Table 6 (closed)

[littlebluebird]

She grins at his response as they scoot out of the booth and when his hand sweeps along her ass, she makes a dramatic gasp and laughs. “I suppose we are. For now.”

The cool evening breeze hits her skin and brings up goosebumps, so she folds her arms and leans into Matt as they walk.

Risa points down the street. “I’m 4 blocks down then 3 over.”

She can’t help but smile at the sight of her sweater wrapped around his waist, and the reasons why. What a night to reflect on.

“So what brought you out to the slow-dating event?”

 

[maybenotacreep]

Matt smiles and wraps an arm around her. His eyes lingering a moment. God, there was nothing sexier than a plain white tank top.

"I'd offer to give your sweater back, but *someone* has put me in an embarrassing state."

He gives her question some thought. Thought about how many times he had almost chickened out. How he had to be shamed into it.

"You could say I went under duress. My friend Tracy at work. She's kind of my work mom. She incessantly teases me about my social life. 'Am I dating anyone?', 'Did I meet any girls over the weekend?' That sort of stuff."

"She is fully aware that I am desperately afraid of approaching women, and I have zero game. She started threatening to set me up with her ugly nieces." His voice raises an octive. "Her words, not mine!"

"Anyway, Thursday she tosses a pamphlet on my desk and says she already signed me up. I know I don't dare show up Monday and tell her I chickened out."

He squeezes her shoulder a little harder. "But I did almost chicken out a half dozen times. I'm glad I didn't."

 

[littlebluebird]

Risa smiles as they walk side by side, “I’m glad you didn’t chicken out either.”

She’s thankful for her choice in wearing her long red skirt. It’s keeping the breeze at bay as it hugs her hips, flowing with each step.

“You’ll have to thank Tracy for me for pushing you. She sounds like a great friend.” She grins, “I’m sure you’ll have some stories to share with her come Monday.” Then she chuckles, “I think I’d even pay to be a fly on the wall to watch that exchange.”

She motions to turn as they head down the street to her apartment building.

 

[maybenotacreep]

“Oh no.” Matt says in a quiet sigh. The look on his face makes it plain he is just now coming to this realization. “She's gonna be insufferable on Monday. I'm not kidding. She's gonna want a detailed rundown of the whole night.”


The look he gives Risa is an odd mix of mirth and genuine panic. “No. Risa. You don't understand. She's gonna be all up in my business, and I'm a terrible liar!”


He finally laughs. “Maybe I'll call in sick.”


He needed a laugh. It seemed pretty unlikely he was misreading where this was going, and now that the reality was sinking in he was getting seriously nervous. It had been…Jesus, years. But it wasn't like he was a virgin or anything. It was just like riding a bike right.

 

[littlebluebird]

Risa laughs and rolls her eyes. “You’re not gonna call in sick. She’s just going to hound you that much more on Tuesday.”

“This one,” she notes, as they arrive at her building and she punches in her code. The main door unlocks, and she pulls it open for both of them to walk through.

As they approach the elevators, she continues, “Omitting details isn’t outright lying.”

The lift arrives with a bright chime, and they step on. Risa hits her floor number and they ascend. “You met someone. She’s lovely. We had drinks. Grabbed dinner. Had a wonderful time. The end.”

The lift slows with its approach and opens with the same bright chime. She shrugs with a grin as she remembers Matt’s strained voice when she palmed him at the diner. “I don’t think details beyond that are important for her to know.”

They arrive at her door and she inserts her key, but pauses before turning. She looks at him with raised brows, giving him an out in case he needs it. “Last chance?”