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My job at GoWithFriends was to find unique, local places for people to meet up for group dates, and it was as amazing as it sounded. I was thrilled to be a part of making online dating more fun, casual, and stress-free for people.
Okay, it was go-time. I put in the number of the restaurant owner, and waited the four long rings until he picked up.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Kruder?”
“That’s me. Is this Carmen Ortega?”
“It is. Thank you so much for taking my call. It’s such an honor to talk to you, and I know you’re busy so I’ll get right to it. Have you considered our offer to partner up?” We didn’t pay companies to accommodate us, but we did promote them to our members and in ads to potential new members across social media platforms. Some places were more eager for free promotion than others. I had a feeling Mr. Kruder wasn’t dying for attention. His restaurant was doing just fine without us.
“Yes, well, I’m afraid I can’t give you an ongoing reservation. We’re much too busy for that. I could squeeze in a party of ten or less with at least a week’s notice, but the weekend is absolutely out of the question. Actually, before five on any night is out of the question.”
Darn, that’s what I was afraid of. Most working people couldn’t do a mid-week afternoon group date.
“What about between meal-times, say at two p.m. on a Saturday or Sunday?”
“No, I’m afraid that won’t work. Even our lunch hour on weekends is packed, and there is no lull.”
I took a deep breath, reminding myself to focus on what hewasoffering. “We could absolutely give you a week’s notice. What about a midweek appointment. Say, Mondays at four-thirty p.m.?”
He gave a large sigh. And then there was silence.
“May I be frank with you?” he finally asked.
“Of course.”
“Miss Ortega, in general, large parties are problematic for restaurants. They always have people they’re waiting on, and yet the food needs to come out synchronized. They require us to rearrange tables. And although the whole party wants to sit together, they don’t want to pay together, which leads to extra work for our servers. I could go on, but basically what I’m telling you is I’m not interested in reserving a space for large parties. We are not Chuck-E-Cheese. So, I am very sorry, but your request is denied.”
Wow, that was taking frank to a whole new level. And why had he offered us a slot only to take it back? On the bright side, I could definitely cross them off my list and move on, which I guessed was better than continuing to chase a lead to nowhere. Still, I needed to be sure.
“Do you have morning hours? Perhaps you could use one of our groups as a practice run for new servers or to test out potential menu items?”
“Madam, that is absolutely out of the question.” His words were getting snippier with every syllable, and that was when I knew I’d pushed too far.
“I understand. And I thank you for your time, sir.”
“Of course. Freddy Kruder at your service.”
“It was a pleasure to speak with you, Freddy. I mean Mr. Kruger. Freddy Kruger.” What was my mouth doing? “I’m so sorry, sir. I—”
“That’s quite enough.” Click. Call ended. Life over. I had mixed up a very snooty chef with a psychopathic murderer fromNightmare on Elm Street. I was absolutely winning at my job.
“Argghhh.” I dropped the phone on the desk and leaned over, squeezing my fists against my forehead. “Could this day get any worse?”
“You’re not supposed to ask that.” A smooth voice replied. “The universe will hear you and give you a flat tire or something, just for asking.”
“You’re the flat tire,” I mumbled.
It was him. Because in addition to becoming an incredibly beautiful specimen of a man, Isaac’s voice had turned out to be rich and deep to match. I looked up at him and frowned. He’d never approached my desk before. Now he was leaning against it, looking way too comfortable. This close, I could see the little scar above his eyebrow from when he’d run into a tree branch as a kid. It was weird to know that story, but not know him.
“I don’t have time for the conversation we need to have,” I told him.
“The one where you explain why you were talking to Freddy Kruger on the phone just now?”
“No. The other one,Zac.”
There was a long pause while we sized each other up.
