Meeting up with Brad

Romano’s - Sunday Evening

The girls took an Uber to meet up with Brad at a small place called Romano’s. It was a little tucked away from the main roads but seemed to be a nice enough looking place. It was well lit and seemed to be quite clean from what Traci could tell. Traci fidgeted uncomfortably in her tiny little skirt as a cold breeze whipped past.

She and Kelly made their way inside and let the hostess know they were there for Brad’s table.

The hostess paused and quickly looked the girls up and down. Traci couldn’t say she was particularly surprised. The two of them looked more like they were dressed for clubbing than dining out.

“Right this way,” the hostess finally said in a cheerful voice and led the two of them into the dining area.

“Judgmental much?” Kelly whispered to Traci as they followed the hostess.

Traci steadied herself with a hand on her roommate’s shoulder for the first few steps. Her gait was slow and clumsy. She was not at all accustomed to wearing heels as high as the ones Kelly had forced on her for the night.

Brad stood and smiled as the girls approached. He had been seated in a curved booth and was now gesturing for the girls to join him.

“Damn, you girls look hot,” he said. He turned to Traci and looked her up and down, but not in the same way the hostess had. That had been more judgmental, while Brad’s gaze was more lingering. Hungry, even. “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight, but I’m glad you’re here. And can I say, I was certainly not expecting an outfit like that.”

Traci blushed at the comment as she slid into the booth.

Brad chuckled. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s not a bad look at all. In fact it suits you.”

“Told you,” Kelly said with a hint of smugness as she slid into the booth next to Traci. Then she slapped playfully at Brad’s shoulder as he took a seat. “You weren’t kidding about this place. It really is nice.”

It was definitely on the fancier side, compared to the places that Traci normally ate, but not so fancy or stuffy that she felt she didn’t belong (or at least, she would have felt like she belonged a bit more if she wasn’t dressed in a tiny skirt and far too tight top). It was warm and cozy with clean décor and nice, high ceilings. Cream colored walls were accented tastefully in dark wood.

Brad whispered something into Kelly’s ear that Traci couldn’t hear but it made Kelly giggle and whisper back a playful, “staaaahhp!”

But it didn’t make him stop. He kept whispering and ran a hand along Kelly’s thigh. Traci could only make out the end of Brad’s statement, “…almost as much as you.”

Kelly snorted out a “whatever” and gave Traci a wink.

A server appeared and placed a bottle of wine at the table along with glasses, and returned with a coke which she placed in front of Traci.

Brad nodded in the direction of Traci’s drink. “I figured you wouldn’t want to have any wine, so I ordered you a coke.”

“Oh, thank you,” Traci replied softly. It was unexpectedly thoughtful of him. But her eyes drifted over to the wine glasses. The server had placed down four glasses. “Did she give us too many wine glasses?”

“Keith and Charlie will be joining us in a bit.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Don’t worry,” Kelly said as she began pouring some wine for Brad, then herself, “it’ll be a nice chill time.”

Brad nodded and took a glass in his hand, swirling it around and giving it a sniff. “Right, just relax and let’s all get to know each other properly. What do you say, Traci?”

Traci took a sip of her coke before answering. “Sure, I guess.”

“Awesome!” Brad gave a big smile and toasted with his wine. He and Kelly clinked their wine glasses together and Brad quickly darted in to give her a playful peck on the cheek.

“Oh looks like the party’s already started!” Keith clapped his hands excitedly as he approached the table. Behind him Charlie was giving a thumbs up with a big grin.

The two of them slid into the booth. Now she was trapped. She had Keith and Charlie on one side of her, and Brad and Kelly on the other.

Keith was seated directly to Traci’s left and he leaned in and whispered, “wow that top is awesome, babe.”

Traci ignored his comment and buried herself in the menu. With luck, no one would try to talk to her and make things more awkward than they already felt. This whole thing was a bad idea, and Traci couldn’t wait for it to be over.