She genuinely thought this was finally the moment she had been waiting for.
When the check arrived at their table, she didn’t even glance at it. She was too focused on trying to calm her breathing and racing heartbeat.
He picked up the bill and looked at it.
Then he placed it directly between them on the table.
“The total is three hundred eighty dollars,” he said casually, as though discussing the weather. “Let’s split it evenly.”
She blinked, certain she had misunderstood.
“What did you say?”
“Let’s split it,” he repeated calmly. “That seems only fair to me.”
She stared at him, trying to process what was happening. He had planned this entire elaborate evening. He had selected this expensive restaurant. He had insisted on the costly wine selection.
He had been the one saying repeatedly, “Tonight is going to be special.”
And now he expected her to contribute one hundred ninety dollars?
She wasn’t upset about the money itself. She could easily afford her half of the bill. That wasn’t the issue at all.
“This just feels strange to me,” she said carefully, choosing her words. “You planned this whole evening for Valentine’s Day. Why would I need to pay for half of the special date you invited me to?”
His jaw tightened noticeably.
“This is about true partnership,” he said firmly. “We’re equals in this relationship, aren’t we?”
“Of course we are,” she replied. “But real partnership isn’t about splitting the cost of a surprise dinner you specifically planned for me.”
The atmosphere at their table shifted dramatically. The background music suddenly felt intrusive and too loud.
For several long seconds, they simply stared at each other without speaking.
continued on next page
For complete cooking times, go to the next page or click the Open button (>), and don't forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
