Dinner
Lee and Lucy were both studying the menu of 'Banchetto', the Mediterranean restaurant they had chosen for their latest date.
"What are you thinking of having Luce?"
"I think I'm going to have the seafood linguine, how about you?"
"I'm going for the lamb with dauphinoise potatoes, mixed vegetables and rosemary red wine jus...I don't get why they have to call it a 'jus', it's so pretentious. It's gravy, so why can't they just call it gravy? Call a spade a spade, that's what I say".
"Lee?!"
What?
"I hope you're going to behave yourself tonight. Promise you won't say that to the waiter, or anything rude for that matter".
"Don't worry, I won't. I'll be on my best behaviour".
"Your wine Madam, and yours Sir".
The waiter placed Lee and Lucy's glasses of wine on the table.
"Thank you".
"Are you going to have a starter Luce?"
"No, I might have a desert if I can manage one".
"Oh right I won't either then. The starters are a bit pricey anyway".
"I'm paying remember, if you want a starter have one".
"No, you'll have to wait longer for your food then, I'm not that bothered honestly".
"Are you ready to order or would you like a few more minutes?", the waiter arrived back at the table.
"I think we're ready?", Lucy replied, and Lee nodded.
...
"How's your seafood Luce?"
"Really nice, do you want to try some?"
"No thanks, I'm not a seafood fan. You can try my lamb if you want. It's lovely".
"Can I?"
"Of course".
Lee put some lamb and potato on his fork and held it out for Lucy to eat the food off it.
"Mmm, that's delicious".
"How was your day anyway Luce, how was work?".
"Busy. I had to meet a whole string of clients and I had to look at a massive pile of CVs. The meetings went well though. I think I might have secured a pretty big contract, I just need to finalise a few things but it's looking good".
"That's great".
"How about you, what have you been up to today?"
"I took the ice cream van out this morning, but I didn't get much business once the rain started. Actually, I was going to talk to you about this. I've decided I need to think about giving up the ice cream and getting some other work, it's just not regular enough, and too weather dependent".
Lee, as part of his new less selfish attitude, had realised he needed to stop scrounging off Lucy when things weren't going as well with the ice cream van. It just didn't feel right anymore, especially if he was going to have any chance of having a relationship with her. He needed her to be able to see him as viable boyfriend, maybe even husband material.
"Really? You love your van though".
"I know. Well, maybe I could find other work I could do as well, maybe combine the two. Do you think you might be able to help me find something, you're a recruitment expert after all?".
"Of course I can".
"I was thinking of maybe delivering or something, I've already got the transport after all".
"That's a good idea. I'll have a look online with you at the weekend".
"Thanks Luce".
"What's brought this on anyway?".
"Erm...I suppose it's just part of my realising I need to grow up. Oh, I meant to say, Tim came round this afternoon, he'd finished work early".
"Oh right, what did he want?"
"He wanted to see how I was, after the fire the other night. He started asking questions though".
"About what?"
"About us. He asked what I was doing at the cinema with you".
"What did you tell him?".
"That we went there to watch a film".
"I think he could have worked that bit out himself. I'm assuming it was the why we were there together part that he was more interested in".
"Yeah it was".
"What did you say?"
"I just pointed out to him that we've been sharing a flat for several years, and that we watch films on TV together all the time, so what was the difference".
"And what did he say?"
"He didn't get the chance, I changed the subject. The thing is though, he realised something is going on. Tim knows me too well, I swear he can read my mind sometimes, and he asked me to go for a drink with him tonight so I had to tell him I was going out".
"You didn't have to tell him you were going out with me though".
"I know, but he guessed, he asked me outright and I just couldn't lie".
"So he knows we're on a date?".
"Sort of...well yes, but I was quite vague about it".
"How did he react?"
"Better than I expected actually, well...he didn't punch me at least. He still did the whole over-protective older brother thing, I got the Spanish Inquisition over my intentions towards you, you know the sort of thing".
