A New Drink Order

“I… Wait—what do you mean he was in here the other day with his wife and kids!?” I sputtered in a forcibly-hushed shriek. My hands flew up toward my mouth in a poor attempt to cover the obvious shock and horror written on my face as I considered the bombshell this server—who wasn’t even our server to begin with—had so kindly dropped on me during my journey to the restroom. “You’re seriously telling me that this guy—the first freakin’ person I go out on a date with in months—is—”

The loud, mechanical creaking of the restroom door swinging open behind me interrupted the conversation abruptly though, and instinctively my body jolted slightly at the unexpected noise. After the initial surprise from the intrusion passed, I dared to spare a brief glance toward the retreating figure that had unintentionally wandered into this very private, very embarrassing conversation. Whoever it had been clearly sensed the awkwardness and tension hanging in the air, and had scurried quickly out of sight. Though I was grateful for the courtesy, the culprit’s quick exit left me only able to see a brief flash of lush, blonde waves floating away from us in the dim lighting.

At the very least, it hadn’t been my date; fate hadn’t chosen to be that unkind to me, thankfully, and considering how the night was going already, I felt lucky for it. Taking in a steadying breath, I turned back toward the wide-eyed server again. Admittedly, I felt a little guilty for my outburst now that I was really seeing the poor kid’s face look so panicked. “Look,” I continued, voice evening somewhat, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to freak out on you like that—uh, what’s your name, by the way?”

“Uh…Sean.” He mumbled hesitantly, nervously running one hand across the short obsidian coils that sat neatly atop his head. Despite his reluctant reply, Sean had had visibly relaxed at my apology at least.

“Sean,” I echoed, offering a friendly grin. “Thanks for telling me this guy is apparently…married, anyway; better to learn that sooner rather than later, I guess.”

“Of course—I couldn’t just not tell you once I realized who he was,” Sean explained. “Sorry for ruining your date, though.”

“Eh, can’t say I’m too cut up about it… Who wants to go on a date with a creep like that anyway?” I quipped with a light shrug, earning a small snicker from Sean. My gaze drifted slightly across the dining area, and out of the corner of my eye I was able to spot my date, who was beginning to fidget uncomfortably in my absence. “I probably should get back over there now, though.” I grumbled reluctantly, frowning slightly at my admission.

Sean nodded in agreement, though, with pity swimming in his eyes for my…unfortunate situation. “Probably,” He sighed, offering a feeble smile of support. We both cast another glance toward my table, and my face scrunched up in distaste toward my date as I began debating on exactly what on earth I was supposed to do now. Was I seriously expected to go back over and waste more of my time on this scumbag? Wouldn’t just leaving be the better option?

But then again…

My pouty look of contempt twisted into a small, wicked grin as I considered the alternative—I could give him a piece of my mind. After all, this guy, Tim or Tom, or whatever his real name even was, definitely deserved it.

“Well…it sure looks like you have some ideas in mind for how to deal with him,” Sean finally snorted after another moment. I glanced back toward him with a sheepish, guilty grin on my face, not bothering to correct him. “Good luck—but don’t do anything that’d make us have to call the cops.”

I huffed in disappointment at the advice. “I think that takes some of the fun out of it…but alright.” I muttered begrudgingly as I finally started the trek back toward my table again.

As my heels clicked against the tile floor, I mentally repeated Sean’s warning to myself. The kid’s warning may have been more of a joke than a serious suggestion, but honestly I really was itching to slap the sleazy bastard. Even just a slap, though, would probably warrant a call to the cops if it were in a restaurant unfortunately—I was out of luck there.

So instead, as the distance between the cheater and myself grew shorter and shorter, I plastered on the fakest saccharine smile I could muster up in his direction. A relieved grin formed on his own face at seeing me slide back into the booth once again. “There you are! I was getting a little worried you ditched me,” He admitted, chuckling nervously. “That would’ve been a little disappointing, since I was just thinking how well things were going for a first date.”

“Oh no sorry Jim—I’m having a great time, too!”

“Good—but it-it’s James...”

“Right. Sorry. I’m not good at remembering fake names,” I explained nonchalantly, maintaining my polite, sugary smile despite the confusion that seeped into his features at my comment. I continued on though, not missing a beat, “but anyway John, I just got a little held up; I actually got a call from your wife in the bathroom.”

Jake’s face visibly paled at the mention of his wife—and the shocked frown he wore was almost enough for me to break character and burst into laughter. Instead I just grinned wider as he mumbled barely-audible, incoherent thoughts and questions. “I—what— How did you…?” Jordan stammered awkwardly between surprised squeaks and gasps. As he spewed out more pathetic shrieks and incoherent strings of words, I watched on as he clumsily fell out of the booth. “Ah—oh— …outta here!” He grumbled, staggering to his feet in the single most uncoordinated way I’d ever witnessed.

As he stumbled toward the restaurant’s exit, I sat back and waved a casual goodbye. “Okay well see ya later, Chad,” I called out with a soft snort. “can’t wait for date number two!”

