Chapter 010 The First Date

Taylor mentioned that the seafood restaurant was not close to the stadium, over three kilometers away, opposite the Hilton Hotel on West Palm Beach. It was a lobster restaurant called Joyce Brothers, with luxurious décor and high-end style.

The restaurant specialized in lobster and stone crab, sourcing ingredients straight from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico right outside.

In the Palm Beach seafood market, a large lobster cost just over ten US Dollars per pound, but in this restaurant, a serving of stone crab and lobster soup was 180 US Dollars, a serving of baked cheese lobster was 125 US Dollars, and a serving of marinated oysters with jasmine was 35 US Dollars.

However, the taste was indeed very good, retaining the freshness of the original ingredients while perfectly blending the flavors of the accompaniments, making the texture richer and layered.

Listening to the violin performance in the restaurant and having a glass of Fiano white wine, spending a few hundred more US Dollars seemed very worthwhile.

Link had trained in boxing all day and was famished. As soon as the lobster was served, he switched into glutton mode, ceaselessly stuffing food into his mouth, while Taylor ate and talked, not as interested in the food on the table as he was.

"Link, among female singers, whose songs do you like the most?"

Taylor asked, propping her cheeks with her hands.

Link paused, putting down his fork, and thought for a moment, "Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, Alison Krauss, oh, and yours; all your songs are great."

"Hmph, did you include me out of politeness? I can tell,"

Taylor pouted slightly, dissatisfied with his answer.

Link shook his head and chuckled, "No, I listed them in the order they debuted. Your songs are great, and I believe you will be just as awesome as they are one day."

"Thank you!"

Taylor smiled happily, "How's your boxing training going?"

"Not bad, I'm doing intensive training. I plan to compete in amateur matches soon and enter the professional boxing scene next year. My coach says I have good technique and stand a chance at the Golden Belt," he replied.

"That amazing? When you compete, I'll be there to cheer you on,"

Taylor said, shaking her fist with a laugh.

Link clasped his fist and bumped hers.

After eating, Link rode his motorcycle with Taylor, cruising leisurely down the streets and stopping to enjoy any pleasing scenery they came across.

Walking hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder with her gave him the illusion of being in a relationship, but unfortunately, Taylor showed no intention of going to a hotel, and he felt it wasn't right to bring it up himself.

By around eight o'clock, Taylor's phone rang for the fourth time. It was a call from Mrs. Andrea, telling Taylor that Miami was not safe at night and insisting she come back early. Her tone was stern.

Link had no choice but to ride his motorcycle to drop Taylor off in front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Just as they reached the hotel entrance, Mrs. Andrea hurried out from the lobby, gave only a nod to Link, and pulled Taylor into the hotel.

Link waved goodbye to Taylor, then rode off on his little motorcycle.

"Mom, Link is my friend; you shouldn't treat him with that attitude,"

Taylor said angrily, throwing down her hat.

"Taylor, I know it's not right, I'm just very worried about you. You've only known Link for a few days and don't really understand him. I don't advise you to get too close to him,"

Mrs. Andrea picked up the hat and followed her into the elevator.

"Mom, are you trying to interfere with my personal life? I'm nineteen years old, I'm an adult,"

Taylor said, pressing her lips together defiantly.

Mrs. Andrea shook her head and said with a smile, "Taylor, I have no intention of interfering in your personal life. I'm just offering some advice from an adult's perspective. You're a singer, a celebrity star, in Miami only to attend a music festival, and you'll be leaving in a few days.

"Link is an ordinary person who will spend his life by the sea. If you like him, you should keep your distance and not get too close, to avoid giving him unrealistic hopes.

"If you don't like him and just want to talk to him, perhaps seeking inspiration for your songs, then forget I said anything."

As the elevator slowly ascended, Taylor thought it over seriously and felt that she did like Link after all. First of all, he was very handsome, cool, his body covered in muscles, very strong, like a mysterious special agent from a Hollywood movie. Being with him would probably be very interesting.

