“Oh, now you’re insulting me? I’m not sure how I feel about that,” he said in a tone of mock disapproval.
“You’ll get over it; just ask!” I laughed lightly. He was being ridiculous, but it amused me.
“I’m not sure I want to now,” he pouted.
“Wimp,” I teased as the laughter bubbled up in the back of my throat.
“Meanie,” he shot back. “Fine, I’ll ask, but if you say no, I want you to know that I’m going to go throw myself in front of the Blue Line. Let that be on your head.”
“Do you always use emotional blackmail to get dates?” I asked.
“Only as an absolute last resort,” he said which made me laugh. “You are so incredibly good for my ego, you know?”
“Just get it over with and ask!” I shouted as I wrapped one arm around my middle, trying to contain my laughter.
“Fine, here goes,” he said taking a dramatically deep breath. “Payton, would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?”
I waited a few seconds and then replied, “No.”
I heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the phone before I said, “I wouldn’t like to, I’d love to!”
“Oh wow, way to give a guy a heart attack, lady,” Dax said as I heard him exhale loudly. “Talk about mean.”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist,” I laughed and heard him chuckle quietly.
“That’s what she said,” he replied in a teenage-boy tone that caused me to laugh. “Are you going to laugh at me like this through the whole date? I don’t mind; I just want to know so I’m prepared.”
“No! No!” I laughed trying to catch my breath. “I’m not going to laugh at you, but you’re so funny I can’t help it!”
“Yeah, well, looks aren’t everything,” he said quietly.
“Stop it! Stop it! You’re killing me, Smalls!” I cried and then laughed so hard I couldn’t catch my breath.
“Ah, a sports movie fan, too,” he said. “This ought to be fun.”
“Okay, okay, I’m getting control of myself now,” I said, taking a deep breath and trying to regain my composure. “Where should I meet you?”
“I thought I’d come pick you up, like a real date,” he said. “But if you don’t want me to, then that’s okay.”
“No, that’s fine,” I replied. “I haven’t been on a date in a while, if you can’t tell.”
“Yeah, well, that makes two of us, then,” he said and I could hear the smile in his voice. “How about if I pick you up at seven on Friday. We’ll go somewhere casual and get to know each other better.”
“More casual than the bathroom at Black Jack or less casual?” I teased.
“Definitely less casual,” he said seriously. “I’m thinking maybe Girl and the Goat or perhaps The Publican?”
“Either one sounds lovely,” I said, trying to regain a modicum of seriousness.
“I’ll make reservations at both and then we’ll decide when I pick you up,” he said. “But you need to give me your address.”
“Oh right!” I said startled by his ability to remain composed. I gave him the address and said I’d see him at seven. I hung up the phone wondering what I was getting myself into. I decided to do a little sleuthing myself, so went into my office and fired up my computer.
An hour, and numerous Google searches, later, I found myself wishing I hadn’t, but it was too late to back out.
Chapter Nine
Dax