a wink.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    Dinner was everything Kara had hoped it would be; Beau Lac was amazing, the food was exquisite, and she even stopped worrying about the cost of their meal.  Being on a date with Jason was surreal, unlike any date she had ever been on.  He was a complete gentleman – opening doors, pulling out her chair and ordering their drinks and food, of course after making sure to ask her what she wanted.  He even offered to share his entrée with her, and Kara agreed, offering him some of hers in return.  Both dishes were mouthwatering, but when it came time for dessert and the waiter offered to show them the dessert tray, Kara declined, stating she couldn't eat another bite.  The truth was she had made a raspberry trifle and was hoping to invite Jason up to her apartment after he took her home, to share it with him.
    After paying for dinner, Jason asked Kara if she would be up for listening to some music.  There was a bluesy jazz band playing at one of his favorite bars, Elliot's, and he was hoping she'd be willing to spend more time with him, and she eagerly agreed.
    Elliot's was a small bar; some might consider it a dive,