The next thing I know, Chad’s face is covered in an orange sticky substance, and I am choking. I pat my chest and cough the rest of the potato into a napkin.
“I’m sorry? What?”
“This isn’t working for me anymore.”
“What isn’t working? My love for you?”
“No, Sarah.”
“Then what?”
“They promoted me, and I’m going to be traveling more with my associates. I won’t have time for a relationship.”
I can feel my temperature rising. My cheeks are on fire with anger. I thought this night was going in a whole different direction and I have been completely blindsided.
“So what? You'll have time for your work pals but not me?”
“I’ll be with them a lot more. Madison and I will work longer hours and--”
“Madison, of course.” I drop my fork and wipe my mouth with the napkin.
Baddy Maddy as she likes to call herself. It’s even on her license plate. She is so full of herself. I can’t fricken stand her. Whenever there is an event, she always stands too close and touches Chad’s arm at every opportunity. It drives me a little nutty, but he swears nothing is going on. That's just how she is with everyone.
“You know Maddie’s just my co-worker. Nothing more.”
“Yeah, you’ve told me before.”
“Look, Sarah…”
I put my hand up to silence him as I get my phone from my clutch and send a quick SOS text to Chrissy to come to pick me up at this god-forsaken restaurant. The phone trembles in my hand as my adrenaline starts to kick in. I can’t control it sometimes. It overtakes my body. It’s like when you get sick, and you’re cold and shivering constantly. That’s what happens.
I bring my hand down when I notice it shake. My breathing picks up and I don’t want to look at him, let alone hear his excuse.
“Don’t, Chad.” I glance at him, trying to control the shaking by taking a deep breath, but it doesn’t work.
“Baby.” Chad reaches across the table to try and take my hand. I flinch back.
“Don’t ‘Baby’ me. I thought this night was going to be the beginning of a new chapter for us.” I stand and push my chair in, clenching my jaw so hard it makes my head throb. I look at him and ball my fists.
Chad grabs his napkin from his lap, looking like he’s getting ready to stand but I don’t want him any closer than he is now.
“I’m leaving,” I say.
He scoffs and throws his napkin on his plate. “Fine, have it your way. Like always. This could have ended with civil conversation, but no, you had to freak out.”
My heart is beating out of my chest, and if I weren’t standing in the middle of a restaurant I would scream.
“Why don’t you go calm down and stop shaking? Then we can talk.”
“Calm down?”
“Yeah, Sarah, you’re kinda acting like a psycho.”
And that's the moment I see red. I grabbed my giant sweet potato, the bottom of it hot on the palm of my hand, and I smash it in his face. When I pull my hand away, he wipes his eyes and looks at me with disgust.
“Well, if you’re going to call me a psycho, I might as well act like one.”
I give him the finger and storm out.