"Oh God, I'm sorry".
"It's not your fault, he was just being...Tim. The good news is that I came away with my genitals intact, so I think I passed his test. I managed to convince him that I had no intention of messing you around or hurting you. I'm not saying he was thrilled exactly, but he said he accepted that you were old enough to make your own decisions about who you go out with, and that even if that person was me he wouldn't interfere".
Of course Lee didn't tell Lucy that he had ended up confessing his love for her to Tim. That would mean him having to tell her how he felt, and he just wasn't confident enough that she felt the same to do that yet.
Lucy was so happy and relieved to hear this. After all, the thought of Tim's reaction was one of the things that had stopped her acting on her feelings for Lee sooner.
"Really? That's good, and he'll get used to the idea. I've been so worried about how Tim might react. And I'm very glad to hear that your...all of your...parts are still intact".
Lucy felt he cheeks flush then, as she tried to get the thought of Lee's...parts out of her head. She was sure he must have noticed her blushing.
"So...how were things between you when he left?", Lucy asked.
"Okay I think. He's still talking to me, we're going for a drink tomorrow".
"Great".
Lucy wondered if Tim's change of attitude towards the idea of her and Lee being together was due to Lee's brush with mortality recently. Seeing his best friend in a coma had made Tim realise how important Lee was to him, and to Lucy.
...
Back home...
"Are you alright Luce?", Lee asked as he noticed Lucy rubbing her stomach.
"Yeah, I think I've just eaten too much, I shouldn't have had that Tiramisu, or the Liquor coffee to follow".
"I did offer to help you out with the Tiramisu.
"You had your own pudding! Anyway, it's too late now, I'll just have to eat nothing but salad tomorrow to make up for it. I think I might go and make a peppermint tea though, settle my stomach. Do you want a drink?".
"Yes please, just a normal tea though, I can't stand all your herbal ones".
Lucy rolled her eyes, Lee had made in perfectly clear in the past of what he thought of herbal teas. 'Poncy' was how he described them.
After Lucy had been in the kitchen for ten minutes, Lee wondered why she had been so long, and went to investigate. He found her standing at the sink, washing up pans.
"What are you doing that for now? I thought you wanted to watch that new detective drama".
"I do, I just saw these dirty saucepans and thought I'd better wash them up otherwise they'll stil be here tomorrow. Are these yours from lunchtime? What were you making? You don't need saucepans to make a Pot Noodle!".
"I was experimenting. I've decided I should learn to cook so that I can make dinner for us sometimes for a change. I was going to clear up, then Tim arrived and I forgot, sorry. I would have sorted them tomorrow".
Lee didn't want Lucy to see him as lazy and undomesticated anymore. In the past he would just have left his mess for Lucy to clean up, but he had genuinely intended to clean up after himself today.
"Never mind, it's done now. Right, tea. I'll bring it through in a minute".
"No, you go and sit down. I'll make it".
Making Lucy a cup of tea was the least he could do.
"Oh, thanks. Don't put milk in mine".
"Lucy, I know I don't have the most sophisticated tastebuds, but I do know you don't put milk in peppermint tea".
"Sorry, I was just..making sure. The herbal teas are on the shelf below the others".
"I know. Go and sit down. I've got this".
Lucy obeyed at last, disappearing back into the living room.
...
Half an hour later...
"Is the peppermint tea helping?"
"Not really yet. My tummy's still a bit churny. Sorry, that's too much information isn't it?"
"No. I live with you Lucy, we've shared far more information about our bodily functions with each other before".
"Well...usually yours".
"Fair point. Anyway, if I may change the subject?".
"Please do!"
"Lucy...you don't have to answer this, but I feel like I have to ask. The other night, when we first agreed to go on date, you said you have these new feelings for me and you wanted to explore them...".
"Yes".
