lunch with lee [dated to 12/15]

[puckandpie]

Though I haven't seen Lee since his first day, we've been exchanging text messages here and there fairly regularly for awhile. It started out at first just with questions, but it quickly turned into friendly, easy conversation. I still don't know him very well, but I know he's nice and he seems to be adjusting pretty well.

When he asks to meet up for lunch, I don't even have to think about it. I give him the address of the little sandwich shop that lies halfway between my apartment and adjust my morning schedule so I can make it to the rink and back with plenty of time to shower and change first.

Or it would've been had I not gotten a little carried away in trying to dream up a new routine that I'll absolutely never perform for anyone.

"Goodness, I'm so sorry I'm late," I tell him, half running the last half block when I spot him waiting just outside the door. It's not too cold out today, at least. "You haven't been waiting too long, have you? Did you get my text?"

Comments

[lee_fallon]

Lee smiles, completely unable to get over how adorable this kid is, excited for everything. He takes a bite of his veggie wrap as he listens to Eric talk, nodding at the list of people he knows that he can ask about getting ahold of the wine he'll need. He swallows and takes a sip of his water when Eric finishes speaking.

"I know a few off the top of my head, yeah," Lee replies, smiling at Eric again. "I can give you a good red and good white that are really versatile, if you want, just to start. If he likes those, we can expand from there. How does that sound?"

[puckandpie]

"That sounds perfect!" I reply, completely incapable of keeping back my smile now. "Can we make it like a real wine-tasting trip, though? I want to learn all the tricks, all the swishing and sniffing and spitting. Or is the spitting thing a myth? I've always heard people do it so they can drink more without getting drunk which, honestly, sounds very indulgent and Roman to me and that's oddly appealing."

I finally stop talking long enough to take a bite of my potato salad sandwich and remember my manners long enough to not speak while I chew.

[lee_fallon]

Lee laughs, loving Eric's enthusiasm. "Spitting is definitely a real thing," he tells Eric, still grinning. "And it's exactly for that reason. Usually at a wine tasting there are dozens of wines represented. If you drank them all, even just a swallow, it would probably end very badly. Especially since you're mixing all sorts of chemical compositions and alcohol contents."

Lee takes a sip of his water, mulling an idea over before he speaks again. "What if I buy a few wines I think might be good for Derek, and you come to my place and taste them. I can show you the whole routine, how to smell it and taste it and, yes, spit it out," he says with a wide smile. "Then we can get new bottles of the ones you life to give as gifts. What do you think?"

[puckandpie]

"Oh my gosh, that sounds amazing."

I only realize how loud I've gotten when a woman at the next table over glances in my direction and I immediately hunker forward, throwing Lee a sheepish smile before continuing. "I can bring over a cheese platter too, maybe. Or would that mess everything up as far as the tasting? We could eat the cheese afterward! Or not at all. Do you like cheese?"

[lee_fallon]

Lee grins, and while Eric drops his eyes in embarrassment, Lee sees the smile on the woman's face as well. Eric might be excitable and a little vociferous about it, everyone can see how adorable it is.

"Eating cheese with it won't cause any problems at all," Lee assures him. "In fact, I think you should bring an apple tart too, if you're up to making one. Cheese, wine, and apples are really good together," he suggests, hoping giving Eric some baking to do will make him feel like he can contribute, as he seems very interested in doing so.

[puckandpie]

"Oh my goodness, am I up to making an apple tart?" I say, laughing and shaking my head. "I will absolutely make a tart and bring cheese! Just text me what you want before I come over."

It's taking all my willpower not to bounce right out of my seat in excitement. I force myself to take a breath and calm down though and take anther taste of my soup. "Gosh. Anyway. Wine dates aside, is everything going well for you here? Forgive me for saying so, but you seem like you've adjusted pretty well so far."

[lee_fallon]

"Well, if you're not, that's just fine," Lee replies. He's not trying to stress his friend out, only trying to give him an opportunity to contribute. "You can bring whatever you want. Or nothing at all. Either way, I'll have your wine on hand and ready for tasting."

He smiles at Eric across the table from him, how kind and considerate he is, and lit up with excitement, as always. "I'm doing okay," he replies. "I'm good at moving around, so this doesn't bother me too much." It doesn't hurt that he's met some good people here, Eric definitely included. "This isn't a bad city, really. There are bars and I can run, a lot of nice people. I could do much worse."