Slowly, I lean forward, as if I am reaching for a breadstick in the middle of the table, and when his eyes don’t leave his screen, I lurch forward and grab his phone.
“Hey!” he yells as I quickly turn it to face me. It’s worse than I thought. It isn’t some dating app, no, this is some sort of porn site, and he’s just scrolling through images of naked women.
“What the hell, David?” I turn my angry gaze to him as I pass him back his phone.
“Why would you grab my phone like that? That wasn’t cool.”
I press my fingers into my forehead and rub at the headacheforming there. “This isn’t going to work, I’m out.” I stand and drop my napkin on my chair.
“Penny, wait!”
I turn to face him, giving him an unamused stare, as I motion for him to continue.
“I—Could I call you sometime?”
I drop my head back and look at the ceiling, letting out a deep breath. Is he serious right now? Looking back at him, I shake my head. “No, David, lose my number, please. Have a nice life.” With that, I turn and exit the restaurant.
I think about calling a cab but decide I don’t want to go home yet. I don’t want to sit home alone right now, and I haven’t heard back from my best friend Ria since I got back from my horseback riding trip a week ago.
Seeing an open bar across the street, I quickly decide that’s my new destination and make my way over to it.
I haven’t been to this bar before and I can see it’s a more upscale place. Black leather lines the stools, and a rich brown wood decorates the walls. There is no dance floor, just a scattering of high top tables fill the center with plush booths along the outside. I decide to get a drink at the bar and head in that direction.
I order a rum and coke and take a seat, sipping slowly as I think about what to do. Not tonight, but in life. I try not to let my dreams rest on being married and eventually having kids. But it’s so hard. It’s all I want. I hate being alone. No, that’s not entirely true. I enjoy my down time between excursions. I could chill at home for a week just reading a book by myself. It doesn’t mean I don’t want more from life.
I take a deep breath and think back to my three-day horseback riding trip last week. It was a lot of fun. The owner, Jim, was a slightly older man, and he was the one giving me lessons. There seemed to be natural banter and attraction between us, despite our sixteen year age difference. We even shared a few kisses behind thebarn. But when I suggested getting together after my three days were over, he brushed me off. Guess I wasn’t his type after all.
“Whatever guy put that look on your face is not worth thinking about,” an unfamiliar voice says from the stool beside me. I turn to see an attractive man sitting there, nursing his own drink. He was clean shaven with slicked back dark brown hair, brown eyes, And a smirk on his lips.
“How do you know I’m thinking about a man?” I ask, with the raise of an eyebrow.
“I can just tell. I’m Derek, can I buy you a drink…”
“Penny. And sure, I’m almost done this one, anyway.”
He motions to the bartender, who swiftly brings us both refills. “So tell me, Penny, what brings you to a place like this, looking so fine and gorgeous?”
“Oh, stop,” I giggle as I playfully bat at his arm. He seems sweet and I’m not opposed to some flirting. I mean, I was single after all.
“Seriously, did you have a date or something?”
I nod before replying. “ Yeah, it was a third date, and I expected it to end completely differently, to be honest.”
“Well, That guy’s an idiot.”
“How do you know that?”
“Any guy who turns down a gorgeous, smart redhead like you is an idiot in my book.”
“Oh my goodness, Derek!” I rest my hand on his bicep, giving it a small squeeze as I chuckle. “Marry me!”
Humor drops from his face as his eyes go wide. “Uhh…”
“Oh, I was just joking,” I say nervously, removing my hand from his arm and grabbing my drink instead. I tentatively take a sip and sneak a peek at his face to find him frowning at his drink.Did I just ruin any chance with this guy?Is that what David had meant about me proposing? I guess I did saymarry mejokingly to him as well. Perhaps guys don’t find that funny.
The silence between us was becoming uncomfortable, and I was not above bailing to get out of this awkward situation, so I quickly throw back the rest of my drink, and pull a twenty from my purse, throwing it on the counter.
“Well, it was nice meeting you Derek, have a good night.” I don’t wait for a reply as I jump off my stool and make my hasty retreat. This time I don’t hesitate to pull out my phone and call myself an Uber.
