The Wine Bar

It’s a sticky, sweltering day. There is barely a breeze as I open my car door, stumbling out while tugging down my silky blush-toned mini skirt and trying to balance on my high heeled wedge sandals. Pushing a stray lock of hair off my damp forehead, I survey the wine bar across the street in the waning sunset light where I’m going to meet my date for the first time. It’s a cute little place with a charming outdoor patio, string lights and curling ivy giving it a cozy, intimate atmosphere. I walk under the archway and find a black wrought iron table for two tucked in a corner and take a seat, the metal of the chair pleasantly cool against my thighs. It’s one of my favorite places to come to on the weekends or evenings after work with my best girlfriends, the perfect place to laugh and gossip over a glass of good wine and an oyster platter. Having been on the dating app scene for quite some time, I picked this place because I know I’ll be able to relax and feel comfortable in this familiar setting, which is important since I’m actually excited about this guy. I picture his face from one of the photos on his profile- nice smile, warm brown eyes and somewhat unkempt waves that seem to fall just perfectly without any apparent effort. I wonder what his sense of humor is like, will I be able to make him smile, the kind of smile people get when genuinely happy, where it slightly crinkles the outer corners of their eyes? I’m interrupted from my daydreaming as the waitress comes to greet me.

“Hi, I’m Katie, I’ll be your server tonight!” She says cheerily, “Can I get you a drink to start with?”

“I’d love a glass of this Merlot please.” I say, pointing to the one from a local vineyard. Merlot is my go-to, another comforting familiarity that helps ground my first-date nerves.

“I will have that right out for you! You look really pretty by the way, love those shoes!”

“Thank you so much! First date.” I say with slightly raised brows and a nervous smile. She smiles back conspiratorially, “Ahh, how are we feeling about it?”

“I think I feel good! He’s cute, at least from pictures.”

“Ooh, that sounds promising! Well let me know if you need a quick exit strategy, I know how these things can sometimes go.” I laugh, warmed by her instant camaraderie. “Will do! Thank you!”

“No problem,” she winks. “I’ll be right back with that Merlot!”

I glance down at my phone. It’s about 7 minutes before our agreed upon meeting time, and I can’t help but feel the flutter of the butterflies in my stomach. I spot Katie walking gracefully on sure feet, carrying an astonishingly large tray on the tips of her fingers as though it were nothing at all. She sets down the various dishes at the table nearby, chattering warmly with the customers as she weaves blithely around them without so much as faltering. I am amazed, since I myself am embarrassingly clumsy and could never dream of balancing a tray like that, let alone walking and talking with one. She makes her way to my table with the lone glass teetering almost on the edge, yet not a drop of the deep ruby liquid is disturbed as she places it in front of me.

My mouth drops open in awe. “How do you do that? You make it look so easy!”

She laughs lightly and shrugs a shoulder “Eh, when you’ve been at it a while it comes naturally. Excellent choice by the way, this is one of my favorites.”

“Oh mine too! It’s so juicy. It’s like the liquid version of a hug”.

“That is literally the perfect way to describe it. Oh! I think that might be your date. He IS cute!” She bounces her eyebrows approvingly at me. “Wish me luck!” I whisper discreetly as she moves to the next table. “Good luck!” She whispers back. His eyes finally land on me. I aim a bright smile his way, and he smiles back (no crinkles) as I stand and offer him a quick, if slightly awkward, hug. He looks me over approvingly. “You must be Marissa. It’s nice to finally see you.”

“Hey Kevin! You too, I’ve been looking forward to it.” Ugh really, Marissa? ‘Looking forward to it’? Is this a business meeting? The first date nerves are still apparently in full force. We sit and I reach for my wine, taking a slow, savoring sip to steady myself. I immediately feel more at ease, the wine bursting with flavor as I roll it over my tongue. Mmm, just like a hug.

“You look amazing.” He lets his gaze drop to the neckline of my slinky black tank top. Suddenly it feels too low, the straps too thin as they showcase the expanse of my shoulders. I roll them slightly to shake off the tingle of unease in the back of my neck. Smiling tightly I reply, “Oh thanks, you do too.”

Katie returns, asking if we are ready to order. He peruses the menu and asks for a glass of the high end Napa Cabernet, the most expensive one on the list. Writing that down, she asks “alright, and any appetizers to start?” Before I can suggest the oyster plate he abruptly states, “No we’re ready. We’ll have the seafood pasta, this one here.” pointing, again, to one of the most expensive menu items. I blink, snapping my mouth shut. Katie gives me a look, brows raised, and I smile stiffly, nodding once. Whatever, if he really likes the pasta that much, he can have it. It probably has oysters in it anyway. I take another sip of wine, pausing briefly to enjoy how the aroma fills my nose, subconsciously bringing back good memories and feelings. It’s just... I like the ritual of eating an appetizer. It allows the date to unfold in the same pattern, smaller bites of conversation at first, before easing into the main course and diving into the meat of getting to know each other. It also makes the whole experience last longer, and if the date is going well, wouldn’t you want that? What is the big hurry?

