Dinner date.

Vi’s voice buzzes through the phone. “A date?”
Is she… mad? It’s hard to tell. She’s keeping her voice quite level.
“Uhm, yeah, well… I told you what happened before exams?”
“Mhmmm”
“Well…. It turns out that when a girl actually likes you, they get upset if you don’t contact them after, so I suggested…
Apology dinner date?” My voice loses volume as my confidence wanes.
“People at uni know we’re dating. You know that, right?”
“It’ll just look like a dinner with a friend.”
I can hear her eyeballs roll, “You better show her a nice time.”
“Yes Ma’am, love you.”
“Love you, too, you dumbass.”

I can’t deny that the restaurant smells delectable, the lighting is low and dark, other couples scattered around the dining room, suits and watches I will never be able to afford with trophy wives hanging off their arms…

Did I… I forget to check the price of this restaurant?

I go to grab my phone, after my jaw hits the floor when I ask the hostess for a menu and see the prices, I’m going to have to move more money out of my savings than I thought…

“Hey, Erik!” A cheery voice makes me look up. “Did Vi tell you that I like Mediterranean?”
She had, but admitting that is not as smooth as lying.
“I just could tell, we get along that well.” I give her a playful wink. She lets out a cute, soft giggle as she rolls her eyes, but I can see the small blush that creeps onto her face.

I take a moment to admire her outfit as the hostess walks us to our table, a loose, cutesy, pastel floral dress that flows with every step. Those long ballerina legs extending out down to her ankles, not a sexy dress explicitly, but it's so innocent and so Heidi that it almost circles back around to sexy again, her toned arms by her side with every step, her back muscles flex as she pulls her chair out, her bra (if any) covered by the summer vibe dress.

We order our food and drinks, the conversation flows until it abruptly doesn’t, Heidi’s face falls, and she looks towards the door, pain on her face.
“Everything okay?”
She sighs and meets my eyes, regret in her eyes. “What are we doing?”
I tilt my head and do my best to show a comforting expression. “What do you mean?”
“You have a girlfriend, Erik...”
I sigh. I knew this is what was tripping her up. “Heidi, look…”
“I just... I already made you a cheater, and I hate that so much. It was all fun, but now… We’re on a date, this is getting too real. It was just supposed to be fun flirting and now….”

“Heidi, it still can be. It’s okay”
“You’re okay being a cheater, Erik? Because this date doesn’t end here.” Heidi’s face has the same shade as a ripe tomato.
“What do you mean?”
Heidi unlocks her phone, swipes through it, glances around and then slides it across the table to me.

“Oh fuck me.”
Heidi nods, her voice quivering, her face somehow redder.
“That’s the plan.” She pulls the top of her dress down a smidge; she’s wearing the same lingerie.

“But… I don’t want to hurt you or Vi or your relationship, but…”
I slide her phone back to her and tap the table.
“Heidi. Vi and I….”
I hesitate, if I don’t tell her, Heidi will be wracked with guilt, whether we go back to her place or not.
Tears form in her eyes, and her hands go to her mouth, “Oh my god, you guys have already broken up… I’m a homewrecker.”

I shake my head, my eyes with alarm. “No, no! We’re still together… Just, Vi and I…”
The only person I’ve said this to is Sai, Ari found out through Vi, and anyone else has figured out through context but kept it out of their mouth, Brandon, for example…
“God damnit.” I hold my palms up, “I don't know if this makes it better or weirder for you, but…”
Just fucking say it, god damn.

“Vi and I are kind of ‘open’, ‘share eaaaaachother'…”

If I'm going to chase girls that aren’t Ari, I’m going to have to learn to deliver that with a significant amount of more confidence.
Heidi stares at me, dumfounded, her voice comes out low and hurt, “I'd rather you just tell me you’re happy to cheat than lie to me…”
I shake my head as she grabs her purse. “I can prove it!”
I quickly grab my phone and text Vi,
Me: “Heidi and I are going back to her place tonight ;)”
I slide my phone to Heidi, hesitantly, and she grabs it and reads the text to Vi.
The phone buzzes in her hand, and she keeps eye contact with me before dropping her gaze. She squints, and then her eyes go wide. She places the phone face down and slides it back to me.

“Well?” God, I hope Vi responded well.
Her face is unreadable, just staring. She shrugs.
“Well? Are you going to pay the bill and take me home or what?”
I grin and call the waiter over. I take a quick glance at my phone as Heidi excuses herself for the bathroom before we leave.

Vi: “Dirty boy. Take a picture for me. Or maybe a video hehe. Better save some for me ;)”