“Do you want another beer?” sheasks.
He nods.
“I’ll be right back.” Emily turns around and heads back to the counter, ringing a bell and throwing our order in the kitchen window as she passes.
Not quite the service I’m used to at the diner.
"So,” I say after a moment of silence. “Do you work?”
Jake nods. “I help around my dad’s office from time to time.”
“I’m starting soon at the diner,” I offer, glad we’re getting to some common ground. “I like to bake so Aunt Beth is going to have me do the baking there.”
“I’d like to try something some time,” he says as he reaches across the table for my hand and I get a glance of the guy I saw in the diner. His thumb brushes over my knuckles and I feel the knots in my stomach morph into butterflies.
“Maybe I could bake for you some time.”
“I’d like that.”
“What’s your favorite dessert?” I ask as Emily returns with another beer for him. She sets it down wordlessly and leaves us be.
“Favorite dessert,” he muses, leaning back in his chair again. He strokes his chin as he ponders his response. “Probably Baked Alaska.”
“I’ve never made that before, but I’m always up for a challenge!” I have to admit, I’m excited at the prospect.
Jake smiles again and then goes on to tell me he’s in a band, he plays the guitar, and is also a backup singer. He mentions that they’ve had a gig at this bar before and becomes animated as he talksabout the band with his cousin. For a moment, I consider coming to watch them play.
Our food arrives shortly after that. It’s quiet between us as we eat, except for the sound of the slot machines across the room and the radio blaring old country music. The food is surprisingly good for a dive bar. Jake devours his burger and fries and is getting a third beer before I’ve even made a dent in my nachos. I resign myself to the fact that I’ll be walking home based on how many beers he’s downing.
Emily appears again, her notepad in hand.
“Is this together or separate?” she asks, clutching her pen in her right hand.
I open my mouth at the same time Jake opens his.
“Separate,” he declares and I feel my mouth turn sour.
I offer a small smile at Emily before she turns around to go split our check. I glance back at Jake, feeling slightly off-put after the night’s turn of events. He’s picking at his teeth now with a toothpick from the table and staring across the room at Emily’s ass as she walks.
I’m ready for this night to end. Jake is not my knight in shining armour, though I’d thought for a moment that he might be.
Emily returns with our checks and we pay our respective bills. I see something written in red on his and make out a phone number. Emily’s.
Jake stretches as he stands and I jump up, ready to start heading home.
“Well,” I say, “this was…fun.” I smile at him, even though my blood is starting to boil. I clutch my phone and wallet in one hand before shoving them into my pocket. Just as I’m starting to step around him, he reaches for my wrist and spins me back to face him.
“Party’s not over yet, is it?” he asks, cocking his head to the side. His grip tightens on my wrist and I struggle to free it. I let out a nervous chuckle, thinking he’ll let go, but he doesn’t.
“Let go of my wrist,” I say, shaking it.
His fingers dig into my skin as he steps closer to me. I can smell the onion on his breath, mixed with beer and cigarette smoke. It makes my stomach roll.
“Where do you think you’re going? The night’s still young.”
“Home.”
My eyes meet his and I see a flash of something unknown in them that sends a shiver down my spine. My heartbeat thumps in my ears as I realize my initial gut feeling was right. I shouldn’t have come on this date.
