Is Love All or Nothing? Ch. 07

"Yeah. Anyway I'll see you tomorrow around four thirty."

"See you then handsome."

"Night beautiful."

***********************

"Why did you want to have dinner at five again?"

Melissa rolls her eyes at her boyfriend. "Because I do want to wait for us to get seated."

"Ok, but we'll still have to wait for enough people to be seated with us before the food gets cooked, right?"

"And it will be a chance for you and Keith to get to know each other." Melissa spots Keith's car as it pulls into the parking lot. "There they are." She waves to Keith and Jackie as they get out of the car and they wave back.

"Hope you weren't waiting long for us," Jackie says with a warm smile.

"We've only been waiting for about five minutes," Melissa replies. "I wanted to wait outside for you two so we could get seated together."

"Makes sense," Keith says. He approaches Luke and extends his hand out to him. "Hi, I'm Keith. I'm sure you've heard more than enough about me already."

Luke grabs his hand and shakes it. "Nice to meet you Keith. No, Melissa hasn't really said much about you at all."

"Really? Every experience I've had with her so far is that she always voices her opinion about whoever Jackie is dating." Keith gets a little slap in the arm from Jackie for that comment.

"Yeah, she usually does not shut up about most guys Jackie dates."

Melissa also slaps Luke in the arm. "I do not!"

Luke looks over at Keith after the slap. "So how much trouble do you think we are allowed before they ditch us?"

"Not too much. We should wait until we order the food. Then they'll be stuck with us," Keith replies, enjoying having a little fun with Luke.

Jackie however is not as amused. "No, you two will behave or else you're paying for very expensive bottles of wine."

"I second that," Melissa says, agreeing with her best friend.

Keith and Luke look at each other realizing that their women have the upper hand. "Dang it," they both say at the same time.

"Now that is settled, let's head in, watch our food get cooked, and eat it," Melissa says already dragging her boyfriend through the door.

Jackie and Keith look at each other and nod at each other that they should follow them in. All four get seated fast on the long side of the table with Keith and Luke sitting next to each other and their girlfriends next to their respective man.

Their waiter comes by and gets their drink orders. A few minutes pass and there is nothing but silence between the two. Melissa nudges Luke to try to hint to ask Keith something.

"So, um, Keith, what do you do for work?

"I work as a logistics coordinator. What about you?"

"I work as a loan officer. It's not a bad job."

"Nice, do you work a lot of hours?"

"Thankfully it's not often that I work more than forty hours a week. I usually try to play basketball once a week with some guys I know."

"Do you play on Sundays?"

"No. They just want to watch football."

"My best friend and I play at the courts in our apartment complex. You are more than welcome to join us and play a game of twenty-one."

Luke is surprised by the invitation. He didn't figure Keith was someone who played basketball. Lately his friends preferred watching football over playing basketball. He understood it on Saturdays, but could never understand why on Sundays, especially with the local team, Detroit Lions, playing horribly.

"What apartment complex do you live at?"

"Sunshine Hills on Pierson."

"I know where that is. I had a friend who used to live there."

During the whole conversation between the two men, the rest of the table had been seated. Their waiter comes by asking if they are ready to order. Luke hadn't really looked at the menu and asked for couple minutes. He takes a quick look and decides quickly what he wants. The waiter comes back and the whole table orders their food.

"I have to use the restroom," Jackie says. "I'll be right back."

"I'll join you," responds Melissa, leaving their two boyfriends.

"So are you interested in joining me and my best friend in a game of twenty-one around two?" Keith asks.

"Yeah, I'm down. Just don't think I'll be taking it easy on you."

"Good, then you won't have any excuses when I beat you," Keith says with a cocky smile on his face.

"Big talk." Silence comes between them as they wait for their girlfriends to return. "So what happened between you and Jackie two weekends ago?"

Keith was not expecting that question at all. He was hoping for an easy going dinner with a show, but luck would not be on his side. "We just had a fight about something stupid. I raised my voice too much and it scared her."

"What was the fight about?" Luke asks, convinced there is more to the story.

"Nothing that is your concern. Jackie and I have worked it out anyway."

"If it is nothing, just say what it is."

"What are you trying to pry out of Keith?" Melissa asks, returning to the table with Jackie right behind her.

"He's trying to figure out what supposed tricks I'm going to use playing him in basketball tomorrow," Keith replies hoping his answer satisfies Melissa.

"Come to think of it, I haven't watched you play Luke," Melissa says as she sits down.

"I'm thinking we give our men a cheering section tomorrow," Jackie chips in.

No sooner than the women sit down the chef comes out to the table, ready to cook and put on a show. He double checks the orders, making sure everyone is going to get what they want. He starts off by making the fried rice and a little onion volcano that shoots a flame up high, getting smiles of amazement on everyone's face.

After everyone gets served their rice the chef then places the meats and vegetables on the grill along with some shrimp. The shrimp take no time to cook, but after giving everyone two, he has six left over. He points at Luke with a piece of shrimp on his spatula and Luke nods ready to attempt catching it in his mouth. The chef tosses the shrimp and it bounces in and out of his mouth. Luke used a hand gesture to say he wants to try again and the chef gets another shrimp ready. The shrimp is tossed and goes in and out again.

Feeling his chance to show off for his girl, Keith gestures that he wants to try. The chef gets another piece of shrimp ready, tosses off the spatula, but overshoots. The chef apologizes and gets another shrimp ready on the spatula. It is tossed up and hits Keith in his face. Luke and Keith look at each knowing they gave it their best shot.

