4: 4
The whole class cheered.
Jill dropped a screenshot of the restaurant reservation into the group chat, and the price tagged on it, 【$1,888 per head】, had several of the guys gasping out loud.
She said with a smile,
“Order whatever you want, everyone. We only get one graduation trip, so the important thing is that we all enjoy ourselves!”
My phone buzzed. A private message from Julian.
“Athena, don't throw a fit at dinner tonight.”
“Jilly booked somewhere this expensive just to smooth things over. And here's the thing, you offer to pick up the tab yourself.”
“I'll put in a few good words for you in front of everyone and save your face.”
I finished reading, and hit delete.
Seven o'clock, the Atlantis underwater restaurant.
Sharks and manta rays drifted overhead through the aquarium glass.
Twenty-eight people filled three long tables pushed together, spread with Australian lobster, king crab, and top-grade caviar.
When we ordered, the waiter asked about dietary restrictions.
Julian answered for me on reflex:
“She's allergic to shellfish, so we should probably be careful.”
The thought had barely stirred in me when Jill piped up beside him, all sweetness:
“But lobster's the thing I most wanted, and I finally got a chance to treat everyone.”
Julian turned and glanced at me:
“Then just don't touch it later. We're all out here to have fun, Lena, so put up with it a little and don't kill the mood.”
I closed the menu:
“I'll order a bowl of plain porridge on its own, separate check. I'll pay for mine myself.”
Through dinner, Julian sat right across from me.
At one point, when Jill bent her head to sip her soup, I saw the jade good-luck charm hanging against her collarbone.
The one I'd gotten for Julian at the old cathedral, bowing every three steps up to it to pray for his protection.
Julian caught me looking and tugged guiltily at his collar.
“Jilly's been having a rough patch lately. I lent her the charm to ward off bad luck for a couple of days. Don't read into it.”
I pulled my eyes away, cold.
Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the waiter came over with the bill:
“Good evening. Your total comes to $64,000, including the seafood set at $1,888 per person, a fifteen percent service charge, and drinks. Who'll be settling the check?”
Jill made a show of digging through her purse, then let out a little cry:
“Oh no, my phone's hit its transfer limit, and I can't pull the money out of my investment account…… Jules, cover it for me first, okay? I'll pay you back when we're home in New York.”
Julian glanced at me, and seeing I had no intention of pulling out a card, gritted his teeth and handed his credit card to the waiter:
“It's nothing. I've got it.”
The mobile card reader swiped once.
“Beep…… transaction declined.”
Julian froze for a second:
“Might be the signal. Try it again.”
“Beep…… transaction declined.”
A third try in a row.
The lively buzz of the class died down.
Every eye turned toward Julian.
The waiter checked the screen and spoke with a polite smile.
“Sir, I'm sorry, your card won't go through.”
“Do you have another card?”
