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“Nah. You always taught me to write sober and edit drunk.”
They both cracked up over that one. “Well, I think Hemingway actually had it the other way around.”
“Okay, but I’m not Hemingway. Peons like me need to do both sober,” Miranda said. She pulled on her denim jacket and grabbed her purse. “Call me tomorrow and let me know how it went.” She bent down and kissed his cheek. She pulled away a little and whispered, “I hope I’m wrong about him. I really do.”
Connor pushed away his belief that one’s intuition is seldom wrong. “Well, I do too.” He patted her face and watched as she left. Just as the front door closed behind her, the sliders slid open.
Trey walked in. Connor had to admit he was a little disappointed in how he’d dressed for their first date. Normally, it wouldn’t matter, but Joule was a smart place, trendy, and he wondered if they’d fit in. Trey had worn gray sweatpants, running shoes, and a University of Washington purple hoodie. Now, he did look good. The man would have looked good in a burlap bag, but still.
Connor grinned. “You know what? How about we try someplace more casual?”
“Oh? What did you have in mind?”
“The Pacific Inn is just as close.” The restaurant was a divey joint near Lake Union at the end of Stone Way. It was small, with just a few booths and a bar. In the summer, their outdoor patio was lively, but right now, summer was a dream, a mirage.
The Pacific Inn was unpretentious, coming from a time before Seattle was the gentrified, high-tech city it now was. It was the kind of place workers on fishing vessels would have ended up for beers and fish and chips. And those fish and chips were some of the best in the city. But at least there, Trey’s ensemble wouldn’t attract any undue attention.
“Never heard of it,” Trey said. “But I’ll try anything once.”
“You’ll love it.”
“As long as they have a bar, I’m in.” Trey plopped down in the leather chair near the window and put his feet up. Connor couldn’t help but notice the no-name brand of trainers he wore and how tired-looking they were. You’d think a successful attorney would be wearing ASICS or Nikes, or maybe even something more luxurious. He then chided himself for thinking like a snob. And then he said, “I’ll be right back. Help yourself to another bourbon, if you want.”
He left Trey in the living room. In his bedroom, he slipped out of the khakis and Ralph Lauren polo he had on. He pulled out a pair of faded Levi’s and a fleece pullover instead. He slid out of his loafers and found his old Puma sneakers in the back of the closet.
THE PACIFIC INNwas a good choice, Connor thought. Maybe better than Joule, especially for a first date. The Friday night crowd was lively, but he and Trey were able to snag one of the booths just as two women stood to leave.
The table was littered with stocky cocktail glasses, rumpled napkins, and wicker food trays. He smiled at Trey as he sat across from him. “I know it’s not morning or anywhere close to brunch, but they make a wonderful Bloody Mary here.”
A young guy in jeans and black-and-red flannel came over to clear the table. He wiped it with a rag. “What can I get you boys tonight?”
Connor looked to Trey. “You want to try the Bloody?”
“If you recommend it, I gotta see what the fuss is.”
“Two bloodies, please.” He looked again to Trey. “Spicy okay?”
Trey looked at their waiter, a gorgeous blond-bearded hipster, and winked. “The spicier the better.”
Connor also ordered the Cajun shrimp and a side of Tater Tots with tartar sauce.
“Tartar?” Trey asked as the waiter walked away.
“That’s how they do ’em here.” He smiled. “So here we are. I know a little about you from your profile, but why don’t you tell me what makes you tick. Who you are.”
“Oh my god,” Trey said. “Is this a job interview?”
“No, no. Just making conversation.”
Their drinks arrived, and Connor hoped he wasn’t getting off on the wrong foot.
“Maybe we don’t need the third degree, then.”
“I’m sorry.” Heat rose to Connor’s cheeks.
Trey sipped the Bloody and smacked his lips. “Thatisgood.” He eyed Connor. “Hey, I was just fucking with you. I always want so much to get the first-date awkwardness out of the way, to just be three months in the future where we can be comfortable with each other.”
“Oh god, that’s exactly how I feel. I don’t do much socializing in my line of work, so I’ve kind of gotten rusty as how to act in a situation like this, to be honest. Add in that I am very newly single after almost twenty years, and you have a guy who is really operating on hope and a prayer. When I met my Steve, Internet dating was just heating up.”
