Theo’s face softened. “Just try it. Some people really like it,” he suggested.
I picked up my fork and jabbed it into the mess on my plate. I put a small piece in my mouth and my throat instantly seized in revolt. My body did not want me ingesting this vile thing served as food.
Oh no, I was going to be sick.
“I have to go to the bathroom!” I jumped to my feet and hurried as fast as I could to the women’s room, where I lost the contents of my stomach into the toilet.
I sagged to my knees and laid my forehead on the toilet bowl. Now that everything was out of my belly, including the alcohol, the fuzz in my head receded slightly. I was still shaky, but I wasn’t feeling so out of it.
I flushed the toilet and went to the sink to rinse my mouth. This was officially the worst date in the history of worst dates.
Christ! Had I really told Theo about the size of Cole’s penis?
What was wrong with me? Was I trying to make him hate me?
There was a knock on the door and Theo’s voice was heard on the other side.
“Are you all right, Vivian?” he asked, concerned.
“I’m okay,” I called back, feeling like the most horrible person ever.
“I had the waitress take the Steak Tartar back. She’s bringing you a grilled chicken dish instead.” He was so damn considerate. And I had developed an allergic reaction to his gorgeous flowers, gotten high off antihistamines, and told him all about my former fuck buddy’s package all before running to the bathroom to yak.
And on top of it all I looked like death warmed over.
My god, just shoot me now and put me out of my misery.
I rinsed my mouth again, trying to rid myself of the taste of puke and bile. I opened the door and found Theo waiting for me.
“I’m so sorry, Theo,” I said, bowing my head in embarrassment.
Theo put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “I get the feeling that nothing with you is ever boring,” he stated.
“No, I guess not,” I agreed.
If he only knew.
The grilled chicken was much more palatable and once I had solid food in my stomach, the last of the antihistamine-induced fog disappeared and I once again had control over my mouth. And more specifically what came out of it.
“So, what I said about my ex,” I started to say as we were leaving the restaurant.
Theo raised his hands. “I really don’t need to hear any more about it, if it’s all the same to you,” he joked, even though I saw a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
“Fair enough,” I commented as we waited to cross the street to the car park. I felt horrible for how badly the night had turned out and I was at a loss at how to salvage it.
And then I heard music. Loud, raw, and pretty damn awesome.
Down the road was a small bar I had been to several times. Generation Rejects had played there before and it was a really cool place to hang out. It sounded like a band was playing now.
I nodded toward the bar. “You want to grab a drink and listen to some music?” I asked.
Theo looked a little uncertain. “Isn’t that a biker bar?” he asked and I wanted to laugh.
“No, Theo. It is not a biker bar. Come on. Let me buy you a drink to make up for being such a crap date,” I pleaded.
I could have asked him to my apartment and made him a drink there. Given the look of irrational terror on his face at the prospect of heading over to Benny’s, I should have nixed the whole idea.
But I felt uncomfortable with the idea of hanging out with him, alone, in my apartment. Expectations would be made and I wasn’t sure I could deliver. I needed to keep things as public as possible.
“I’ll take care of you,” I teased and finally Theo relaxed.