A Date

Despite being out of the dating game for years, Spencer knew only a dummy could ignore the signals Danielle had just given him. He stared blankly, wondering if this was a sign that he should take that first step. It didn't have to be anything serious. A coffee and a cake, or drinks at a bar. At worst, Danielle will say no and that would be the end of it.

"Are you okay, Mr. Askren?"

The words "Would you go on a date with me?" blurted from his mouth in an instant, almost sounding like one whole word. Danielle replied with a chuckle and a puzzled face, causing Spencer's heart to sink. Suddenly, the word 'no' carried a lot more impact. With a simple sentence, he had embarrassed himself and possibly ruined a professional relationship.

"I'd love to go on a date with you," Danielle said with a broad smile.

"Oh... oh. Okay then. Great."

"So, what did you have in mind?"

"Well, would tomorrow night work for you?"

"As in dinner?"

"Yeah, yeah dinner."

"Anywhere in particular?"

Spencer's mind cycled through all the nice restaurants in town as he unleashed one long "Uhhhh..."

"Look, here's my number. You can call me tonight with a place."

"Any preference?"

"Surprise me."

"I will. See you tomorrow."

"See you then, Spencer."

Spencer left the room with his heart pounding like a jackhammer. It might have been an awkward proposal, but it had still managed to get Danielle to the dinner table. As he heads home, he thinks of places to take his date. There was the nice Italian place on Kingston street or the small, quiet Vietnamese resturant that was one of the best-kept secrets in town.

As he pulls into his driveway, Spencer feels his phone vibrate, alerting him to a text from Karen: 'hope u havent forgot about the little job'.

"Shit," Spencer mutters to himself, knowing he had in fact completely forgot about his other appointment. Knowing he'll never live it down if he doesn't get over there, he texts: 'heading there now'.