Ambivalently Yours

The Date

"Why are you still in your dress clothes?" Liz asks, standing in the doorway of your bedroom as you check your presentation grade online (an A, of course, but you wanted to see it with your own eyes as confirmation).

"I have plans later that I need to be dressed up for. Didn't want to change out of this outfit and have to change back."

She narrows her eyes at you. "I didn't know you had plans. What are you doing?"

"I have a date," you answer.

"With who?" she asks.

"Who do you think?" you ask.

"He's actually taking you on a date? Where?"

You shrug. "I don't know, but he said I needed to dress up. Must be somewhere halfway decent."

She hums in thought. "Must be," she replies. "When is he picking you up?"

"Around 7:00," you tell her.

"Oh, that's kind of soon," she says.

"Yeah, I know. I need to freshen up my makeup and stuff before I go."

"I'll leave you alone then," she says. "But I'd like a full recount of your date when you come home."

"Ask and you shall receive."

~

You were a little nervous for your date, although you knew how silly it was to feel this way. You'd already admitted you liked each other, and you'd slept together, so it's not like either of those things were hanging over your head. The pretense of the date made you feel different though. What would Rafe be like? Would he put on an act, like he was trying to impress you, or would he be his normal, sarcastic self? You would soon find out.

He texts you that he's coming to pick you up around 6:45, and when you walk out to his car, he jumps out of the drivers seat to get your door for you.

"Off to a good start," you comment, and he grins at you.

"I'm going to be on my best behavior," he says. "Mostly."

"Mostly," you repeat. "But not totally."

"Yeah, mostly my best behavior," he says, "but I'll throw in a little of my usual behavior, per your request."

You smile at that, recalling how you'd said you liked fighting with him. "You remembered."

He taps his temple as he starts to shut your door. "I rarely forget things."

He drives you to the more upscale area of town, where there are several nice restaurants and higher end stores. He makes his way to the parking lot of the most expensive restaurant. You'd never been there before because you'd heard the prices were insane. You give him a quizzical look as he parks and turns off the car.

"We're eating here?" you ask.

"Yeah, is that okay? I made a reservation," he says.

"More than okay. I've just never been here before," you say.

"Oh, really? I've been here several times. Food is amazing," he says.

"Several times? Okay, moneybags," you joke, unbuckling your seatbelt.

He lets out a nervous chuckle. "Stay there, I'll come get your door," he says, quickly hopping out.

You head inside, and Rafe gives the hostess his name. She takes you to a table and places menus in front of you. "Enjoy your meal," she says, giving you both a pleasant smile.