The Blind Dates ✔️

Chapter Four

Penny almost banged into the bartender when he stopped in the back room, "I'm sorry, there's no phone call. I just wanted to stop that poor guy from getting a drink thrown in his face."

Penny gaped at him, "You should have let me do it. He actually said that he wouldn't want a wife who worked, but he would let her take yoga lessons. I've worked so hard to get where I am to have some guy tell me that he wants a wife to just play dress up and clean up poopy diapers. I am not a doll. I am an independent woman."

"Well you can fake an illness for a long sick grandmother and get out of here." He replied. Penny smiled gratefully at the cute bartender. He had brown hair that was gelled down but little pieces were curling out of it as if he'd had a long shift.

"Thank you. I don't know why I ever agreed to this stupid deal." She sunk back against the wall defeated.

"What deal?" The bartender was raising his eyebrows, genuinely seeming interested.

"My friends are setting me up on all these blind dates. This was number two and I've got four more ahead of me. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I'm already exhausted." Penny said.

"Well, if you want, you can do the rest of the dates here. We can come up with some sort of signal if the dates going bad I'll come and save you." Penny was shocked. No random guy had ever been this nice to her.

"You'd do that? Cause that would be amazing." She wondered if he was single for all of three seconds before she noticed he was wearing a wedding ring. Figures.

"Of course, when's the next one?" He asked.

"They're every Friday night." Penny replied.

"Perfect, I always work Friday nights." He said excitedly. Penny laughed, then figured she should head back.

Penny made her way back trying to make her face look as sad as possible, telling Marcus that she had forgotten about picking up someone from the airport. She could not have had a worse excuse. But he bought it and walked out with her. They split ways, Penny watching him walk towards the subway and as soon as he descended the stairs she went back inside.

Sitting on the bar again Penny pulled out her cell phone to text her friend angrily.

"Sorry about your date." The bartender said while making her a new drink. Penny noticed how he made it with such care.

"It's okay." Penny shrugged, accepting her drink, their fingers brushing together.

"So, what now-?" He asked leaning in with his eyebrows raised.

"Penny." She said.

"Grant." He replied. They shook hands, Penny smiling at him.

"I wait another week for a new date." Penny said going back to his original question.

"Why don't you just tell your friends no?" Grant asked.

"Because they're right. I need to get back in the game." Penny replied.

"Why did you leave the game in the first place?" He asked.

"I had a pretty serious relationship in college. I found him cheating on me hours before a huge final. Ever since then I decided I didn't need a man to hold me back. I put the dating scene behind me to focus solely on my career." Penny realized she was spilling her heart out to a total stranger, but she couldn't seem to stop. His kind eyes made her want to feel vulnerable.

"What do you do?" Grant asked, prompting her along further.

"I work for a fashion designer." Penny replied proudly. If there was anything in her life that she could be totally and completely and happy about it, it was her job.

"What's that like?" Grant asked, leaning his elbows on the bar getting closer to her.

"Busy, but worth every moment. Hey, don't you have any other customers ready to spill their heart out to you?" Penny teased.

Grant looked down the bar to see it nearly empty, "Slow night. Perfect excuse to stay here talking to you."

Penny blushed, "Then tell me something about yourself. Something no one else knows."

Grant made a thinking face, "I got a pedicure once on a dare." Penny burst into laughter leaning back on the stool, almost falling over. Grant tugged her sleeve to keep her steady, still smiling.

"Grant! Give me a hand over here would you?" Startled, they looked up to see Grant's coworker taking orders.

"I'm sorry, I've got to get back to work. I'll see you next week?" Grant asked, his eyes practically puppy dog. Penny stayed for another few minutes before attempting to pay her bill which Grant refused. She was already looking forward to next Friday night. Not because she was excited to see Grant. Not at all.