Backdated Log : I'll meet you any time you want In our Italian Restaurant.
Who: Millie and Nolan
When: Thursday, March 10, 2019
Where: Casa Lu Al Restaurant
What: What’s Food without Friendly Conversation
Status: Complete
Nolan stepped out of his truck and onto the asphalt of the parking lot outside of the restaurant where he was meeting Millie for lunch. He shut the door and pressed the lock button before pushing his keys into his pocket and making his way to the sidewalk.
He was glad Millie was down with listening to him ramble on about his future. He didn’t want to make a big deal about what he recently decided, but he wanted to get another opinion on the plans he was making. It was easier to picture going back to school the more he said it aloud anyway. Plus, considering he hadn’t seen Millie in awhile, it’d be cool to catch up. At least this time he didn’t come bearing the news that he’d punched Mike and his sister wasn’t talking to him.
Once was definitely enough.
He walked around the brick building and passed an old crooked mailbox he’s sure nobody even used anymore, and reached the front entrance of the restaurant. Pulling the door open, he saw that Millie was already sitting in a waiting chair by the hostess stand.
“Hey.” He smiled as he headed towards her. “You weren’t waiting long, were you?”
Millie grinned with a slight wave as Nolan came in through the door standing as he took the few steps to the hostess stand. “Hey, Rocky.” Millie winked playfully. “I’ve only been here a few minutes. No worries.”
Millie had come directly from the hospital, but had taken a few minutes to change into jeans, going to lunch in scrubs was not on her Top 10 list. Thursdays were her short shift days and she was grateful to not have to go back to work after lunch.
The hostess ushered them over and led them to a small two-seat table in the far corner. Millie placed her purse on the floor at her feet and scooted her chair in, picking up the menu. “So what’s good here?”
“Their steak sandwich is pretty good.” He thanked the hostess and opened a menu. “And basically anything pasta is bomb. I once considered marrying their lasagna, but don’t let my judgement sway you.”
Millie cocked her her, her brow raising slightly with a small smile. “Marrying, huh? That sounds pretty serious.” She refolded the menu placing it casually on the table in front of her. “That made deciding much easier.”
“It was, it was. But ultimately I decided I didn’t wanna be one of those husbands who ate their wives. It’s a bit inconsiderate, no?” Nolan grinned and looked up from the list of entrees.
Millie felt her cheeks flush at the first thought that came to mind. “Guessing that depends on the wife.” She giggled and looked down for a brief moment thinking a censor might have been a good idea, but too late.
Nolan smirked and set his menu aside as well. “So how’s it goin’ in Millieland?”
“Busy. Work is nuts. I think everyone decided to have babies at the same time. My sister is entering her third trimester and they have the twins who are three or four months old. Babies everywhere.” Secretly Millie was kind of glad to be the aunt. She liked playing with them, holding them, but then giving them back and going home. “Julia is busy learning her 3 lines for the kindergarten play and this weekend I think we are going to go pick out that playset I promised her when we bought the house. So just the Queen of Boring. How about you?”
“Tell me about it. I feel like everyone I know is pregnant right now.” Nolan chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s awesome. That’s three more lines than I ever had in kindergarten. And psh. I’ve met the Queen of Boring, and you’re definitely not her.” He paused to take a sip of water the waiter had brought. “I’ve been pretty busy myself. The usual work and stuff. And I dunno if Row told you but our sister just got engaged so it’s been pretty crazy.”
“Rowan mentioned the engagement and all the hoopla. Sounded like pretty crazy might actually be an understatement.”
Millie looked up as the waiter approached their table for their order. “Hmm, I think I’m going to have to try the lasagna and a small salad. Thank you.” Picking up the menu, she handed it off and nodded to Nolan.
“I’ll have the Italian sausage sandwich and George’s salad. Thanks.” He gave his menu to the waiter and nodded before turning back towards Millie.
“Have we really not seen each other since Christmas Eve?” She motioned for him to flip over his hand and show her his knuckles. She smirked. “They healed nicely. Must have been the kisses.”
“It was definitely the kisses.” Nolan adorned a lopsided grin before shaking his head. “Seriously. For a moment there I thought you disappeared or something. Well, that, or you hate me.”
“Who could hate you with that handsome face of yours?” Millie teased. “But it was definitely too long. You should just drop in. Soon, I’ll have a playset in the yard. No one can resist the swings and you can show Julia and I how to use the fireman’s pole.”
