Chapter 21 (6/16/16)

“What do you mean?” Erica asked over the phone.  I could picture her face, puzzled.

“I mean that it was awful,” I whined.  “Seriously, so bad.  It seemed like he had no idea what he was doing.”  It was two days after my date with Mike ended in bedroom disaster, and I was only now getting a chance to tell Erica about it. 

“Maybe he was nervous?” Erica suggested.  “I mean, I’ve met him, and he doesn’t seem like the type to not know what he’s doing in bed.” 

“But he didn’t,” I told her.  “I guess he could have been nervous, but I don’t think nervousness is enough to make anyone completely forget that a thing called a clit exists, Erica.”

“Oh, that is bad,” she said.  “Well…” She trailed off, unable to complete her sentence.  We were both quiet for several seconds and then she said, “Are you going to give it another shot?”

“I like him otherwise,” I replied.  “He’s really funny, and he’s smart, and he’s really nice to me…Well, to everyone.”

“You didn’t answer the question, Jen.”

“Yeah, I will.  Maybe he was just nervous.  I shouldn’t get rid of someone just because of one bad round of sex, right?” I felt like I was trying to talk myself into it, and I probably was.

“No, not someone who is otherwise awesome,” Erica said firmly. 

I sighed and nodded, even though she couldn’t see me.  I was really disappointed that the sex with Mike had been awful.  You know how when it’s good, even if you don’t get off, you still enjoy yourself?  Yeah, there was none of that.  There was very little that was enjoyable at all.  Making out with him was fun, but that’s where it stopped. 

“Sorry, Jenna, I have to go,” Erica said, interrupting my self-pity party.  “John is going to be home soon and I have to figure out what we’re going to do for dinner.”

“Okay,” I replied.  “Well, I’ll let you know how round 2 goes.” 

We said goodbye and I got on with my evening, making myself some dinner and then eating and cleaning up the kitchen quickly.  I was eager to get back to my computer.  I had stopped returning Dan’s calls and texts (and he had only called once and texted once before he got the picture) but had just started talking to a new guy from the dating site, and so far he had my interest. 

I plopped onto the couch and opened my laptop.  After I logged into the dating site, I clicked around, looking at a couple profiles before I went to my messages.  I saw the guy I had been talking to was online, and we started chatting.  By the time I went to bed, we’d set up a date for Friday, and I also had scheduled a date with Mike for Saturday.

On Friday, I walked into the bar where I was supposed to meet Chris, the guy from the dating site.  I looked around, not recognizing anyone.  “Jenna?” I heard a tentative voice say, and my head snapped towards it.  “Hi!” said a person who looked vaguely like the pictures of Chris on the site…and I realized the pictures were taken about 5 years and 50 pounds ago.  He stood and I walked over.  He looked me up and down and then said, “You’re even prettier than your pictures!”

“Umm, thanks,” I said, thrown off by the fact that he barely looked like his at all.  “You do too,” I said automatically, quickly following it with an awkward laugh when I realized my mistake. 

Chris immediately started laughing hysterically.  “Well, I’ve never been told I was pretty before!” he said, laughing away. 

“Me neither,” I said.  I actually smacked my forehead when I realized what an idiot I sounded like.  I left my palm over my eyes for a couple seconds and hoped that Chris was laughing too loudly to have heard. 

“Anyway, I ordered you a drink!” Chris told me.  Everything he said sounded like he was incredibly excited about it.  “I didn’t actually know what you liked, so I just got you a gin and tonic, because everyone likes those!”

Everyone except for me, apparently.  I smiled politely and took a sip, forcing my face to stay neutral as I swallowed the disgusting concoction.  “How considerate,” I said, putting the drink down.

“You’re welcome!  I also ordered us an appetizer!  I hope you like shrimp!”  This date had only been going on for 5 minutes and it was already the worst date of my life. 

“Oh, great,” I forced out.  “You really thought of everything.  So, um, what do you do again?”

“I work in finance!” he replied proudly.  I tried my best to be polite and friendly, and he gladly droned on about his job for the next 20 minutes.  While he mentioned his 6 figure income several times, he didn’t even notice I’d barely touched my drink or the appetizer. 

