Page 10 of Fight

Sometimes it feels like it.

Must be having a slow day at the office then.

Cal the liar

No, pretty busy actually. But I was thinking about you, so…

That another lie?

Cal the liar

No, but this is…

I hope you have a terrible rest of your day, Scottie.

The corner of my mouth tips up into a smile, and I shake my head.

Thanks. Hope yours sucks big time.

I snap my phone shut and stuff it back in my pocket with a conflicting feeling in my gut. I’m not at a place in my life to be involved with anyone, so I don’t even know why I’m entertaining thoughts about this guy. I’m trying to start a new life for myself. He is kind of funny though… and hot. How can having a crush feel too soon yet overdue at the same time?

I have a satisfied smile when I return to my apartment after surviving my first workday with no major fuckups. It was important for me to make a good impression. I’ll have plenty ofdays ahead to make mistakes, but I wanted my first day to go well.

I open up the nearly bare cabinets in my kitchen and figure out what I will make for dinner. Canned peaches or canned green beans? I snag the green beans and find my trusty can opener and peel back the lid. The grin on my face spreads when I drain the water; I have an actual sink! Living in your car sure makes you appreciate things like modern plumbing. No more showering at the gym. No more gas station bathrooms.

I pluck a plastic fork from the drawer and head toward the window of my studio apartment. Using my foot, I nudge the inflatable mattress against the wall, then plop down in front of the window and rest an elbow on the sill. Outside, it’s not busy like Main Street, but I can still watch the town’s residents walk by my building—and that’s almost as good as television. I stab my fork into the green beans and stuff them into my mouth. The salty, and slightly waxy, beans taste like a five-star Michelin meal. Honestly, I’d eat this for dinner even if I wasn’t broke.

I bring another forkful to my mouth but freeze halfway when I see a woman with a big orange floppy hat pushing a stroller—a cat stroller. Sure enough, a big fat tabby is propped up in the seat, bouncing along the bumpy sidewalk. I snort at the way he jiggles in his seat. This town has some characters. My phone buzzes. I set the fork in the can and rest it on the windowsill.Another text from Cal.

Cal the liar

How was your day?

Good. You?

Cal the liar

Good. Hungry. Wanna grab dinner?

I take another bite, dropping the fork back into the hollow tin can.

Just ate, sorry.

Cal the liar

Bummer. Are you free Saturday night?

The whiskey I bought the other night was a celebration after securing my offer letter. I wanted to feel like an ordinary person and be around other ordinary people. I’ve been so lonely since I left Arkansas, so I needed that night at the bar, but for now, the rest of my cash is reserved for emergencies only. I’m on canned dinners until my first paycheck clears.

I’ve only gone on dates with Jonathan. Do men still pay for their date’s dinner? What if he wants to go somewhere fancy? I can’t risk having to split the bill and have my bank account take the hit.

Sorry, I’ve got plans this weekend. Raincheck? Maybe the weekend after?

Cal the liar

It’s a date.

What the hell am I doing?I haven’t been settled in this town for more than a couple weeks and I already have a date scheduled? At thirty-two, it’s been well over a decade since I’ve been on a first date, and I’m not sure if those even count. This is wrong, but damn, flirting felt so right. I want normalcy, and that means stepping outside my comfort zone. As much as I shouldn’t entertain the idea of dating, it feels natural. What difference does it make?