“Oh.” He glanced at his phone again. “I wonder what’s taking so long for us to get our dinner.”
“Why? Do you have somewhere to go?” Tension crept into her voice.
“It’s because I’m fucking starved,” he said a bit too loud.
Several diners around them looked over, then spoke in hushed voices.
“Keep your voice down. Maybe you shouldn’t have any more to drink,” Autumn said.
“Don’t tell me what to do—you’re not my damn mother. And besides… I’m fine.” He craned his neck. “Where the hell’s the waiter?”
The phone beepedagain.
“Can you cut off the texting conversation you’ve got going there?” she asked, pointing to the cell. “I’d hoped for a dinner with just the two of us, not you, me, and your phone.”
Bret scrunched up his face. “Aren’t you the funny one. I’ve got some business going here.”
“Can’t it wait until after we’re done eating?”
“No.”
Before Autumn could answer, the waiter arrived with a large tray filled with food; he placed the rare T-bone in front of Bret and the medium-well filet mignon in front of her. Baked potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and lightly steamed asparagus rounded out the meal. Bret ordered two more martinis, and Autumn’s stomach twisted: her fiancé wasn’t a jovial drunk. Whenever he was plastered, he became loud, obnoxious, belligerent, and rude—nothing she was looking forward to.
“I need to ask a favor of you,” Bret said before cutting into the steak.
“What is it?” She popped a morsel into her mouth and chewed.
“I need to borrow some money from you. I hate asking, but I’m running a little short and I have some bills to pay. I’ve never asked you before.”
Autumn set down her fork and knife, and caught his gaze. “How much do you need?”
Bret glanced down at his plate and cut into the meat. “Ten grand.”
He said the amount so offhandedly that, at first, she didn’t think she’d heard right. She watched him slather butter on a slice of bread and then her gaze went back to him.
“Did you sayten thousand dollars?”
He stuffed a big piece of bread in his mouth and nodded while chewing.
“You need that much to pay a few bills?” Autumn was confused because Bret had constantly bragged to her about how much he’d made at work and how many company bonuses he’d received. “It’s not that much. You probably make that in a couple of weeks or less.” He picked up his drink and gulped it down.
“I wish. I don’t have ten thousand to loan you. I have a lot of expenses and even more now with the wedding and all.”
Bret’s fork stopped in mid-air. “I can’t believe you’re using the wedding as a reason not to help me out.” He fixed her with a steely look.
“I’m not using anything as an excuse. I don’t have that kind of cash to give you.” All of a sudden she’d lost her appetite. “What do youreallyneed the money for?”
“A business venture I want to get off the ground. You can be part of it if you want. I just need some capital to invest.”
“What kind of business?”
“Why all the fucking questions? I thought you wanted to support me.” Anger oozed from him.
“Calm down—I’m just asking. It’s a legitimate question.”
The phone beeped several times. Now when Bret looked at it, worry etched his face.
“So do you want to help or not?”