Nolan put on a serious face, nodding thoughtfully. “That’s very true. I do have one handsome face.” His signature boyish grin stretch across his face. “A play set, huh? Need any help with that? As you know, I’m pretty handy.”
“I do recall you being pretty good with the hammer and screw driver.” Millie nods as if giving it fair consideration. “But the sets J seems to have picked out so far are crazy in the way they are put together. It’s probably best for me to let the company install it and save us all the aggravation of 500 pages of instructions. But, I might talk your sister into dropping by to make cookies. Is that bribe enough to have you stop over?”
“Maybe.” Nolan smirked and looked up as the waiter arrived with their salads.
“Maybe?” Millie arched her brow. “Better not let your Row hear you say that or she won’t let you have any cookies. Wait, no you tell her. That will mean more for me.” She giggled and picked up her fork stirring her salad around a moment before taking the first bite.
Nolan shook his head at her and took a bite of his salad. They were quiet for a minute as they ate. Then Nolan decided to take this opportunity to tell her what was on his mind in the first place. “You know, I’m thinking of going back to school.”
Millie took a sip of her water, placing the glass carefully back on the table so that she didn’t manage a spill. She smiled at him. She had never really thought to ask him if he had aspirations beyond firefighting. She supposed she had thought that was what he wanted to be doing. “Really? School. What would you want to study?”
“Respiratory therapy.” Nolan set his fork down for a moment, his smile taking a sheepish turn. “I know Row’s more of the ‘higher education’ type, but, uh, there’s this program over at State I was looking into...”
Millie glanced up at him, searching his face and appreciating the slight apprehension she noted in his features. “Nolan, if you want to do this, I am sure you can. Respiratory therapy is a great field and you are a bright guy. Don’t let the thought of school scare you off. It might mean you have to get used to studying again, but you can do it.”
“Wow Mills, I...” Nolan’s expression relaxed and he nodded appreciatively. “Thank you.” It felt good to know people believed he could do this. As he looked at her fondly, his smile grew into an easy grin. “So you think I’m bright, huh?”
Millie playfully rolled her eyes at him. “That’s the part you would choose to focus on.” She quirked an eyebrow intent on teasing him but was cut short when the waitress brought the food. Whatever had been on the tip of her tongue floated away as the aroma of her lasagna attracted all of her attention. She managed to maintain a polite demeanor, at least waiting for him to pick up his fork before cutting off a small piece and bringing it to her mouth. The flavor exploded in her mouth and she could appreciate why he had been so enamored with it.
“Of course.” He picked his fork back up and finished the rest of his salad before eyeing his sandwich. He grinned when he caught the look on Millie’s face. “It’s good, huh?”
Millie glanced up after savoring that bite and catching that look on Nolan’s face. “No, it’s horrible. Maybe we should trade and I’ll take your sandwich.” She teasingly reached across the table as if to grab his plate.
“Whoa, hey. There will be no taking of sandwiches. Total party foul.” Nolan grinned, his hands hovering in front of his plate as if to block her reach. Then he eyed her lasagna. “But that’s not to say I wouldn’t be open to sharing.” He winked, only half kidding.
“Sharing is caring, my friend.” Millie bit her lip smirking as she cut her lasagna in half and offered the plate for him to take. “There’s no party foul with good food. You should know that by now.” She playfully tsked but unable to stop herself from chuckling.
“Okay, now I can definitely tell you’re Row’s friend,” he laughed. He split his sandwich, then transferred the half he cut onto her plate, trading it for the one being offered to him in return. After taking a satisfying bite of lasagna, Nolan nodded. “Dude, we should totally do this more often. And bring Rowan next time. She’s gonna be pissed we ate here without her.”
Lifting the sandwich to her mouth, she inhaled the peppers and sausage before taking a decent sized bite. “This sandwich … nearly as good as the lasagna.” Picked her napkin up from her lap, dabbing the corner of her mouth. “She will skin us both alive, especially if I get the cheesecake. And I am getting the cheesecake.” She glances over at him with a conspiratorial grin. “You have to pinky swear you won’t tell her.”
Nolan looked up from where he had moved onto his sandwich and grinned. “Uh, my hands are kinda full. How about I pinky swear you in spirit?”
Playfully narrowing her eyes at him, Millie nods. “Okay fine, but its your health if you break the agreement. You know as well as I do, how serious she is about dessert.” Giggling, she signaled the waiter ordering two cheesecake slices. There was not even the pretense of sharing.
