Ashley sat across from Michael for the first time in ages. To say they had grown apart would probably be the understatement of the century. He had been busy with his work, she had taken the opportunity to come up with a very extensive workout and self-care routine. At first, it had been for each other sure. She wanted to feel and look her best to wow him, he had wanted to get just high enough on the ladder that he could heap loads of attention onto her. Because they were awesome they succeeded in a pretty manageable amount of time, but it didn't work out the way they imagined. They had grown apart, workout and beauty routines became more important than Michael, and work, well always seemed to be more critical than Ashley.
Luckily their friend Mathew was having none of it. He sat them down and told them,
"You two need to fix this or divorce, fucking pick one before I pick for you."
Mathew was like that, a strange friendship with stranger views but at the end of the day, he tended to be right. They both valued him as a friend, he had been with them through thick and thin. More importantly, they knew believed Mathew when he said he would choose for them. Things just worked out for him, he was in his own way a force of gay nature.
So here they were, on a date, crafted by Mathew bless his short-tempered soul. It was a classic that he lovingly called the turf and surf date. Gentle music played in the background while seated outside on the patio, beach waves sloshing lazily below the restaurant balcony. Gentle music from the band could be heard through the open doors. Seated among half a dozen other couples felt strangely crowded but intimate. Mathew had of course spared no expense paying for the uber, the food, and all the supplies they would need to be contained in two canvas tote bags at their feet. The tiki torches cast flickering light along the almost garish greenery and flowers that lined the fence separating the throng of lovers from the beach proper.
Honestly, it was a bit embarrassing for Ashley, surrounded by several couples gazing intently into each other's eyes. The couple across from them right behind Michael had pushed their chairs together so they could make out, meal long abandoned and half-eaten on the table. All around her were the sounds of sweet nothings whispered into their ears and playful gasps at the dirty suggestions that followed. This was a spot for newlyweds and new lovers caught up in the excitement of the moment. Yet here they were forced into this situation, she would have escaped, but Mathew had made them promise to try.
Across the table, Michael seemed just as uncomfortable. But he looked good to her, finally clean-shaven and dressed up in a tux, it had been a while since she had forgotten how good he looked. He looked up and flashed a nervous but wolfish grin, the dark navy of his suit seemed to bring something dangerous into his dark brown eyes.
"See something you like honey?"
God that self-assured arrogance made her want to swat him on the ass and show him who wore the pants in the relationship. Well, not today she mused looking down at her Deep green dress and then back up again. Lucky boy, she didn't dress up very often anymore but she put a lot of work into her looks. She could tell that it paid off in the way he watched her move, she chuckled to herself, an arrogant puppy but wrapped around her finger.
"And, so what if I did, what could you do about it?"
"Get you something to eat, before you jump over the table and try to eat me," he joked.
"Ha Ha, give me a menu before, you dick."
The Food was surprisingly basic, so she decided on a steak burger. There was no guarantee that this date would be the hail mary their relationship needed but that steak burger was guaranteed to be a fantastic greasy treat. Michael on the other hand seemed to be overthinking things. Frowning down at the menu with his handsome face, it was adorable when he was trying to make decisions. But that was one of the reasons why she had agreed to let him try for promotion after promotion. Each new job was impressive to see him accomplish, working away day after day. He would celebrate each accomplishment with a wonderful outing followed by some rigorous if a little less than creative lovemaking. She squeezed her thighs together as a rather memorable night came to mind, they had been so in sync that night, and it had been amazing.
He looked up frustrated, a single lock of brown hair falling into his face.
Ugh, he exclaimed. "Nothing looks good, it's just like any burger place, but twice as expensive."
"Not even me?"
"Of course, you look amazing, I forgot how much I like you in a dress."
Ashley chuckled, she had seen him shift a couple of times on the uber over, she had seen that his body definitely remembered.
"Mmmhm and your body didn't give you a hint?"
He blushed, his shifting giving away that he was trying to hide an erection, she smirked.
"Well, I did say I love seeing you in a dress," he blushed shifting uncomfortably.
"Mmm, well besides me why don't we get you a nice burger to eat for now."
He blushed slightly at the image and decided that he had better double-check the drinks. A smug grin snuck its way onto her face. She had forgotten how fun it was to tease him. Maybe it was this simple, could just sitting down and enjoying each other's company be enough? She had not been in his company really in a long time. Oh sure they had been "together" but that was only in the physical sense. Many a night was spent in the same room but in different worlds altogether. Him trying to figure out some random work thing on his phone, and her planning out a new routine, or trying to enjoy a new show. They might as well have been on separate continents for how much intimacy was shared in those moments.
When the waiter came round Michael finally gave up with a sigh. He ordered the same thing as her, a nice juicy burger. Brilliant minds think alike she smirked to herself. She could tell that he caught the expression but refused to react, which to his dismay made her smile even wider.
"Couldn't figure out something better with that clever head of yours?"
