But Inside I'm Screaming

“Sure.” He cleared away her empty glass. “Another double?”

She paused as she decided whether the look he gave her was judgmental or just inquisitive. She decided it was inquisitive and she nodded.

“I’m going to open my own place.”

“Wow. That’s cool.”

“I know what you’re thinking.”

“I’m not thinking anything.”

“Yes, you are. You’re thinking ‘Just what San Francisco needs, another restaurant.’ Don’t worry—I’m used to it. And I agree with you.”

“I wasn’t thinking that.”

“Yes, you were. But that’s okay. Because my place is going to be different.”

“Seriously, I wasn’t even thinking that.”

He leaned into her as he replaced her drink. “So…what were you thinking, then? That you wanted to go out to dinner with me? Saturday night?”

Isabel smiled as she gulped.

“That’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it?”

Isabel felt emboldened by the booze. “You hit the nail on the head.”

“Meet here? Eight?”

“Right again.”

Alex smiled as he went to check on the couple a few seats away from Isabel.

* * *

“Case, he’s so amazing,” Isabel said as she spread out the blanket for their picnic.