Page 23 of Perfect Date
He cuts her off, “Tell her that we were hiring and help get her a job.”
Sam looks at him for a few beats, then turns to me with a small smile, “The stories I could tell.”
“Oh, I’d love to hear,” I rub my hands together gleefully.
“Nope, not going to happen. Keep that mouth shut Sam.”
“Oh, come on, I can tell her about the time you stole the drivers ed car with your friends and took it for a joyride.”
“You just did,” he sighs and shakes his head.
“Or about the time you and your buddies turned our school swimming pool purple.”
“And you just did again,” he shakes his head and points at Sam. “Stop. That’s enough.”
“Wow, you weren’t kidding.”
“Good times, good times,” Sam says with another genuine laugh looking at Justin with clear affection.
“You two are making me miss my friends back home.”
“Back home?” Sam asks curiously as she turns back to me.
“In Lolo. I’ve been living here for about six months now, working for my uncle at Mason Creek Dental. I haven’t been back to visit yet, but maybe I’m due.”
“I’ve got to thank you for the entertainment you’ve been providing all of us, Charlie,” Sam says interrupting us.
“Entertainment?” I question confused.
“Yes, it’s been great!”
“I’m sorry. You’ve lost me. What do you mean?”
“Sam…” Justin interrupts, but she ignores him.
“Your dates,” she says with a laugh. “I can’t believe how funny they’ve been.”
“Ah. Well. Glad I could provide you with some… amusement, I guess,” I say dryly and don’t miss the dirty look Justin now gives Sam. “Speaking of which, I’m going to head to a table now to prepare for round three.”
“Charlie,” Justin says, but it’s my turn to ignore him.
“Who knows, maybe I’ll be supplying you with even more to talk about tonight. Here’s hoping,” I lift my glass in a mock salute and get out of my chair.
“Charlie, wait-“ Justin tries again.
“Nice to have met you, Sam” I say loud enough to ensure they can hear while ignoring him a second time, take my drink, grab my bag off the bar, and turn to select a table.
Choosing a different table from the two I’ve sat at previously, I hope this is a smarter choice. It may seem silly, but really at this rate a little superstition isn’t going to hurt anything.
I think I’ve earned the right to feel that way and invoke whatever good luck is available.
Once I sit and get settled, I take a sip of my drink, then pull my phone from my purse and check the time. I see I still have a little while before T.J. should arrive. As if she knows I was speaking of her just moments before, my phone rings and the screen displays a photo of my mom telling me she’s on the other end. The photo makes me smile - it’s the two of us at a Madonna concert. We had so much fun at that concert. Madonna is iconic and it’s a memory I’ll never forget. That and ‘Like a Prayer’ being sung with a full choir - it was amazing.
“Hi, mom,” I answer happily thankful it isn’t too loud in here.
“Hi, honey. How are you?”
“I’m good. How areyou?”
