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“Thanks,” I said.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Joel gestured for me to walk with him. I’d gladly walk with this guy anywhere. Joel saw something in me and thought my sketches were great. I just wanted to be around him.
As we walked through the lobby toward the cafe, I realized my version of casual attire was different than most people here. Lots of people were in jeans with a sweater or a long-sleeved button-down shirt. Braxton was right—my clothes suck.
Just about everyone we passed would greet Joel or give him a head nod and watch him as we moved through the crowd. Attention just gravitated toward Joel. While I looked around and politely smiled at a lot of people, I didn’t see Tristen. As we approached the cafe, Olivia greeted us.
“Hello, Mr. Stafford.” Olivia smiled at Joel first and then looked at me. “Good evening, Mr. Jameson. Will it be a table for two?”
“Please,” Joel replied.
Two? As in just him and me? I glanced back at the lobby at all the people who were still talking with others and then at the handful of people who were already seated and eating. I tried to get Joel’s attention, but he continued to follow Olivia to a table. As soon as we were seated, a server came over and filled our water goblets. I accepted the menu from Olivia with a smile and once she left, I looked at Joel. He tilted his head slightly to the side and raised his eyebrow at me.
“Is something the matter?” he asked.
“No, but don’t you want to have dinner with any of your guests tonight?”
Joel reached for his water and stared at me over the rim of his glass. He calmly set the glass down and maintained eye contact with me.
“I do.”
“But you’re having dinner with me?”
“I also want to have dinner with you.”
“But don’t you need to have dinner with them?”
Joel laughed quietly and leaned closer to the table. “I don’t need to do anything.”
To say I was embarrassed was an understatement. The heat of his words burned my cheeks and sucked the air out of my lungs. I couldn’t wreck this amazing thing I had going for me here, and I quickly tried to apologize.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate that you were doing things that you didn’t want to do, but out of necessity.”
“Cash, allow me to explain. It’s very simple and won’t take long. I love what I do. All day and every day. I work hard to be successful, which allows me to continue doing what I love to do. I only do what I want. And tonight, I wanted to have dinner in your company.” Joel paused and then smiled. “I want to have dinner with you.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Cash, you don’t have to thank me for wanting to have dinner with you.” Joel closed the menu that I don’t even think he even looked at. “Did you stop to think that maybe I should be thanking you for being available to have dinner with me?”
I huffed out a laugh and quickly looked down to control myself. When I looked at him, I shook my head and held up my hand. “Sorry. I’m just very happy to be here and thankful for these opportunities. It’s hard to believe sometimes.”
“You’re talented and deserving of the opportunity, Cash.”
“Thank you,” I said and quickly glanced down at the menu. “Do you already know what you want?” I asked.
“I’ve been here before,” he said. I looked up at him again and when our eyes connected, we both smiled.
After we ordered our food, I looked around and noticed the restaurant had become busier and decided to ask Joel about the guests.
“So all the guests are people you and Tristen are friends with?”
“Yes, in one circle or another. They aren’t just people attending some conference or disconnected themed weekend. They are people Tristen and I have become close friends with over the years. We met them at clubs we belonged to back in California, or parties we attended. They’re all vetted, safe, and respectful.”
While we ate, Joel explained how he and Tristen built their first resort on a small stretch of beachfront property in San Diego and started hosting their adult parties there. He told me about some of the themes they had and that the waves of the Pacific Ocean served as a perfect backdrop.
