I didn’t know if my mother would have been able to take it if I told her I would be living alone. She already seemed to think going to an interview for a job was the equivalent of running a gauntlet of serial killers and debauchery. But knowing I was going to be with my big brother helped to reassure her.
Melissa and I chose a restaurant that had opened while I was in California. Trying something new seemed to fit with the overall theme of starting over again.
We had just sat down and were perusing the wine list when I noticed a familiar face come through the door. Melissa must have noticed my expression change.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Tyler just walked in,” I said. I laughed and shook my head as he noticed me and came to the table. “How do we keep running into each other?”
He laughed. “I have no idea.”
“It’s fate,” Melissa said.
I kicked her hard under the table and made a show of looking around to distract from it. “Are you meeting someone here?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m just grabbing something for myself.”
I gestured toward an empty seat at the table. “Do you want to join us?”
“That would be great if you don’t mind,” he said. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding,” Melissa offered.
Tyler smiled and sat down. I handed him a menu, and Melissa took out her phone. She looked at it, and her eyes widened.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“I just didn’t realize what time it was,” she said. “I have really got to be getting home.”
It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. “Melissa, you’re my ride. And we haven’t even gotten our food yet.”
“I’ll just order it to go when the waitress comes,” she said. “And maybe Tyler can take you home. Do you mind Tyler?”
“Not at all,” he said.
“Great,” Melissa smiled.
The waitress came up right at that moment, and the three of us ordered. Melissa made a point to ask for her food to be packed up to go. She paid for her dinner right then like she was doing her best to get out of the restaurant as fast as she could.
While we waited for our food, we engaged in the epitome of small talk. It was close to painful just how boring and meaningless the conversation truly was. Melissa was listing off the weather for the next couple of days when the waitress finally appeared again to put us out of our misery. She set plates down in front of Tyler and me, then handed Melissa her to-go container tucked safely in tightly knotted bag.
Melissa thanked her and barely waited for her to walk away before getting up.
“Well, guys, it was fun. I’ll be going now. Have a good night,” she said.
She scurried off, and I looked across the table at Tyler. He was drizzling thick pepper-studded dressing from a tiny bowl over his salad.
“Why does this feel like a setup?” I asked.
He laughed as he stabbed a bite of the salad up with his fork. “I have no idea.”
“So, how is everything going at the bar?” I asked. “It’s a really great place.”
Tyler nodded. “It is. Thanks. It’s going really well.”
Tyler and I melted into conversation, laughing and filling each other in on what had gone on in our lives during the time I was away. It flowed smoothly while we ate, and I wondered if the food was really that good, or if it was spending time with Tyler that made it seem that way.
By the time we got to dessert, our conversation had come back around to the present.
“So,” he said, “what happened with the interview? When do you start your new job?”
I took a bite of my tiramisu and raised my eyebrows at him. “I guess as soon as I find one.”
“I thought you said that your interview went really well.”
“It did. But I didn’t get the job. She chose someone else. But she was really nice about it and said that I was impressive. The other candidate just had more experience. I can’t really argue with that,” I said.
“Just keep looking. The job that’s right for you is out there somewhere.”
“How about you?” I asked. “Have you thought about doing online tech courses?”
He looked hesitant. “I think I might be too old for that.”
“No one is ever too old,” I said. “When I was in college, there were several people in their fifties who were in class with me. You should just try.”
The corner of his mouth turned up in a bit of a smile. “I’ll think about it.”
A few minutes later, we finished our dessert and headed out of the restaurant. As we started to head back to Nick’s house, I looked over at Tyler.
“I don’t want to go home quite yet,” I said. “Is that okay?”