The Double Date

“Destiny! David! You made it!” Steve yelled and ran to approach them. Steve’s girlfriend, surprised at Steve’s overexcitement, jogged to keep up with him. “Wow! Destiny...you look amazing! Did you find the place alright?”

“Yes, it’s a fun little trip.” Destiny answered.

“Yeah,” David, still overwhelmed with embarrassment with his current attire(on top of everything else) murmured under his breath.

“Great!” Steve affirmed still in a cloud of excitement.

Janice cleared her throat to get Steve’s attention.

“Oh! I completely forgot,” Steve jumped, “This is my girlfriend of five years: Janice. Janice, Destiny”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Destiny,” Janice reached out to shake hands and, as a result stroked Destiny.

“You’re very beautiful, Janice!” Destiny declared.

“Thank you”

“She’s alright,” Steve responded, “but she doesn’t have anything on you”

Janice shot a mean glare over to Steve, while David stared at him in bewilderment.

“You’re too sweet!” Destiny giggled, causing David to get even more on edge.

“I’ve already got us a table,” Steve said, “follow me. You’re going to love this, I know a guy and I pulled a few favors and got us the best spot in the place.”

As they all walked in, David overheard Janice whispering to Steve, “could you please not put me down like that? You know I’m self-conscious about my appearance.”

“Relax, Jan. It was just a joke!”

‘Dude, what are you DOING?’ David thought glancing between Janice who really was quite gorgeous and shifting his sights back to the object of Steve’s desire: Destiny. He supposed that if Steve were forced to switch places with him, it would be a just consequence for the massive jackass he was being.

Eventually they arrived at the table Steve was talking about. He wasn’t kidding about it being the best table in the restaurant. The view of the skyline was incredible and it was near the string quartet playing.

“Wow! This really IS great spot” Janice said with a tone that was not of being impressed, but more of being surprised, “we’ve been here a handful of times and not once have we sat at this table.”

“Janice...please...don’t make this about you. My friends Destiny and David are engaged and I want to help them celebrate”

“Oh!” She replied sounding relieved. Though she was still upset at how cruel Steve was being, at least she wasn’t in a position to compete with Destiny, “Congratulations you too!”

—

Throughout the meal, Steve didn’t take his eyes off Destiny except for the moments when she kissed David. David could see the utter frustration on Janice’s face, growing steadily throughout the night. Maybe it was that, Steve was pursuing something neither he nor Janice wanted, maybe it was that it felt good to feel bad for someone other than himself, maybe it was just nice to talk to a beautiful woman that wasn’t on Destiny’s side; but he was able to overcome his embarrassment, shame and damnation to have supportive conversation with Janice while Steve was completely focused on talking to Destiny.

“You really do look beautiful,” David meekly informed her.

“You’re just saying that,” Janice dismissed it.

“No. I’m not.” He assured her.

“Thank you,” she said, her eyes watering up, “how long have you been with Destiny?”

“I couldn’t tell you,” David answered, “when you’re with Destiny- time doesn’t exist.” He did his best to be both honest and misleading.

“That’s sweet.”

“That’s one way to put it...”

Just as David was starting to put Janice at ease when Steve let the veil drop on his light flirting.

“So how much did it tear you up to meet me just AFTER you got engaged to David?” Steve laughed.

“That is IT!” Janice shouted, slammed the table and shot up, “that is IT! I’ve been good to you, Steve, and you’re going to pull THIS on me? Go to hell!” And she stormed off.

Steve let out an annoyed sigh, “I’m sorry for Janice, she must be in one of her moods. I’ll go talk to her.”

Five minutes later, Steve came back to the table alone, “well, looks like that’s the end of that.”

“I’m so sorry!” Destiny said.

‘That’s what you get, jerk’ David thought.

“I’m not too upset about it,” Steve continued, “I mean...did I do something wrong?”

David was stunned that he could ask such a question.

“Absolutely not,” Destiny answered him, “I thought you were just perfect.

“You think so?” he smiled, “I think you’re perfect too.”

David felt a shiny new brand of disgust to add to his arsenal, letting Janice go for Destiny. The only thing he could think, the thought that looped in his head was: be careful what you wish for, you prick.