Releasing the straw from between my lips I sit up straight and stare down at my empty glass.
Probably shouldn’t have done that.
“This one is on the house.”
I lift my face towards the voice and find my server back with a brand new vodka cranberry.
I absolutely do not need that one.
But since I don’t know how to say no, I squeak out, “Thank you so much!”
She winks, taking my empty glass, and I’m left alone again.
This time I sit on my hands.
Two drinks is usually my limit. Especially two strong drinks. And since I just had two in less than – I tap my phone screen to see the time – fifteen minutes, I should probably ease off.
And now I’m back to chewing my lip because Brian is officially one minute late.
Paranoia starts to creep in so I pick up my phone and open the dating app to check that there aren’t any missed messages.
Nothing.
It’s Friday night and our last correspondence was Wednesday evening when we agreed on a time and place to meet.
My body warms in nervous anticipation and I drop my phone back on the table.
I take a slow inhale through my nose.
Stay calm. You don’t want to be sweating when he shows up.
My exhale is choppier than I’d like.
When does a few minutes late turn intohe’s standing me up?
Seriously, this is the sort of stuff I need to be looking up before a date.
I eye my phone, consider opening a search, but instead just tap the screen.
Two minutes late.
Okay, one more sip won’t kill me. And if he’s not showing up anyways then what does it matter if I get completely drunk?
I bundle up my hair, holding it back in a makeshift ponytail this time with one hand, the other holding the glass in place as I lean forward to take a sip.
Seriously, how does that server carry these over? The liquid is all the way to the top.
One more sip.
Okay, two.
“Are you Maddie?” a deep, gravelly voice asks from right in front of me.
Still bent over the table, my eyes dart up and I find myself staring at the front of a person’s jeans. A man’s jeans. His crotch.Holy hotdogs, I’m staring at a crotch that’s level with my table.
Letting the straw release from between my lips, I slowly bring my eyes up. And up. And up.
This man is… huge.