Simple Pleasures by Aiden Bates

Author:Aiden Bates [Bates, Aiden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-02-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The restaurant was called Magnolia, and it was only about a year old. Jasper had never been, but then again, he hadn’t realized he loved southern food until he met Ellis. The atmosphere was what Francis proclaimed was “elegant rustic,” with walls covered in reclaimed wood, tables topped in white linen, and beautiful pastoral scenes framed on the walls, but there were modern touches juxtaposed against the country décor, as well. The servers were as young and hip as in any of the other Manhattan restaurants. Jasper realized, after they had all been seated and placed their drink orders, that he was expecting something more like the Cracker Barrel restaurant that his parents took him to as a kid, when they were heading upstate for vacation. Magnolia was nothing like that.

Once again, the families relished the food and the conversation, and Charles insisted on ordering specialty cocktails that none of them had heard of, things with sloe gin and bourbon and lots of sugar. Jasper knew that the Connellys rarely drank, but he found himself really liking the slightly tipsy alpha Connelly—he was telling wonderful stories and laughing up a storm.

After one more story about Ellis as a child, Jasper caught his omega looking annoyed.

“What is it, El?” Jasper whispered to him.

“There’s nothing worse than being the only sober person in the room.”

Jasper knew immediately that he was right. “I know, let’s go get the manager and ask her to show us the special event room.”

Ellis nodded moodily, and Jasper asked his sister to keep an eye on Isabella, who was coloring with new crayons and paper from her Gwampa and Gwampa Connelly.

No one was at the front counter, so Jasper started up the translucent acrylic staircase that led to the second floor of private rooms, pulling Ellis behind him.

“Should we go up?” Ellis wondered aloud. No functions appeared to be going on, and it was dark.

“Come on. If we’re thinking about renting it out, we should be able to look.”

Once they got to the top of the staircase, he looked around. No one seemed to be on the second floor at all. Down below them, the host had returned to her stand and didn’t even realize anyone has gone past. Jasper felt a little thrill. He thought of that night that Ellis brought him to the gym and how exciting it was to break that little taboo.

“I think the manager told us that the room that faced 10th Avenue was the one that was available. This must be it.”

Jasper could feel Ellis’ tentativeness, as he pulled him gently along the corridor, and then through the double doors that opened up to a medium-size room. No lights were on inside, but large windows let in the city lights through gauzy white curtains. Five tables sat unset, and the chairs were stacked against the wall opposite the windows.

“This is pretty,” Ellis said, more curious now than nervous. “And I can barely hear the street noise at all. With some music playing it could work.

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