When: Thursday, March 10, 2019
Where: Casa Lu Al Restaurant
What: What’s Food without Friendly Conversation
Status: Complete
Nolan stepped out of his truck and onto the asphalt of the parking lot outside of the restaurant where he was meeting Millie for lunch. He shut the door and pressed the lock button before pushing his keys into his pocket and making his way to the sidewalk.
He was glad Millie was down with listening to him ramble on about his future. He didn’t want to make a big deal about what he recently decided, but he wanted to get another opinion on the plans he was making. It was easier to picture going back to school the more he said it aloud anyway. Plus, considering he hadn’t seen Millie in awhile, it’d be cool to catch up. At least this time he didn’t come bearing the news that he’d punched Mike and his sister wasn’t talking to him.
Once was definitely enough.
He walked around the brick building and passed an old crooked mailbox he’s sure nobody even used anymore, and reached the front entrance of the restaurant. Pulling the door open, he saw that Millie was already sitting in a waiting chair by the hostess stand.
“Hey.” He smiled as he headed towards her. “You weren’t waiting long, were you?”
Millie grinned with a slight wave as Nolan came in through the door standing as he took the few steps to the hostess stand. “Hey, Rocky.” Millie winked playfully. “I’ve only been here a few minutes. No worries.”
Millie had come directly from the hospital, but had taken a few minutes to change into jeans, going to lunch in scrubs was not on her Top 10 list. Thursdays were her short shift days and she was grateful to not have to go back to work after lunch.
The hostess ushered them over and led them to a small two-seat table in the far corner. Millie placed her purse on the floor at her feet and scooted her chair in, picking up the menu. “So what’s good here?”
“Their steak sandwich is pretty good.” He thanked the hostess and opened a menu. “And basically anything pasta is bomb. I once considered marrying their lasagna, but don’t let my judgement sway you.”
Millie cocked her her, her brow raising slightly with a small smile. “Marrying, huh? That sounds pretty serious.” She refolded the menu placing it casually on the table in front of her. “That made deciding much easier.”
“It was, it was. But ultimately I decided I didn’t wanna be one of those husbands who ate their wives. It’s a bit inconsiderate, no?” Nolan grinned and looked up from the list of entrees.
Millie felt her cheeks flush at the first thought that came to mind. “Guessing that depends on the wife.” She giggled and looked down for a brief moment thinking a censor might have been a good idea, but too late.
Nolan smirked and set his menu aside as well. “So how’s it goin’ in Millieland?”
“Busy. Work is nuts. I think everyone decided to have babies at the same time. My sister is entering her third trimester and they have the twins who are three or four months old. Babies everywhere.” Secretly Millie was kind of glad to be the aunt. She liked playing with them, holding them, but then giving them back and going home. “Julia is busy learning her 3 lines for the kindergarten play and this weekend I think we are going to go pick out that playset I promised her when we bought the house. So just the Queen of Boring. How about you?”
“Tell me about it. I feel like everyone I know is pregnant right now.” Nolan chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s awesome. That’s three more lines than I ever had in kindergarten. And psh. I’ve met the Queen of Boring, and you’re definitely not her.” He paused to take a sip of water the waiter had brought. “I’ve been pretty busy myself. The usual work and stuff. And I dunno if Row told you but our sister just got engaged so it’s been pretty crazy.”
“Rowan mentioned the engagement and all the hoopla. Sounded like pretty crazy might actually be an understatement.”
Millie looked up as the waiter approached their table for their order. “Hmm, I think I’m going to have to try the lasagna and a small salad. Thank you.” Picking up the menu, she handed it off and nodded to Nolan.
“I’ll have the Italian sausage sandwich and George’s salad. Thanks.” He gave his menu to the waiter and nodded before turning back towards Millie.
“Have we really not seen each other since Christmas Eve?” She motioned for him to flip over his hand and show her his knuckles. She smirked. “They healed nicely. Must have been the kisses.”
“It was definitely the kisses.” Nolan adorned a lopsided grin before shaking his head. “Seriously. For a moment there I thought you disappeared or something. Well, that, or you hate me.”
“Who could hate you with that handsome face of yours?” Millie teased. “But it was definitely too long. You should just drop in. Soon, I’ll have a playset in the yard. No one can resist the swings and you can show Julia and I how to use the fireman’s pole.”
