Page 33 of Not Mine To Love

“Hey, you want to get out of here?”

“I’m trying…” I groaned.

“Leave your car. I know a place just down the street. Empty and no one around who probably witnessed your humiliation.”

“Thanks, Julius, but no thanks.”

“Come on… Just a few minutes. It’ll take your mind off of things.”

I could go home and lick my wounds, or I could spend some time in good company. I didn’t feel like being alone tonight, so I took Julius up on his offer.

We walked in silence down the block. I was grateful for the silence. And I was second guessing myself. I should have just gone home. God, I couldn’t do anything right. I couldn’t even date right. I really hoped Dad was having better luck than me. I was a disaster. My life was a disaster.

“Stop it,” he said, catching me off guard.

“Stop what?”

“Beating yourself up.”

“I can’t. I’m embarrassed. Like super humiliated. Listen, I think I’m just going to go home.”

“One drink. And then you can go home and mope, and I won’t stop you.”

I stared at him and he stared back at me, neither of us speaking. Apparently, we were in some sort of staring contest.

“Fine,” I said giving in.

“Great, you won’t regret this.” He opened the door to a tavern I hadn’t noticed before.

Inside it was warm and fairly quiet, but the smell of the place… Oh my, it smelled like all kinds of deliciousness. “What is this?” I said looking around. It didn’t look like a bar or smell like one. “I thought you said we were getting a drink.”

“Well, I’m starving, but you looked like you could use a drink.”

He was right, I could use a drink, but now I was hungry. The smell of sautéed garlic and onions made my stomach growl. “Is this some sort of Asian noodle bar?”

“Sure is. And it’s BYOB.”

“Did you bring anything?”

“Nope. I don’t carry beer in my pocket.”

He had a point. I just needed to stop talking.

I sat at the nearest table and tried to ignore the sudden strong hunger pains. Douglas and I hadn’t made it to dinner. I morosely wondered if he was having dinner with Tera right now. They were probably gazing into each other’s eyes and holding hands.

“You look angry.”

“I am,” I said honestly.

“You should be. I make it a point to not throw my date across the dance floor.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s very chivalrous of you.”

“I try to be.”

“Soooo, did he tell you who the special lady was?”

“His ex. They just broke up.”