Dan takes Josh out on another date. It's Monday, about half noon. They go to this lunch place that Dan insists has really great sandwiches.
Josh likes going out with Dan for a lot of reasons. For one, he gets to call Dan by his first name, or things like baby or sweetie or doll. Dan doesn't seem to mind that. He smiles every time.
They're seated in a booth by the window. Josh sits with his chin in his hands, propped up on the table by his elbows. He watches the street till he feels Dan's eyes on him.
“Do you want a drink?” Dan asks him.
“Yeah,” Josh says. “You can order for me again.” He smiles. Dan smiles too, feels Josh's feet prodding at his under the table.
“You playing footsie with me?” Dan asks, laughing a bit.
“Maybe,” Josh says, looking away. He can't hide the grin on his face. He tries to keep his eyes out the window on the stoplight but he can tell Dan is smiling too and Dan doesn't do that big smile very often so Josh has to look and appreciate it while he has the chance. Dan has this one front tooth that's a bit crooked. It's actually Josh's favourite thing, Dan's dodgy tooth. Josh giggles, reaching for the drink menu by the window. The waitress shows up then. Josh looks up at her and the way she's looking back at him makes him blush. Are waitresses allowed to wear tops that show that much cleavage?
“Hi,” she says, more to Josh than Dan. “Can I get you boys something to drink?”
“I'll have a beer,” Dan says. “Whatever bottled beer you have. He'll have a Coke or a Pepsi or whichever you have.”
The waitress eyes Dan, then looks back to Josh. “You don't want a beer too?” she asks him.
“He'll have a soda,” Dan says again. She looks at him, seemingly confused, but she nods.
“I'll be right back with that,” she says. Once she's out of earshot, Dan sighs.
“She's making eyes at you,” he says.
“A bit,” Josh admits. Dan reaches across the table for Josh's hand and he's holding it when the waitress comes back with their drinks.
“Here you are,” she says. She gets her check book out. “Are you ready to order?” She's still looking right at Josh.
“Yeah,” Dan says. “We're just both going to have cheeseburgers. Medium.”
The waitress looks at him, almost a glare, then back to Josh, smiling. Josh's face is all flushed. “Is that alright with you?” she asks.
“Yeah,” Josh says, looking down at Dan's hand on his.
“Alright then,” the waitress sighs. She scribbles on her booklet. “I'll get those going for you two then.” She very distinctly winks at Josh and he looks away from her. Dan's grip on Josh's hand tightens.
