Page 25 of Perfect Date
“Oh honey, I hope that’s not the case at all.”
She’s laughing as she hangs up and it makes me smile.
When I look up, my gaze catches Justin’s. He’s cleaning a table across from me and I wonder if he heard some of my conversation. He’s smiling softly and I return it. He places a glass in a bin and takes a step toward my table, but something catches his attention and he stops in his tracks.
Looking to where his gaze has gone, I see that T.J. has appeared at my table.
“Hi, Charlie?”
“Hi, T.J.”
Looking past T.J. I find that Justin has disappeared.
Pushing past the disappointment that rises in my chest, I force a smile onto my lips, take a deep breath, and give T.J. my full attention.
Here we go.
7
“How many patients do you see in a day?” T.J. asks me.
We’re having the typical conversations every first date has, I guess. Well, everynormalfirst date, not that I know for sure based on recent experience.
He presses on with the what do you do, where do you work, why did you choose that career questions I’ve anticipated other dates asking at some point. At least to some degree.
It’s all pretty boring stuff.
“About seven or so.”
“Wow, sounds like you stay busy.”
“Definitely. But it makes the day go by quickly, so that’s good. Nothing’s worse than a day that drags because I’ve got an empty schedule.”
He nods and takes a sip of the beer he ordered.
“So, I have a confession to make,” I tell him hoping to interrupt the trajectory of our current conversation topic.
“Yeah? What’s that?” He asks with a curious smile.
He’s not unattractive. He has dark hair and eyes, a nice smile and a strong jaw line that has captured my attention a couple times. There’s something a little… boyish about his look though. I can’t put my finger on what it is.
“I hate awkward silences in a conversation, so I’ve actually googled first date conversation topics to prevent that from happening.”
“Well, I don’t think we’ve had any lapses in conversation.”
“Oh no, not at all, that’s not what I’m saying, but I was thinking we could move away from the typical job, what do you like to do for fun, what’s your life goals, conversation.”
“Okay, sure, what do you have in mind?”
“One thing they suggested was to ask some various questions.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” He laughs at me condescendingly.
I’m not amused, here we go again.
Strike one.
I shrug, “It was just an idea.”
