"Compared to the immature idiots I've dated, that's not a bad thing. I'd hold on to this one if I were you. He sounds like a keeper to me."
"Why do I suddenly feel like livestock?" Nathan asked as the waitress headed toward the bar to put in our drink order.
"Well…" I started to say as my phone chirped, letting me know I had a text. It was from Tressa, checking to see if we were still coming. Her nerves were obviously getting the best of her. See you soon, I typed back before stowing my phone in my bag.
"Your friend?"
"Yeah. She was just checking to make sure we were still coming," I said as the waitress returned with our drinks and took our dinner order.
"Whatever happened to your other friend? The one who was at the bar with you the night we met?"
"Brittni? She's at a teaching conference in Seattle until Monday."
"Really? I wouldn't have pegged her for a teacher."
"I said the same thing when I first found out, but supposedly, she's like the kid whisperer or something. Personally, I think she scares them into listening," I joked. "She's definitely different. I think she was burned by some guy a few years back. Ironically, it was when she was in school in Seattle. Tressa did tell me she wound up transferring here at the end of her sophomore year. She's a bit intense, but still awesome," I said, suddenly feeling awkward at the way he was studying me. "Do I have something on my face?"
"No, nothing like that. I just like how your face lights up when you talk about your friends. You obviously like them a lot," he answered as our waitress returned to the table with our dinner.
"I do. They both welcomed me with open arms," I said, digging into my dinner while he continued to study me. "Aren't you hungry?" I asked.
"I have something I need to tell you first," he said, looking more serious than I had ever seen him.
"Okay? Should I be worried?"
"First, I need to tell you what this week has meant to me," he said just as my phone rang.
Talk about saved by the bell. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear what he had to say. I answered my phone without taking my eyes from Nathan's. I had to swallow a sudden lump in my throat before I could speak.
"Hello," I finally managed.
"I need you to come now," Tressa whispered in the receiver.
"What?" I asked, not sure I heard her right.
"You have to come now. The date is a complete disaster. I need you to come smooth it over," she pleaded.
"Seriously? What have you done to my confident friend who's not afraid of anything?" I asked her as Nathan's lips quirked at my question.
"She's gone," she hissed into the receiver. "Hurry, please," she demanded before abruptly hanging up on me.
"What was that about?" Nathan asked.
"Tressa. She's totally freaking out. She wants us to come now. Do you mind?" I asked, trying to ignore where our conversation had been going before my phone had interrupted it.
"Nah. I still owe her for the other night," he said, signaling our waitress for the check.
The waitress brought us to-go boxes with the check, not commenting on the sudden departure. Whatever Nathan had been about to say was forgotten as we headed to the small club where we were supposed to meet Tressa and her date. I certainly wasn't going to bring it up. I just wanted to put it out of my mind as we made our way through the smoky room looking for Tressa.
"Ashton, over here," a voice called out to our left as we were halfway to the bar.
"I'm so glad you made it," she said, giving me an exuberant hug that seemed a little too forced.
"You okay?" I whispered in her ear.
"No. I'm a complete wreck. I'm sure he thinks I'm a total assface," she whispered before releasing me. "Ashton, I'd like you to meet Travis. Travis goes to school with me. Travis, this is my friend, Ashton and her friend, Nathan," Tressa said in a rush, trying to get all the introductions out in one breath.
"Nice to meet you, man," Nathan said, reaching past me to shake Travis's hand.