Inner Desires

13.

Kim glanced at the clock hanging on the restaurant wall and sighed. Late, as usual. She looked around and thought of how ridiculous she must look, sitting alone at a table for two. All over the place, it was full of loud families, cuddly couples and giggling groups of friends. Even if they were all minding their own business, she couldn't help but have the impression that everyone was staring at her. She hated that.

To distract herself, she looked over her menu for the umpteenth time. Once more and she'd end up knowing it by heart, just like the number of wooden beams in the ceiling. Why had he chosen such a place? Although the stone walls and the red-and-white checked tablecloths gave it a rural, family-friendly touch, the lack of decoration made it cold and boring.

He arrived fifteen minutes late. Old habits die hard, she thought. Even so, she pursed her lips when she noticed that his arms were more muscular than she remembered. No doubt he had been working out. Instead of his usual jeans and t-shirt, he was wearing a black shirt and white trousers. She suppressed the urge to yell at him; after all the times she had tried to convince him to get some exercise and pay more attention to his looks... Definitely his new chick was doing a good job.

"Oh, wow! Less than half an hour waiting! Do you have a fever or something?" she greeted him with a sarcastic smirk.

"Thanks, I'm glad to see you too" he answered as he sat down on the uncomfortable chair.

Shortly after, the waiter arrived. He must have been desperate to serve her. She ordered quickly, without paying much attention to what she was going to eat. The sooner they were done, the better.

"How's everything going?" the boy asked casually once they were on their own again.

"Really good, actually" Kimberly replied "Quite busy, but I'm loving work at the moment. And I think they're pretty satisfied with me, so I might be getting to something promising."

"The usual thing, I see" he teased "All work and no play makes Kimberly a dull girl."

"Being happy with my career doesn't mean that's the only thing I've got in life" she responded, rolling her eyes.

"Then why is it always the first thing you talk about whenever I ask you how you are doing?"

Kim pressed her lips tightly together. She knew him very well; he was looking forward to the part in which he started rambling about how happy he and whatshername were while she was still all by herself. Yet this time... this time it would be different. Nevertheless, she wanted to make him suffer a little bit more before getting to the personal topics and the great revelation.

"Not all of us need to share our private lives with the world, Chris."

"Woah, you're making me sound like an exhibitionist!" he guffawed.

"Aren't you?" she looked at him challengingly.

Chris shrugged casually, holding out his hands.

"I thought being able to share everything was part of being friends."

"Right, sorry. I forgot you're a man and certain concepts are just far too complex for your mind."

That comment made him burst out laughing harder. She looked down, feeling again how all heads in the restaurant turned to stare at them.

"Ooh, someone is in a feminist mood, huh? Surely being single has had certain side effects on you."

Kim couldn't hold her tongue any longer. Chris would keep needling her until she exploded either way. That was one of the problems of knowing each other too well.