it. I’m actually not even a
hundred percent sure we’re even facing each other.” He laughs.
“Excuse me. Your table is back in its place
now. If you’ll let me guide you, I can get you back to your
seat.”
A hand touches my shoulders and guides me
forward. Once I’m sitting again, Miles wastes no time making
conversation.
“It could be worse.” He chuckles again and
I’m beginning to think it’s something he does when he’s nervous. “I
don’t usually do these sorts of things. My brother and I got the
wrong end of a bet with our sister,” Miles admits, his voice isn’t
as shaky now.
I nod then quickly remember he can’t see me,
which means I have to talk. “Same for me, except my best friend
practically blackmailed me to be here.” Why am I admitting the
truth to this guy? Does the darkness really make it easier?
“At least we can say it was an interesting
experience and we’re only a few minutes in.”
“Yes. I can tell you already that I won’t
ever forget this night.” I laugh at the honesty blurting out of my
mouth.
“First date stories are the best ones, and I
think we just made history in my book.”
“Good evening.” A small female voice startles
me. “My name is Jen, and I’ll be taking care of you tonight. Do
either of you have any questions before I tell you the menu options
for this evening?”
We both respond with a “no,” and Sara reads
us the menu as if she has it memorized, which she probably does
because they aren’t joking about the dark, it’s pitch black in
here. Not even a few lights on the floor to lead any paths. “You
have four options for your dinner this evening. Fish, chicken,
steak, or a mystery meal that doesn’t have any meat.”
A mystery meal?
Aren’t I already facing a night of not
knowing what to expect?
How am I going to eat or cut up my food? Put
the food on my fork? I don’t even know where my fork is.
My hands slowly move forward until they’re
touching the table. Moving cautiously as if something is about to
jump out at me, I try to memorize the setting of my plates and
silverware. I bump my glass again and hear liquid slosh over the
edge of the glass.
I’m going to need extra napkins.
“I think we should go all out and try the
mystery meal. What do you think?” Miles asks.
Thank goodness he can’t see my face because
if he could he’d see panic written all over it. I lean forward, not
even thinking first that I might knock something else over.
“But what if we can’t cut it up or find it
with our silverware?” I whisper.
“We’ll use our hands then,” he whispers back,
and I sense he’s smiling.
I let out a sigh as I give in to his
suggestion. May as well embrace this entire night. “The mystery
meal it is,” I say.
“Alright, I’ll be back with your salads,” Jen
says. I listen for her departing footsteps, but hear nothing.
Either she moves quietly or is still standing at the table. I’ll
never know.
“So, do you want to go first?” Miles asks.
“I’ve never been very good at this game.”
“Sure, but didn’t you play it as a kid?”
“Maybe twice, but I never actually made it to
the full twenty questions…did you play as a kid?”
”I think I played maybe once or twice.”
“Yeah,” he says, and I imagine he’s shaking
his head. I wonder if he has a beard. “I usually played
truth or dare, and almost ninety-nine percent of the time, a girl
never backed down from a dare for a kiss.” I’ve never kissed a
man with a beard…
“That makes sense.” I nod. “I’ve been guilty
of that trick.”
He laughs at my response, and at the sound
I’m oddly aware that his presence makes me extremely comfortable,
considering the situation. Tonight might not be so bad after all. I
just wish I could place his voice. I know I’ve heard it before.
“Where do you work, Allie?”
“I’m a library assistant.”
“Really?” he replies and there is no hiding
the shocked tone of his voice. “Which
hundred percent sure we’re even facing each other.” He laughs.
“Excuse me. Your table is back in its place
now. If you’ll let me guide you, I can get you back to your
seat.”
A hand touches my shoulders and guides me
forward. Once I’m sitting again, Miles wastes no time making
conversation.
“It could be worse.” He chuckles again and
I’m beginning to think it’s something he does when he’s nervous. “I
don’t usually do these sorts of things. My brother and I got the
wrong end of a bet with our sister,” Miles admits, his voice isn’t
as shaky now.
I nod then quickly remember he can’t see me,
which means I have to talk. “Same for me, except my best friend
practically blackmailed me to be here.” Why am I admitting the
truth to this guy? Does the darkness really make it easier?
“At least we can say it was an interesting
experience and we’re only a few minutes in.”
“Yes. I can tell you already that I won’t
ever forget this night.” I laugh at the honesty blurting out of my
mouth.
“First date stories are the best ones, and I
think we just made history in my book.”
“Good evening.” A small female voice startles
me. “My name is Jen, and I’ll be taking care of you tonight. Do
either of you have any questions before I tell you the menu options
for this evening?”
We both respond with a “no,” and Sara reads
us the menu as if she has it memorized, which she probably does
because they aren’t joking about the dark, it’s pitch black in
here. Not even a few lights on the floor to lead any paths. “You
have four options for your dinner this evening. Fish, chicken,
steak, or a mystery meal that doesn’t have any meat.”
A mystery meal?
Aren’t I already facing a night of not
knowing what to expect?
How am I going to eat or cut up my food? Put
the food on my fork? I don’t even know where my fork is.
My hands slowly move forward until they’re
touching the table. Moving cautiously as if something is about to
jump out at me, I try to memorize the setting of my plates and
silverware. I bump my glass again and hear liquid slosh over the
edge of the glass.
I’m going to need extra napkins.
“I think we should go all out and try the
mystery meal. What do you think?” Miles asks.
Thank goodness he can’t see my face because
if he could he’d see panic written all over it. I lean forward, not
even thinking first that I might knock something else over.
“But what if we can’t cut it up or find it
with our silverware?” I whisper.
“We’ll use our hands then,” he whispers back,
and I sense he’s smiling.
I let out a sigh as I give in to his
suggestion. May as well embrace this entire night. “The mystery
meal it is,” I say.
“Alright, I’ll be back with your salads,” Jen
says. I listen for her departing footsteps, but hear nothing.
Either she moves quietly or is still standing at the table. I’ll
never know.
“So, do you want to go first?” Miles asks.
“I’ve never been very good at this game.”
“Sure, but didn’t you play it as a kid?”
“Maybe twice, but I never actually made it to
the full twenty questions…did you play as a kid?”
”I think I played maybe once or twice.”
“Yeah,” he says, and I imagine he’s shaking
his head. I wonder if he has a beard. “I usually played
truth or dare, and almost ninety-nine percent of the time, a girl
never backed down from a dare for a kiss.” I’ve never kissed a
man with a beard…
“That makes sense.” I nod. “I’ve been guilty
of that trick.”
He laughs at my response, and at the sound
I’m oddly aware that his presence makes me extremely comfortable,
considering the situation. Tonight might not be so bad after all. I
just wish I could place his voice. I know I’ve heard it before.
“Where do you work, Allie?”
“I’m a library assistant.”
“Really?” he replies and there is no hiding
the shocked tone of his voice. “Which
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