When I arrived at the restaurant, Chris was standing in the lobby. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
“I was told dinner was at seven.” He smiled at me.
"Is that right?” I mumbled, irritated. “Well, have you seen her yet?" I looked over my shoulder for my mother, but I didn't see her. No sooner had the words come from my mouth, my phone started to ring.
"Hello."
"I'm so sorry, honey, I'm not gonna be able to make it to dinner, I have a terrible headache."
“That's too bad,” I sighed loudly.
“Just have dinner with Chris. He should be there,” she said.
“He is, and thanks for telling me you had invited someone else,” I tried to say where Chris wouldn’t hear.
“We have dinner once a month, so I figured I’d just kill two birds.”
“Yeah, but now you aren't here, Mother,” I snapped.
“I know, and I'm sorry.”
“Bye, Mom.” I hung up and turned to leave the restaurant.
“Where are you going? You might as well stay and eat. My treat.”
“Chris, I shouldn't.”
“We’re just friends. Are you not allowed to have friends?”
Friends wasn’t the issue. I wasn't so sure I would want Luke to eat with another woman, but I’d known Chris forever, and it wasn't like I was ever interested in him nor ever dated him.
“Fine.” I followed the hostess when she called out Chris’ name. The table for three was close to the street, and I watched as cars drove by. It was a little chilly for it to be so close to summer, but such is life in the pacific northwest.
“Are you just going to ignore me all night?” Chris said.
“Sorry. I'm just ready to be home and in my own bed.” I shrugged and lifted my iced tea to my lips.
“Are there apartments out there?”
“Maybe, but I live in an old farmhouse that Luke and Ryan converted into a duplex. Ryan moved into the town, and I’m renting his half. I live quite a ways out. But it's quiet, and it's near the woods, so it works for me.”
“Oh, I didn't realize you lived that close.”
“I can practically walk out my back door and into the woods. There is this amazing meadow that I love and work in often. Technology has come such a long way. It great that I can carry my battery source out there with my phone as a hot spot and work for hours.”
“Aren't there bears and stuff?”
“I've seen a few scratchings, but I haven't seen a bear. Ryan always kids and says well they’ve seen you.”
“I'm sure they have. Do you carry something with you?”
“Yes, I have spray, and I carry my Glock, if needed.”
When the waitress arrived, she took our order and then disappeared. The rest of dinner was all business oriented. Every time he would ask a personal question, I would steer the conversation back to work.
“Thanks for dinner,” I said as I pushed the door open.
“No problem. It was fun. I like getting to hang out with you outside of work, even though you insisted on talking about work.”