Mrs. Andrea glanced at her and gently stroked her back, saying softly, "Taylor, there's something you have to understand. We live in Nashville and will go back once the music festival is over. Getting involved with him is not suitable. My suggestion is to maintain a distance, to stay just friends. If you want to find a boyfriend, you could look within the music circle, where you'll have more in common."

"Mom, I understand, I know what to do," Taylor replied.

Taylor waved his hand and walked into the room.

Mrs. Andrea watched her daughter's retreating back and shook her head.

She didn't think Taylor would have a good outcome with that diver.

Although Taylor was serious and somewhat keen on Link, she was a smart kid and would soon realize that she should invest more energy into her music. After all, music was her life, not Link.

.....

Upon returning to Baker Diving Shop, light shone through the glass storefront.

"Why are you just getting back now? Went on a date?"

James asked, holding up his dripping hands.

Link looked at the freshly cleaned wetsuits and smiled, "Seems like business wasn't too bad today."

"It could have been better. Two customers needed divers, but you weren't here."

James cast a complaining glance at him, then suddenly sniffed and charged over with the hose still in his hand.

"What's that? Smells great."

Link placed the restaurant takeaway box on the counter, which was originally packed for his breakfast the next day. Now that there was a gluttonous fatso here, tomorrow's meal plan needed reconsidering.

"Joyce's restaurant takeout box? You went over to Palm Beach? I heard that restaurant is expensive. How could you afford to eat that kind of food?"

As James spoke, he swiftly opened the box and, finding the lobster inside still hot, lifted it out and started eating it with gusto. He exclaimed how delicious it was and ended up devouring everything, soup included.

Link shook his head; the more this guy ate, the fatter he got, and the fatter he grew, the more he ate. He was on his way to becoming spherical.

After finishing, James sat on the sofa, patting his chubby belly contentedly, and said, "Had I known, I wouldn't have had Danny's discount hotdogs this afternoon. Who did you eat with? Taylor? How much did it cost?"

"Over eight hundred,"

said Link, rinsing salt from the wetsuits with a hose.

"Over eight hundred? Are you out of your mind? Can't make ends meet anymore?"

James tried to sit up with an effort, having eaten too much. He propped himself up on the sofa like a pregnant woman trying to get up.

"Is eight hundred a lot? Do you know how much little Roy Jones makes from a boxing match? At least two million, he won't fight for less. Mayweather gets even more. I will earn much more in the future; there's no need to worry about this little amount of money,"

Link said with confidence.

"Psh!"

James rolled his eyes and, washing his hands under the hose, said, "I could say the same—know how much Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks get for a movie? At least fifteen million. In the future, my fees will be higher than theirs.

But we both know that's just a joke, Link. You can't think you can beat professional boxers just because you've won against a few lousy fighters in a bar. That's impossible; we have to face reality."

James dried his hands with a towel, "Like with you and Taylor. She's a star, and you're just a regular person. There's a huge gap in your lifestyles. Eating with her, eight hundred dollars a meal, have a few more and you'll be on the streets."

"Link, listen to me. Let's just run the shop quietly, make money gradually, and not mess with other stuff. It's all useless."

James paused for a moment, poking his chubby face forward to look at him, "Are you listening to me?"

"You can go now."

Link aimed the hose at his face. James got a face full of water, looking at him with a sense of being wronged. He wiped his face with a towel, grabbed his keys, and the trash bag and left.

After cleaning a few sets of diving equipment, Link dried and disinfected them and also took a hot shower.

He got into bed after nine, Taylor had sent two messages. The first said she would have a full-day rehearsal tomorrow and couldn't come to teach him guitar. The second one wished him a good night.

Link also replied with two messages, stating he would go buy a guitar tomorrow, and wishing Taylor a good night as well.

The next day, Link continued to wake up early, run with weights, practice boxing—life was simple, tranquil, yet peaceful.