The chef gets another shrimp on his spatula and points it at Jackie. She isn't sure if she wants to try but the chef encourages her. She nods her head and the chef tosses the shrimp up in the air and it lands perfectly in her mouth. With pride, she raises her arms in victory.

"My turn," Melissa says, hoping to show up her man also. The chef gets another piece of shrimp and tosses it at her. She also catches it in her mouth.

Luke and Keith can't believe that they just got showed up by their women. Keith decided to take action and not quite so subtly tickles Jackie on her side.

"Hey!" Jackie exclaims. "No tickling during dinner."

"I didn't tickle you," Keith says, trying to play innocent. Jackie just grins, shaking her head.

Soon after the meats are cooked along with the vegetables and everyone is served, everyone starts to dig in and no one is enjoying his food more than Luke.

"Oh my god," Luke exclaims after taking a few bites. "This is really good. I may have to take you here more often sweetie."

"I'll never complain if you want to take me here," Melissa replies.

The four continue to eat and make small talk. More and more Keith and Luke get comfortable with each other. Seeing that is a relief to Jackie. She had hoped Keith wouldn't say anything stupid, but it seemed as if she was worried for nothing. The waiter comes back after everyone pretty much has cleaned off their plates with the checks. Luke pays for himself and Melissa; Keith does the same likewise.

"What should we do now?" Melissa asks.

"Anyone want to play a board or card game?" Keith asks nervously.

"Card game wouldn't be a bad idea," Luke says. "Strip poker sounds fun to me."

"NO!" Melissa states emphatically. "I am not risking getting naked in front of Keith."

"I was just kidding babe. Don't need to get so angry."

"That was not funny Luke," Jackie says, steaming with anger.

"How about something where it is couple versus couple," Keith says hoping to get the situation under control. "Does everyone know how to play Euchre?"

"It has been a while since I've played," Jackie responds, "but I'm down to play with my handsome boyfriend."

"Too bad you are going to lose to me and my boyfriend," Melissa shoots back.

Keith turns towards Luke. "Are they always this competitive?"

"Yes, yes they are," Luke replies, thinking back to all the times the girls have competed over silly things.

"How about we play at my place," Jackie says. "I have a few decks of cards I've been wanting to open for a while." The rest of the group agrees that is where they will play.

The waiter comes back with the credit cards. After Luke and Keith put them back in their wallets, the two couples get up and start to head towards the door with Keith having his arms around Jackie's waist. The main lobby is packed with people waiting to get seated. There are a few families, some other couples, and a group of women. From the group of women comes a voice directed at Keith.

"Does she know how crazy you are?" Keith recognizes the voice and does his best to ignore it. "There goes crazy Keith."

Jackie stops and sees the woman who is speaking at Keith. "I don't know who you are but my boyfriend is a sweetheart, so shut up."

The woman is surprised that she is being stood up to. "I guess crazy attracts crazy."

Before Jackie could respond Keith turns Jackie so she is seeing this face. "Jackie, don't. I'll explain in the car, but please don't respond to her."

Jackie was ready to ignore Keith but the look on his face was full of worry. She knew there was more to the story so she nodded in agreement and they walked out of the restaurant. When they got outside Luke approached Keith. "Is everything alright?" he asks Keith, worried about his new friend.

Keith looks up at Luke and puts on his best fake smile he can muster. "Everything is fine. Just a girl I used to date."

Luke believes there is more going on but thinks that he can ask about it another time. "Ok, I'll see you over at Jackie's."

Keith and Jackie get to Keith's car and he opens the door for her like he always does. She gets in and he closes the door for her. He then goes around to the drivers and gets in.

Jackie looks over at Keith and sees a look on his face she hadn't seen before. He seemed shaken and terrified. She reaches over and grabs his hand. "I know you told Luke you're fine, but I want you to tell me the truth. Who was that woman?"

Keith just looks down, scared out of his mind. He had hoped he would never cross paths with her ever again. The whole day seemed to be going so well, but she just had to be there. His Asperger's just has him stuck thinking about what else could go wrong. Would this woman follow him back to Jackie's? Would she wait outside Jackie's place just to attack him or make a scene? Fear consumes him and his anxiety kicks into overdrive.

"Keith, snap out of it!" Jackie screams.

Keith does indeed snap out it and looks over at Jackie with the same worried look. "I'm sorry. I'm just scared right now."

"Why are you scared of that woman?" Jackie asks confused. She starts wondering who this woman could be that could scare Keith that much.

Keith takes a deep breath to calm himself before he answers. "Her name is Jillian and she is the one I wrote the letter to."

As soon as he finishes the sentence, Jackie realizes now why the woman acted the way she did and why Keith is scared. "What can I do to help?" Jackie asks, feeling powerless to help Keith.

"I don't know," Keith responds in a melancholy tone, looking down again. "My mind is just scared Jillian is going to follow me, make a scene at your place, attack me, I... I'm just scared right now."

"Keith, please look at me," Jackie says in a comforting voice. It's the comfort in the voice that gets Keith to look up at her. "If she makes a scene, we'll call the police and have her removed if not arrested. If Melissa and Luke want to know who she is, I'll just tell them she is a jealous ex. I can't imagine what is going through your head right now, but know you aren't fighting this battle alone."

All the worrying and scared thoughts about Jillian leave Keith's mind and are replaced with thoughts of Jackie being there for him. "You have no idea how much that means to me Jackie." He pulls her in for a tight hug and she hugs him tightly back. "I love you Jackie," Keith whispers into her ear.

"I love you Keith and I will always be there for you."