Free Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) by Anna Davis Page B

finally sat down.
    He shrugged. "It comes with the money.
Where the money is, the people are. Once the
money is gone, so are they."
I nodded, "Sounds about right."
"What would you like for start out with,
Sir?" Raul asked.
Harper told him some ridiculous name.
French I guessed, maybe Italian?
"Aww, of course. Nothing but the best,"
Raul winked at me and left.
"What was that you told him?" I
questioned.
    "I just got us a very nice bottle of wine.
Have you ever been here before? Surely Oliver
would have taken you?" Harper questioned.
    "If he did I don't remember," I frowned.
"You know Oliver don't you? That's how I know
you. I met you through him?"
    "No, not exactly. I have associated with
him a long time ago. However, I have never had
the privilege of meeting you up close. I don't blame
Oliver though for wanting to covet such a jewel,"
Harper winked.
I felt my cheeks heat up. I looked down at
the silk tablecloth embarrassed.
    "So Everlyn, what happened with you and
Oliver anyways? I heard what your friend was
yelling about, but I would like to hear it from you."
"Oh...it's not really that interesting," I
muttered.
"Nonsense, I'd love to hear it," he smiled.
    "Ok...well, all I know it what I've been
told," I started unsure. Should I be telling him all
this?
Harper smiled reassuringly.
"Well Oliver was my teacher and I started
to like him but...he-"
"Is in a gang. I know," Harper smiled. I
stared at him a moment. How does he know that?
"Like I said I knew him a long time ago,"
he shrugged.
    "Here you are sir," Raul said coming up to
the table with two glasses and a black bottle. He
poured us a glass of the red liquid.
    "Have you decided what you would like to
eat?" he asked gesturing to the menus in front of
us. Blushing I realized I hadn't even opened mine
to look at it yet.
    "We'll have two of the specials, Raul,"
Harper smirked winking at me. I resisted the urge
to roll my eyes.
"Right away," Raul sauntered off and
Harper took a sip of the wine.
    Picking up my glass, I smelled it. It smelled
sweet. I took a sip. It didn't taste sweet. It was like
cough syrup.
"Like it?"
I nodded weakly but sat my glass down.
    "So where did we leave off? I believe you
said Oliver was in a gang and you fell in love with
him..."
    Taking a deep breath, I told him everything
Kimmy had told me since I woke up. I don't know
why. A part of me knew I shouldn't but it was nice
to talk to someone.
    "And, so I left. I told him I needed space.
But, Leon told me today that Oliver isn't doing too
well," I frowned picking at my meal. Raul had
brought it a while ago. It wasn't all that great. For
an expensive restaurant, the food or maybe this
meal wasn't what I thought it would be.
"But, Jason went to jail right?" Harper
questioned looking at me intensely.
I nodded. "Yes."
"Oliver seems to care about you a lot."
"Yeah, he does," I muttered. Blushing I
looked at Harper.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't be talking about him.
I mean we are on a date together."
He smiled, "I think I can handle it."
"Well tell me about you," I told him
changing the subject.
"What would you like to know?"
"You said you go to college. What are you
studying?"
He chuckled, "Business, like my father."
"What is he like?"
"My father?" Harper asked his eyes
darkening.
I nodded.
"Why?" Harper questioned giving me a
hard look.
I frowned, "Well my dad died when I was
little," I shrugged.
Harper stared at me for a long moment,
"He's tough but he loves me," he stated.
I left it alone.
"So your dad died when you were young.
What about your mom?"
    "She died a few months ago. I don't
remember," I told him pushing my food around my
plate again.
"So Oliver really is all you have?"
"Yeah, I guess so. He doesn't have family
either from what I was told."
"He doesn't."
I shifted uncomfortably. I wish this date
were over already.
"Hey?" Harper reached across the table
touching my hand. Startled I looked up.
    "I'm sorry I snapped at you about my dad.
Just not many people have nice