I snap out of my reverie when I realize he is asking me what I do for a living. What was he saying before? Something about how he has been rising through the ranks of investment banking. “Well? It must be something that keeps you active, judging by those gorgeously toned legs. Dancer maybe?” He looks at me expectantly, the half leering smile so at odds with what I had previously thought of as a sweet and adorable face.

What? ‘Gorgeously toned legs’? Ew. And my job was right in my profile... did he seriously not even bother to read the basics? “Uh... no, I’m a small business owner, it’s a small boutique in town. Rayon de Lune? I don’t know if you’ve heard of it or not... I opened it a year and a half ago so it’s still pretty new.” I’m rambling now, trying to dispel the awkwardness I feel. The tingle at the back of my neck snakes down my spine and I reach for my wineglass again. This time I let the smell and flavors wind together and pull me into the memories they invoke, giggling late at night at my best friend’s house near a crackling fire, blankets tucked around me. Outside, sitting on a picnic blanket, the first tingles of crisp autumn air in the breeze...

Another rude interruption. “So, do you live near here? I’d love to have drinks after this at your place. And maybe dessert too...” he arches a brow suggestively, and inwardly I cringe. Drinks? Dessert? We haven’t even gotten the pasta yet, and judging from the way he hadn’t even bothered to so much as sniff the wine, I doubt he’s that interested in more drinking. I breathe deeply and take another gulp from my glass, at a total loss for what to say. Just then, Katie swoops by in her seamless way, asking if I’d like another glass. I look up gratefully and nod, and she must read something in my face, because she gets a vaguely worried look as she turns to go back inside.

I lift the nearly empty glass to my lips again, in order to avoid answering his pushy question. The tingle down my spine is now turning into a full fledged shudder that I have to work to suppress. Finishing the last drops of my Merlot, I take a steadying breath and say “You know I think I’m actually feeling a bit tired, it was a super long day so tonight might not be the best time for drinks. Or dessert.”

I almost swear Katie heard me, because she stiffens a bit as she walks inside.

“Oh come on,” he scoffs. “We are just getting to know each other. Don’t be boring!”

I simply stare in disbelief. Don’t be boring? Don’t be boring?!? Boring, Kevin, is having to suffer through this shallow excuse for a conversation and charade of pretension while you try unceremoniously to get in my pants.

It is almost physically impossible trying to contain my eye roll, and just as I look up to see Katie coming out of the door with my fresh glass of Merlot, I feel Kevin’s clammy hand brush my knee. Ugh. I catch her eye, and giving her a strained, tight smile, I open my eyes just wide enough to convey what I hope is a “please help me get out of here!” signal. Katie widens her eyes back. Signal received. I almost let out a sigh of relief, but I feel Kevin’s hand clamp to my leg, then begin inching its way up my thigh, and I am suddenly frozen in place. I look up just in time to see graceful, perfectly poised Katie trip over the cobblestone and send the Merlot flying into Kevin’s face, a deep red stain blooming on his perfectly crisp white shirt. She catches herself on the edge of the table, and I reach out a hand to steady her. “Oh my gosh are you alright?” I ask, only vaguely aware of the expletives Kevin is muttering loudly in outrage. She straightens, but not before I catch a sly wink. “Yes! I’m so sorry about that! The food will of course be on the house tonight.”

“Yeah, there isn’t going to be any of that now. I’m gonna head home, this obviously wasn’t going anywhere anyway.” He gets up, shoots us both a glare as he throws his napkin on the table and storms off.

I look at Katie, and we both burst into shocked laughter. “Thank you so much. Seriously!”

She waves me off. “It was my pleasure honestly, I saw what he was doing, with his hand on your leg. Gross!” She makes a mildly disgusted face.

“Yeah... it was extremely uncomfortable, you totally saved me. Thank you again!”

She smiles and I give her a little farewell wave, heading toward the exit. “Oh wait! Here, take this. You deserve it, after that date!” She says as she hands me the bottle of Merlot.

Later that evening, after changing into my softest sweatpants and climbing into in my own cozy bed, I cradle my wineglass full of the Merlot. Inhaling deeply, I think of how funny it is that a really bad date can turn into a wonderful memory about the kindness of strangers, and the unexpected sisterhood you can find in the least likely places.