When the entrées arrived and her salmon was "overcooked," the woman spotted Sophie across the restaurant.
"You." She pointed, voice rising. Now other customers turned to look. “You're the one who sat us at three different tables. Get me a manager." She was nearly shouting.
Jake got there first.
"I'm so sorry about your evening," he said, already picking up the plate. "Let me have the kitchen redo that salmon for you, on us. And I'll bring a round of drinks for the table while you wait."
The woman's husband finally looked up from his phone. "That works. Thank you."
Jake headed for the kitchen. Diane caught Sophie's eye and nodded toward the back. "Take five," Diane said. "Go get some air."
She went out the back door and stood in the alley, breathing in the smell of dumpsters and brine. Her hands were shaking.
It opened. Jake.
"You okay?"
"I don't know why I'm so shaken up."
"She was looking for a fight before she sat down. Nothing you could do was going to fix that." He leaned against the wall beside her. "Diane says you can head out early if you want."
"Yeah," Sophie said. "I should probably go."
They walked back inside together. Sophie grabbed her bag and said goodbye to Diane.
Jake was waiting by the back door. "I'm heading out too. I'll walk you."
They cut through the alley to the street. The evening had cooled, the promenade crowds thinning to couples and dog walkers.
"Thank you," she said. "For earlier. With Salmon Lady."
"Salmon Lady." He laughed. "That's what we're calling her?"
"In my head, forever."
He stopped beside a bike chained outside the surf shop. Old, a little rusty. "You want a ride? Handlebars. It's faster than walking."
She had a boyfriend. She should have said no.
Instead she said, "If I fall off, I'm blaming you."
She climbed on, gripping the metal bar on either side. Jake pushed off, wobbly at first, then steadier. The wind hit her face. She could feel him behind her, his arms on either side as he steered. It was ridiculous and probably unsafe, and she started laughing.
"Right here," she said.
"I know where you're staying."
Sophie raised an eyebrow. "That's creepy."
"You told me. First week."
They turned onto her street. She could see the house ahead.
"This is good," she said.
Jake slowed to a stop. She slid off the handlebars, landing harder than she meant to, catching herself on his arm.
"Graceful," he said.
