This hadalsobeen a mistake, because he'd never tried to fake a phone call before. He was committed now, though.
“Hold on, I'm just with someone,” he said. “Lemme call you back in a minute.”
Yeah, that was better than trying to fake the whole call.
He pretended to hang up and shoved the phone in his pocket, looking at Clara apologetically.
“Look, I hate to do this to you,” he said. “But I've got an urgent problem at work to take care of.”
Before Clara could object or respond, Mike took out his wallet and fished a few bills out. “Thank you for putting up with me this long,” he continued, setting the cash down in the middle of the table and trying to smile his most charming smile.
He'd always planned on paying for dinner, anyway, and this felt like the least he owed Clara. Especially since neither of them were getting laid tonight.
Not that she was missing out on much there, either.
“I guess if duty calls, duty calls,” Clara said, and Mike could see the disappointment in her eyes.
He couldn't figure out why the hell she'd be disappointed, but it still made him feel even more terrible. Better to get out of here as quickly as he could.
“I'm sorry,” he said. Before she could respond, he turned his attention to the door, pushing his chair in as he made his escape.
It's not you, it's mewasn't exactly the most comforting thing to say. Even if it was true.
There was nothing wrong with Clara, but Mike was starting to think there was something wrong with him. Why the hell couldn't he get through one date?
Maybe he was just putting too much pressure on himself. Maybe you couldn't rush finding a connection. Maybe, at twenty-eight, he didn't have to feel like his life was getting away from him.
Or maybe he just wasn't meant to find anyone. He'd had his chance, and he'd blown it.
Rachel had been right. He just wasn't… enough. Not enough for her, not enough for anyone.
Thunder rolled overhead as he walked out into the street, heavy air threatening rain.
Great. He was about to get soaked on the way home.
Not only that, but now he’d have to go to Oscar’s wedding without a date.