Nolan put on a serious face, nodding thoughtfully. “That’s very true. I do have one handsome face.” His signature boyish grin stretch across his face. “A play set, huh? Need any help with that? As you know, I’m pretty handy.”
“I do recall you being pretty good with the hammer and screw driver.” Millie nods as if giving it fair consideration. “But the sets J seems to have picked out so far are crazy in the way they are put together. It’s probably best for me to let the company install it and save us all the aggravation of 500 pages of instructions. But, I might talk your sister into dropping by to make cookies. Is that bribe enough to have you stop over?”
“Maybe.” Nolan smirked and looked up as the waiter arrived with their salads.
“Maybe?” Millie arched her brow. “Better not let your Row hear you say that or she won’t let you have any cookies. Wait, no you tell her. That will mean more for me.” She giggled and picked up her fork stirring her salad around a moment before taking the first bite.
Nolan shook his head at her and took a bite of his salad. They were quiet for a minute as they ate. Then Nolan decided to take this opportunity to tell her what was on his mind in the first place. “You know, I’m thinking of going back to school.”
Millie took a sip of her water, placing the glass carefully back on the table so that she didn’t manage a spill. She smiled at him. She had never really thought to ask him if he had aspirations beyond firefighting. She supposed she had thought that was what he wanted to be doing. “Really? School. What would you want to study?”
“Respiratory therapy.” Nolan set his fork down for a moment, his smile taking a sheepish turn. “I know Row’s more of the ‘higher education’ type, but, uh, there’s this program over at State I was looking into...”
Millie glanced up at him, searching his face and appreciating the slight apprehension she noted in his features. “Nolan, if you want to do this, I am sure you can. Respiratory therapy is a great field and you are a bright guy. Don’t let the thought of school scare you off. It might mean you have to get used to studying again, but you can do it.”
“Wow Mills, I...” Nolan’s expression relaxed and he nodded appreciatively. “Thank you.” It felt good to know people believed he could do this. As he looked at her fondly, his smile grew into an easy grin. “So you think I’m bright, huh?”
Millie playfully rolled her eyes at him. “That’s the part you would choose to focus on.” She quirked an eyebrow intent on teasing him but was cut short when the waitress brought the food. Whatever had been on the tip of her tongue floated away as the aroma of her lasagna attracted all of her attention. She managed to maintain a polite demeanor, at least waiting for him to pick up his fork before cutting off a small piece and bringing it to her mouth. The flavor exploded in her mouth and she could appreciate why he had been so enamored with it.
“Of course.” He picked his fork back up and finished the rest of his salad before eyeing his sandwich. He grinned when he caught the look on Millie’s face. “It’s good, huh?”
Millie glanced up after savoring that bite and catching that look on Nolan’s face. “No, it’s horrible. Maybe we should trade and I’ll take your sandwich.” She teasingly reached across the table as if to grab his plate.
“Whoa, hey. There will be no taking of sandwiches. Total party foul.” Nolan grinned, his hands hovering in front of his plate as if to block her reach. Then he eyed her lasagna. “But that’s not to say I wouldn’t be open to sharing.” He winked, only half kidding.
“Sharing is caring, my friend.” Millie bit her lip smirking as she cut her lasagna in half and offered the plate for him to take. “There’s no party foul with good food. You should know that by now.” She playfully tsked but unable to stop herself from chuckling.
“Okay, now I can definitely tell you’re Row’s friend,” he laughed. He split his sandwich, then transferred the half he cut onto her plate, trading it for the one being offered to him in return. After taking a satisfying bite of lasagna, Nolan nodded. “Dude, we should totally do this more often. And bring Rowan next time. She’s gonna be pissed we ate here without her.”
Lifting the sandwich to her mouth, she inhaled the peppers and sausage before taking a decent sized bite. “This sandwich … nearly as good as the lasagna.” Picked her napkin up from her lap, dabbing the corner of her mouth. “She will skin us both alive, especially if I get the cheesecake. And I am getting the cheesecake.” She glances over at him with a conspiratorial grin. “You have to pinky swear you won’t tell her.”
Nolan looked up from where he had moved onto his sandwich and grinned. “Uh, my hands are kinda full. How about I pinky swear you in spirit?”
Playfully narrowing her eyes at him, Millie nods. “Okay fine, but its your health if you break the agreement. You know as well as I do, how serious she is about dessert.” Giggling, she signaled the waiter ordering two cheesecake slices. There was not even the pretense of sharing.