Free Three Wishes by Juli Alexander Page B

this was pretty sweet. The people sitting right around us hadn’t noticed us, so I doubted Katie had. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
    When she finished speaking, several students approached her with questions or comments.
    Leo and I stood up where we were to wait. My rear end was numb from the hard wooden seat.
    “If one of them asks her questions about being a vegetarian, we’re doomed,” he said. “She can give a month long sermon on avoiding meat products.”
    “So you’re saying I shouldn’t bring it up?”
    He shook his head furiously. “I’m starving. Once we get our lunch, you can ask whatever you want.”
    Katie finally finished with her fans and shook hands with the guy who’d been speaking when we arrived. “Thank you for having me.” She pointed our way. “My friends are waiting for me to take them to lunch.”
    She grinned as she walked over to us. “You must be Jen.” She shook my hand. “I’m so glad to meet you. Leo was telling me about your newly forged friendship last night.”
    “Nice to meet you,” I said automatically.
    She smiled, and I realized I actually was glad to meet her. She had been smart and impressive when she addressed the group. One on one, she was warm and friendly.
    “I’m sure Leo has told you I’m a vegetarian. I hope you don’t mind going to Birk’s for lunch.”
    “Sounds good. I’ve never been, but I’m sure it’s fine.”
    “Leo’s been several times,” she said with a smile for him.
    She started to reach for him, and for a moment I thought she was going to reach out and tousle his hair. She let her hand dangle in the air for a moment and then turned back to me. “Do you mind if I ride with you two?”
    “You’re actually volunteering to ride with me.”
    Katie grinned. “You’re actually a much better driver than Joe.”
    “That’s not saying much,” Leo grumbled.
    She looked over at me, “Wonderful man, terrible driver.”
    “When dad’s around, Katie insists that she drive. When he’s not, she usually lets me do the driving.”
    I guess Leo had been doing a lot of driving lately.
    The restaurant was only a mile away.
    Katie held the door open for me and I climbed out of the car.
    Leo and I followed her through the door to the restaurant. The place was small and busy.
    Katie walked up to the hostess and said, “Table for three, Leanne, and we’d like to sit in Nate’s section please.”
    The hostess smiled, eying Leo over her funky glasses. “Yes, ma’am. Follow me, please.”
    “Who’s Nate?” I asked Leo.
    “He’s the only guy who works here. He won’t flirt with me and irritate you.”
    After the waitresses at Chili’s, I guessed I should be grateful. “She’s doing it just for me?” I wasn’t his girlfriend after all. I shouldn’t be getting jealous.
    “Oh no. She always asks for a guy. It drives her nuts otherwise.”
    We squeezed into a corner booth, Leo sat by Katie and I sat on the end next to him. The hostess handed us our menus.
    “What would you like to drink?”
    “Water with lemon,” Katie said. “You, Jen?”
    “Unsweet tea please.”
    “And you,” the hostess said with suggestive emphasis on the you.
    “Lemonade please,” Leo said, not looking up from his menu.
    The hostess hesitated as if trying to find a way not to leave, until Katie finally said, “Thank you, Leanne. That will be all.”
    She walked away, and Katie said. “Leanne’s such a sweet girl when I come without Leo.”
    “You’re lucky she likes Leanne,” Leo said. “Otherwise you’d hear her rant about the incessant gawking I’m subjected to.”
    Katie smiled. “I may have mentioned once or twice that he shouldn’t have to go through life being ogled like breasts at a wet t-shirt contest.”
    Leo blushed.
    I couldn’t help thinking that I would so not mind Leo ogling my breasts.
    Okay, so now I was blushing too.
    “She doesn’t feel sorry for Dad when it happens to him.”
    “You’re constantly harassed by