I leaned over Shauna’s back. “Oooo oo. Make sure you get extra ranch sauce!”
She giggled. “Of course, girl.”
I retired to the wooden outdoor setting at the back of the bar. I only spotted a couple in the corner canoodling and that was it. The back was littered with palm trees and green plants. As soon as I sat down, guilt set in about not contacting Diego. I sent a quick text through.
“Hey how are you? I miss you and sorry didn’t speak. finished exams today xxx”
I looked longingly at my phone, waiting for the text to come through. Shauna with her bright white teeth bounced in with full beers in her hands.
“One for you, my friend, and one for me. Wings coming up!”
She sat the beer down in front of me and when I raised my glass, she chinked hers with mine. “To passing exams with flying colors!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, amen!” I took my first sip and sighed. I stroked the bottom of the glass and looked at Shauna.
“What is it now? I know that look,” she said.
“I think I might have been too harsh about a situation.”
She smiled. “Go on. I think I know what you’re talking about,” she chided.
“Diego. I miss him. I sent him a text and he hasn’t gotten back to me. Maybe I messed up. I just didn't want to be dating some gang-banging biker. My ex was into that shit,” I lamented.
“Ahh, baggage.” Shauna circled her finger in the air.
I opened my eyes incredulously. “No. It just looks like the same thing.”
Shauna sighed. “Or it might not be. Give him a chance and see what it will be. To me, he sounds super sweet. I mean, what guy does a candlelight dinner on a date these days? You’ll be lucky if you get a message in your DMs these days. Count your blessings when you have them.”
I burst out laughing. “You are so right. The dating game sucks these days.” I let the buzz from the beer put me in an even better mood and my phone pinged. My stomach flip-flopped. Could it be him?
“Hey babe nice to hear from you. I’m glad about your exams we should celebrate. When you free?”
I did a little squeal in my seat and waved my head from side to side.
“It’s him! He wants to celebrate exams with me.”
“See, what I tell you?”
“He’s saaa sexy,” I gushed.
Shauna held up her hand and turned her head in a dramatic fashion. “I don’t wanna know. That’s enough from lovesick people. Between you and Celine, I’m out.”
“Huh? Celine?”
“Yess, honey. Where have you been? Celine and Rob. That night when those creeps came for you. They got together then.”
“Ohhh. Wow. That’s a nice match. Two doctors-to-be, they’ll be fighting over the scrubs.”
We laughed at that and our wings came out, piping hot. We dug in and talked some more. By the time we left the bar, the sky had turned a magnificent hue of apricot, that Cali sunset that everyone raved about flooding the skyline. I drove home feeling great about my life.
I walked in the door, “Hey Palo! you in here?”
“Yes, I am.” I nearly jumped out of my skin. Palo stood behind me, fixing something on the door.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m checking the alarm pad, that’s all. How’d your exams go?”