When he got up to use the bathroom, I signaled to our waiter, who came over.  I shoved a $10 bill and my mostly full gin and tonic at him and said, “Can you take this and bring me back a vodka soda with a lime?  If you can make it happen before he comes back, you’ll be my hero.”  He gave me a knowing grin and hurried over to the bar.  I watched him lean over the bar and talk to the bartender, then he slid behind the bar and made the drink himself.  He returned with the drink and my change, which I waved off.  Just as he left the table, I saw Chris approaching from the bathroom.  I took a long drink out of my glass, relieved that it didn’t taste like Christmas. 

“Did you miss me?” he asked, sitting back down.  He didn’t wait for me to respond, just started laughing.  I took another long drink, closing my eyes so I didn’t roll them.  Now that I enjoyed my drink, it was gone within minutes.  “Waiter!” Chris called, spotting my empty glass.  “Waiter!” He waved at our waiter, making me cringe.  When he approached, looking bemused, Chris said, “Could you bring the lady another G and T?”  G and T?  Really?  I gave the waiter a weak smile as he strode away.

“You won’t have to wait long,” he assured me.  “People understand the importance of working quickly around people like me.”

“People…like you?” I asked, unable to hide my confusion.

He smiled at me and patted the back of my hand like I was a child.  “Important people who work with large sums of money,” he said slowly.  I wasn’t sure what had happened in the bathroom, but I did know that he went in brimming with enthusiasm and came out as a condescending asshole. 

Our waiter returned quickly, and a sip of the drink told me it was another vodka soda.  I gave him a grateful smile and he winked at me before he turned to leave.  “See?” Chris said.  “People don’t keep me waiting.”  He gave me a pointed look when he said that, and I sputtered a little in surprise.  Then he grinned widely and said, “I’m just kidding with you, Jenny!”

“It’s, uh, Jenna, actually…” I said. 

“That’s what I said,” he told me, waving his hand dismissively. 

“Oh,” I replied.  “I thought—“

He cut me off, saying, “But you don’t have to think tonight!  Tonight is for fun!  Oh, let me tell about this time that my coworker lost a major account and I…” I tuned out as he blabbered on and on about work. 

When I finished my drink, I yawned.  “Oh man,” I said, interrupting his 17^th story about how an incompetent coworker screwed something up and he saved the day.  “I’d better get going.  Can’t drink anymore, I need to drive myself home.”

“Well, why didn’t you take a cab or something?” he asked, looking really perplexed.  “I’m thinking about getting a driver, actually.  Did you know that—“

“Really, I need to go,” I said firmly, interrupting him again.  I pulled out my wallet.  “Here, let me—“

It was his turn to interrupt me.  “Don’t be silly!” he said.  “I never let a beautiful girl pay for her drinks.”

“Of course,” I replied.  I considered just throwing some cash on the table and running, but decided this was not a hill I wanted to die on.  I just wanted to get the hell out.  “Thank you,” I said, forcing a smile.  “Have a good night.”

“Wait,” he said, looking confused as I stood up.  “I can walk you out.  When can I see you again?”

I shook my head and said, “Thank you for the drinks, but I’m not interested in seeing you again.”  I took advantage of his obvious shock and hurried towards the door.

I got to my car safely, but as I was unlocking the door I heard someone call, “Hey, wait a sec!” I yanked the door open quickly, ready to make my escape, before I realized the voice didn’t sound a thing like Chris’s.  I turned cautiously, and saw our waiter hurrying after me.  I waited to see what he wanted.  He slowed when he approached me.  “My name is Ryan, I don’t work in finance, and I make a mean vodka soda,” he said, winking.  Then he shoved a cocktail napkin into my hand, turned, and jogged back towards the restaurant.

I stood in the cold, not sure how to react.  Finally, I got into my car, turned on the light, and smoothed out the crumpled napkin.  Scrawled across it was “Ryan” and a phone number.  He was cute, but he looked young.  I tossed the napkin into my purse for now and headed for home.