“Wow, you’re really famous, huh?” Alexa asked me.
“Sometimes,” I said.
“I was famous where I grew up,” Alexa said. “I was in a bunch of local commercials. It was so hectic trying to walk around and have people honking at me, you know?”
“I bet,” I said. I turned a little and pretended to look around. “We’re here now. What do we do?”
Madison swiped her left hand and knocked a small plate to the floor.
“I’m so clumsy,” she said.
She reached down the same time I did.
Our hands reached for the plate.
We looked at each other.
“We can’t be seen together,” she whispered.
“So, you sit right behind me, then talk to me,” I said. “How smart.”
“We’re on dates, it doesn’t matter.”
“How long does it take you to pick up a plate?” I whispered. “Are you going to keep knocking stuff off the table?”
“If I have to,” she growl-whispered at me. “What do you really want?”
“Just tell me if you’re okay or not,” I whispered. “This all feels fucked up.”
“Will you relax?” Madison asked. “I used my middle name for a one-night stand. You still fucked me.”
“Are you okay?” Gary called out.
Madison sat back up and faced her date.
I did the same, facing Alexa.
Alexa smiled at me. “So does it hurt when one of the hockey things hit you?”
“The hockey puck?”
“Yeah.”
“It hurts.”
“What about the pads?”
“A good slap shot sends the puck pretty damn fast at me,” I said. “Pads only cover so much and can only absorb so much of the hit.”
“Oh,” Alexa said. “Did you ever fight someone?”
“Sure,” I said. “All the time. You know, this place has a limited menu. You can order for the both of us. Surprise me. I’ll be right back.”
“Are you leaving?” Alexa asked. “Or, what, is this some kind of sex thing? You want me to meet you somewhere?”
I stood up, hitting my chair against Madison’s. “I’m going to step away to the restroom for a moment. I promise I will be back.”
I walked away from the table.