"Anyway, obviously we've been on a few dates now and we've kissed and almost gone further than that and I suppose what I'm trying to say is...I'm hoping you think we have something here, and that you definitely want to be more than just friends".
Lee, despite everything that had happened over the last few days, was still found it hard to believe that Lucy felt that way about him.
"I do think that we have something, and yes I do want to be more than just friends. I think we already are that don't you?"
Lee couldn't stop himself from grinning. Before his accident he could only have dreamed of Lucy saying those words.
"Does this mean we're officially going out together? Can I call you my girlfriend?".
"It would be an honour".
Lucy leant in and kissed Lee then, taking his breath away. He responded, still smiling at first, into the kiss, against her mouth as he thought about what had just been said. Lucy was his girlfriend, more than that, she was 'honoured' to be his girlfriend.
Lee moaned as Lucy grabbed his shirt with one hand, then threaded her fingers through the hair at the back of his head with the other, tugging slightly, trying to pull him as close to her as physically possible. Her held her tightly as they deepened the kiss, their lips moving together almost urgently now, their tongues meeting and dancing together, their breaths more and more desperate...
Lucy suddenly broke the kiss, leaving Lee confused and then concerned. She looked like there was something wrong.
"Are you okay? Did I do something you didn't like?"
"No, I got a sudden pain on my stomach, like a cramp. I feel like I might be sick".
"Not because of the kiss?"
"Of course not, I don't feel very well. Sorry, I've..."
Lucy got up then and ran towards the bathroom. Concerned, Lee followed her, hovering outside the door.
"Are you okay? You're not are you? Can I come in?"
It sounded like Lucy was vomiting.
"I don't want you to see me like this", was Lucy's muffled reply.
"I'm worried about you, and I've seen you being sick before".
"I'll be okay in a minute".
After several minutes, Lucy came out of the bathroom, still clutching her stomach. She looked really grey.
"I think I'd better go to bed. I don't feel well at all. I feel like I'm burning up now too".
"Do you think it's what you've eaten? You might have food poisoning. Shall I call I doctor?".
"No. I probably just need to get whatever it is out of my system. Or it could be a bug. Actually, hold that thought..."
Lucy sprinted back into the bathroom and started being sick again. Lee grabbed his phone and Googled food poisoning. The symptoms seemed to fit so far, stomach pains, vomiting, fever. The NHS website did say that in most cases, for someone of Lucy's age with no other medical conditions, contacting your GP was not normally necessary. He just needed to make sure Lucy's symptoms weren't so severe that she couldn't keep water down, or that they didn't go on for too long.
After a few minutes he heard Lucy leave the bathroom and go into her bedroom. He poured her a large jug of water and brought that with a glass to her bedroom.
"Knock, knock. I've brought you some water".
"Come in. Thanks Lee. I'll try and drink it".
She was half lying, half sitting on her bed now.
"Oh Luce, you look really ill. Are you as clammy as you look?"
"Thanks for the compliment, but yes I am. Clearly I look as shit as I feel".
"Luce, you might look ill, but you're still beautiful...anyway, I've been on the NHS website and I don't think you need a doctor at the moment, unless you're pregnant?"
"Of course I'm not pregnant. Not unless there's a new Messiah in there. You know when I told you you can't get pregnant through sharing bath water, well maybe I should have explained that you can't get pregnant through kissing and touching either, not with clothes on".
Lee rolled his eyes.
"I know that. I'm pleased to see you can still be sarcastic even when you're ill. Anyway, you need to drink plenty of water, keep your levels of hydration up. Do you want me to stay with you?"
"No, I'll be fine. It's probably better if you leave me to it in case I've got a bug. I wouldn't want you to catch it".
"Okay, but I'll check on you later, and I'll keep my phone on, so ring me if you need anything or feel worse. Even if it's the middle of the night".
"I will, thanks".
Lucy nodded and smiled weakly as she spoke. Lee was being so sweet, wanting to look after her.
Next chapter: hospital