supposedly a date

They were down to the last of the gift cards from Bex's housewarming presents. It seemed her mother had told several of her relatives that she got married just so she'd be showered with house stuff. Bex hated the thought, but the gift cards were nice.

She supposed it was a date, but she was paying for it. At least she had Dayton cleaned up and not smelling like oil or gasoline. There was still some grime under his fingernails that left her with a bad taste, but they were going out. It was dinner. She didn't have to think about how empty the cupboards were. At least Dayton had stopped smoking at the moment. There just wasn't money for that when there was the gas and water bills to take care of. Oh, and the electric bill. She'd unplugged everything. Even her computer. And she didn't turn on the air conditioning unless she had, too.

Bex looked around. The service was slow and she supposed that was to give you more time to talk, but she could hardly look Dayton in the eye. She might say something bitter so she kept staring at her menu.

It was while she was looking near the top to see how much the chicken might cost, she saw Oliver in an intense conversation with someone. It almost took Bex's breath away. She could hardly look away. It looked like one of those conversations to savor. She never had those with Dayton. Not lately, anyway.

"Whats the matter?" Dayton looked at her, and she hardly felt his true blue eyes on her. She doubted his sincerity.

"Nothing." She shook her head, no. She was watching something in progress. What was it that took her so with Oliver? Was it the fact he was with someone? Or the idea that he could be, and it was someone so insignificant that it made it all the more amazing. She was so sure she admired him more now. He had a black boyfriend. And he was kind of fat.

"Well, what do you want?" Dayton was tapping his foot. She knew he hated this place.

"A burger, what else do you think?" She never went overboard. She never went overboard with him because she had to wait and let him go overboard.

They ordered. Bex crossed her arms. Tried hard not to look at Oliver across the room. Then she started to think it was best not to wave. Make no approachable sign of any kind. He was on a date. Obviously. She'd wait and let him tell her on his own good time. Wouldn't he? He would tell her, maybe, but then did he ever tell her anything? Bex felt frigid then. God, she always told him too much. Why couldn't he just tell her things like this?

Dayton was going on and on about some car they were working on. "And I'm going to Kansas City to the races this weekend." He grinned.

"You're what?"

"Yeah, want to come? They told me its free. Some old dude won all this cash, and I fixed his car that hadn't ran in fifteen years. He gave me an extra ticket."

"I see." But she didn't, she didn't care. No, way in hell was he dragging her to the loud sounds of motor cars on a windy and sunburning day.

"Well, I could always ask Chris."

"You do that." She so wanted to cry. Her thick hair fell around her face. God, why did it take forever to eat at Ruby Tuesdays?