She ushers me outside, and it’s all I can do not to drag my feet. Our table approaches, and before I can figure out how to escape, I’m standing in front of Arthur again. He stands up, and like last time, he tucks his mother’s chair in behind her. The food is out and smells amazing, but the idea of sitting here for a second longer makes me nauseous.
How can I leave without being rude? With a heavy heart, I sink into my chair.
“Carina, I saw this necklace and knew you’d like it,” Arthur says, placing that velvet box on the table as my breath is sucked from my lungs. I don’t move to open it. I amnotacceptinganythingfrom Arthur. This is all moving way too quickly.
My phone continuously vibrates from my purse. It’s a phone call!
“Just one second,” I tell him, pulling out my phone. It’s Jay. And now it makes sense.
I accept the call. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, Princess. I’m guessing you didn’t jump out the window.” His deep voice is a breath of fresh air.
“Are you serious? Which hospital?” I’m putting my acting skills to good use, pulling out every technique I learned in grade ten drama class. I’m selling this story if it’s the last thing I do.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he says. “Is his mom actually there? I didn’t think that happened in real life. You should text your friends a code word for situations like this.” Even from here, I can hear the smirk in his voice.
If I wasn’t so intent on getting out of here, I would laugh at his sarcasm.
“Oh my goodness! I’ll be right there!” I exclaim, grabbing my purse.
Jay chuckles. “You’re welcome, by the way. I expect a free ice-cream cone next time I’m in the bakery.”
I don’t bother pointing out that he doesn’t even like ice cream. “Love you too, bye, Mom!”
Jay laughs, and I end the call. Arthur and Barbara are watching me with concern. I feel bad until I stand and their gazes shift to my exposed midsection, and I remember their words from before. This is definitely for the best.
“Is everything okay, cutie?” Arthur asks, and I almost throw up right there.
I force myself to seem upset instead of revealing how excited I am to leave. “It is, but unfortunately, I have to leave. It was nice meeting you both, though.”
“Well, that’s very regrettable,” Barbara concedes.
Arthur looks upset but also understanding. “Okay. We’ll just ask for a to-go box for your food and your portion of the bill.”
A snort-laugh escapes before I poorly cover it with a cough. I’m all for splitting the bill, that’s perfectly fine with me, but I find it funny he was picking baby names, buying me jewelry, and mentally planning our wedding but draws the line at paying for my fifteen-dollar chicken tacos.
Iamhungry, and the food smells amazing, but I really don’t want to wait any longer.
“Oh, no, it’s fine,” I say, picking up a taco and shoving it in my mouth. A quarter of it doesn’t fit and drops from my mouth onto the table. “Er ruf lef murerph,” I say through my full mouth, though it doesn’t sound likeI’ll just leave moneylike I intended it to.
Still standing and chewing, I pull out a wad of bills from my purse and drop thirty-five dollars on the table, which is more than enough to cover my dinner, plus tax and tip. I swallow, take a gulp of water, then shove the next taco in my mouth. Shredded lettuce, salsa, and cheese fall onto my shirt and the table from my mouth, but I’m in too deep now—I’ve committed, and my escape is so close. Arthur and Barbara watch me with expressions of confusion, shock, and disgust.Now they know how I’ve felt this whole date.
I’m chewing so fast I can barely even taste the food, but I’m starving, and I paid for it. I swallow and wash it down with another gulp of water. There’s another taco left on the plate, but I want to get out of here before I get roped into staying longer.
I pick up the last taco. I’ll eat this one at a normal pace in the car. “Well, enjoy your dinner, bye!”
Barbara stands, and so does Arthur. “We’ll walk you to your car,” she says, straightening her jacket. “I’ll allow you five seconds for a kiss, but keep it PG; I’ll be watching.”
Is she for real? Arthur’s grin reaches from ear to ear. This is normal for him?
“No!” I protest a little too loudly. With my purse across my shoulder, my phone in one hand, and my taco in the other, I take a few steps backward. “I can manage!” I bump into a server and hastily apologize. “Bye now!” I say to Barbara and Arthur, then I turn and speed walk out the door, using every fiber in my being to force myself not to sprint away.
I don’t stop to take a breath until I’m in my car. I lock my door for good measure in case they follow me out to make good on that five-second PG kiss. Who even says that? I haven’t been on a proper date in a few years, but that cannot have been normal. There’s absolutely no way that wasn’t a prank show. I can’t believe there are people out there who think that’s all perfectly acceptable first date behavior. That’s not acceptable second date behavior, or even one hundredth date behavior! That was just bonkers!
Grabbing napkins from my glove compartment, I wipe the condiments off my shirt as best I can, then start my car so music can keep me company. Now that I’m not scarfing down food like I’ve never seen it before, I take my time with the last chicken taco, and it’s delicious. It’s a shame I didn’t get to actually taste my food like I would’ve if this date was enjoyable. I’ll have to come back with Emi and Kalani and, by extension, Daphne and Emmett. I wonder what a date with Emmett at La Mesa would’ve been like? Nothing like the one I was just on, that’s for sure.
My phone vibrates, and I wipe one hand to check it. It’s Jay.