The moment I heard those doors close behind him, I burst into a wild fit of giggles. That had easily been the most entertaining thing to have happened in—well, probably since my last attempt at going out on a “date”, honestly. After catching my breath, though, I was admittedly left feeling disappointed. As fun as it had been, I hadn’t exactly planned on the whole night blowing up in my face before I’d even had a chance to order dinner.

Now, I was stuck being lonely and hungry.

But, the clinking of a glass being set on the table interrupted the small pity party I’d begun throwing myself. Nonplussed at its appearance, I glanced up with a furrowed brow to see none other than a well-crafted wine glass filled with the unmistakable garnet liquid that was red wine. Although the notes that wafted through the air toward me were actually pretty pleasant-smelling, my nose still scrunched up slightly in distaste at the sight of it.

I had tried to enjoy red wines in the past, but after many failures to find one that didn’t make me want to wretch after a sip, I’d given up looking years ago. My gaze shifted up toward the server who had mistakenly set the glass in front of me, ready to correct them, when I recognized none other than Sean standing by with a small smile. “Oh hey Sean,” I greeted with a wave, “I uh…don’t think this is for me.”

“Don’t worry—it is for you, but it’s been taken care of.”

“But…I didn’t order any wine.”

“No, but I did.” A soft, oddly-familiar alto voice spoke out from just behind Sean. My confusion evaporated, giving way to surprise as the shadowy figure behind him, hidden by the restaurant’s dim ‘mood lighting’, stepped closer toward the table. The long, flaxen tresses of her hair cascaded well beyond her shoulders, stopping just at her waistline. As the distinctive pale golden waves of her hair seemed to dance and glisten as the twinkling lights hit it with effortless elegance, my surprise grew still.

The person who had bought me the drink, I’d realized, was the girl from the bathroom?

It didn’t make much sense, honestly, but that hair was unmistakably hers.

As she wandered slightly closer toward me still, with her freckled cheeks creased in a wide, dimpled smile while she continued to linger by me in expectant silence, it hit me. “Giovanna—is that really you!?” I exclaimed dumbly, returning the grin eagerly with one of my own.

“It took you long enough to realize it was me!” She teased with a slight giggle. “Mid if I join you?” She asked, gesturing toward the empty booth across from me.

“Of course you can!” I chirped eagerly, motioning for her to come sit. “Oh by the way, I’m glad you took my advice about going blonde—it’s so beautiful on you!”

“Aw, you’re sweet—thanks,” Giovanna hummed, cheeks reddening slightly from the compliment. “I can’t believe of all places, I run into you here though!”

“I can’t believe it either,” I agreed with a slight nod. “I’m really glad to see you, but didn’t you and Charmaine move across the country like a year ago?”

“Well…more like a year and a half,” Giovanna corrected sheepishly, rubbing at the back of her neck. “But things…didn’t really work out with us.” She admitted with a slight frown. “She stayed there, and I just moved back here a couple months ago. But enough about that—what’s new with you? Besides dating married men, I mean.”

“Oh no, you heard all that!?”

“Yeah,” She snorted, “those walls are really not very thick, y’know.”

“Ugh,” I groaned out in exasperation, burying my face into my hands to hide my embarrassment.

“I saw him run outta here all scared from the bar though at least. But I still figured you probably still needed a pick-me-up after dealing with that, so I ordered you my favorite wine. This is one of the few places I know has it on their menu—even if they do mark it way up.”

“That was so nice of you,” I complimented, hoping to soften the blow of my rejection. “But Vanna…you know I’m not big on red wine.”

“I do know you,” Giovanna agreed, “so just trust me—try it! I promise you’ll love it,” She pleaded, wrapping one hand over my own. “And if you don’t you can…take me out for a drink sometime—to make up for rejecting my very sweet and thoughtful gift here.”

“Oh alright, alright,” I grumbled, smiling despite myself. Hesitantly I pulled the glass to my lips with my free hand, and braced myself for the worst. But as I took the first, then second, then third sip, the worst still didn’t come. It was actually…good.

I gingerly set the glass back onto the table, looking toward Giovanna with a completely dumbfounded expression. “Hah!” She exclaimed victoriously, giving my hand a slight squeeze. “I knew you’d like it—it’s a merlot by the way. They’re definitely the best.”

“I’ve never even liked wine, but this really is amazing,” I admitted, “now that I know wine can taste this good, I’ll have to actually order it more often!”

The two of us chuckled and snickered softly for a while, amused by my new revelation, as I pulled the glass toward me for another sip. “Giovanna?” I finally called hesitantly.

“Yeah?” She asked softly, tilting her head curiously at my tone.

“Even though I did like the wine… Can I still take you out for a drink sometime anyway?”

“Yeah…” She said slowly, offering a small, nervous smile, “it’s a date.”

I beamed at her response, and turned my palm upward so I could be the one to give her hand a squeeze this time. “It’s a date.”