A Whole New World

6. Dinner Date?

   I arrived at Barhop shortly after 6 and double checked my phone before entering.  I had received a reply from Alexa saying that she had made a reservation in her name and would be here in about 15 minutes.  I immediately noticed that this was not the small pub style bar like back home as I entered the front door.  Taking in my surroundings, it was a quiet place with low lighting in general.  I could see there were fresh white linens on each table with small centerpieces and soft glowing lights above each one illuminating just that table.  Napkins folded in fans and nice padded chairs at each place setting.  There were a few group tables to the left and smaller more private tables to the right, but everything was spaced out perfectly to allow each table their privacy for conversations unless there was someone obnoxious, but this didn't seem like the place to see that.  It reminded me of a few finer places we met clients for working lunches.

A hostess greeted me "Welcome to Bar-Hop!  Do you have a reservation?"

“Yes, there should be a reservation for Alexa Michaels?"

The hostess looked at her sheets, smiled and she grabbed what looked like 2 menus and said "Please follow me Ms. Richards” Alexa must have just made it in both of our names.  The hostess leads me towards a table for 2 on the right side near the back by the kitchen.  Passing a lot of the tables, I realized how packed this place was and I couldn't help myself before letting the words slip though "it's so quiet...."

    As we arrived at our table, the hostess motioned for me to choose my preferred seat "We have a sound dampening system installed to allow our customers a more privileged setting.  There is a grid of them above us that separates out each table.  It is neat technology.  May I take your coat?"

"Yes, thank you, that's probably why I only heard whispers as we walked past the tables." I was still in awe, but I placed my purse on the table before taking my coat off which the hostess gracefully took before finishing.

"We have a lot of customers that bring their high-end clients here.  They really do appreciate it allowing them to have confidential conversations with their meal.  Miss Michaels should be here momentarily, and your server will be right with you..." before returning back to her greeting area taking my coat with her.    

Alexa arrived within the next minute or so with her long, red hair with soft curls halfway down her back, a black high-waist pencil skirt with a matching blazer set with an emerald green blouse and stilettos.  She had a huge smile and looked like she was dressed to impress, but then again, she was a lawyer.  I stood as she approached the table and we hugged before sitting down.

"I can't believe how fast the temperature is dropping out there!" She started off with.

"No kidding, apparently we are supposed to get a storm at some point tonight.  I honestly can't be too late because I still have a long drive and would prefer not to get stuck in a blizzard again" and I was completely honest with that.  before continuing "This place is really neat.  we can talk about whatever we want, and no one will overhear us.  Where on earth did you ever find this place?"

"Honestly, my work uses this place a lot for our business lunches for that exact matter.  I have also had a couple of dates here.  I like it here.  The atmosphere is calming, and the food is fantastic!"

    For the next little while, we had the normal small talk-catching up on after college life as well as where we lived and what we liked, how we got to where we were in our careers while we sipped on wine and waited for our meals to come.  When our meals arrived, our waitress also topped up our glasses with wine.  We had both ordered the lamb rack with roasted potatoes and a small side salad.

"I am starving!  The only lunch I had today was a coffee and a few cookies in between meetings!  Alexa exclaimed as she started with her lamb.  

"I am a little hungry as well.  I forgot my lunch on the counter this morning and I only had a coffee and scones with Mike an hour or so ago." I started off with my salad.

"yes, you mentioned you were grabbing a coffee with Mike, how did that go?" Alexa looked a teeny bit on edge.

"It was....  different."  I was trying to decide if I should mention anything that he said.  I didn't want Alexa to think that we were still gossipers drawn to drama anymore because we weren't.  It also appeared that she was waiting for me to continue...damn, that was my trick...I continued to eat but non-nonchalantly continued "well-total honesty, right?"

"I would prefer that...friendships aren't built on lies"

"Agreed, so....  here goes." she could tell I was a little nervous "After running into you last weekend at the bar, Mike, well more so Tina, insisted on coming clean to me and told me that they were swingers and visited that 'after party' you asked about..." I even did the air quotes when I said 'after party' "because they didn't want me to find out from anyone else.  I mean, I am their best friend...I guess they were concerned that you would say something causing me to be angry with them"

"I see..."  There was a long pause before she set her utensils down and continued very calmly "I imagine it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to say that he said a few things about me then?"  Alexa was looking me directly in the eye.  She was trying to read me and if she was afraid, she showed no hint of it.  'that must be part of her lawyer persona- not giving away any hints' 

"Yes, I think that only because I saw you, they felt they had the need to tell me before you did.  He told me that Tina, and you are bisexual."  I figured it was better not to get too far into it just yet but also not pry.  If she wanted to tell me more, then she would.

"Fair enough.  And yes, I am bisexual.  I have known for a long time but never acted on it until after college.  As it may be a big deal to some, it's not to me and I am not afraid or ashamed of it.  But it is still my private life and I don't advertise it"

"By that you mean keeping your personal and work life separate?"

    "Pretty much.  I really don't care who else knows outside of that.  It is a part of me, and I am not ashamed of it.  You will find that everyone is a little bit different.  We don't all fit into a box and I think it is better that way."  Wow, Alexa really had a laid-back approach to this, and I respected her for it, I really did.  She picked her utensils back up, cut off a slice of her lamb and ate it.  When she was finished with that piece, she leaned forward a little on the table and started speaking to me in a little bit more of a softer tone holding my eye contact.  

"So, in the spirit of being honest, I have a confession to make too.  Well, 2 of them.  The first one is that I had the biggest crush on you in college!  It was so long ago, but that was also a time where my world was so small, and I was just figuring everything out."  She paused trying to let me absorb that and I still felt like she was trying to read my reactions.  When I didn't say anything, only nodded a tiny bit she finished "and the second thing is that I was actually brought into that meeting on Tuesday to pick your presentation apart trying to find flaws or decipher if you/your company was trying to deceive us.  My boss didn't even believe me when I told him that there wasn't anything I could find wrong with your pitch.  A tiny bit higher margins, but still acceptable in business terms."  she was laughing 

"What?  your job was to pick me apart?"

"Yep!  There are some things that we can't discuss due to confidentiality- and I know you would understand that.  I have 2 degrees though.  Business and law, so I am like a double whammy, and they pay me surprisingly well for that.  Work me twice as hard too..."

"WOW!  I don't know what to say.  I was so nervous when I entered.  That was actually my first solo pitch to a client!"

"I think you fooled everyone on that then.  You came off as a seasoned veteran!  And yes, I will keep that between us"

"Thank you- wait, you have 2 degrees???"

"college nerd, remember?" she said pointing at herself.  That is when we both started laughing hysterically thinking back to so long ago.

    When I was finally able to collect myself, I expressed my thoughts.  "I can't believe you had a crush on me!  Come to think of it, I think I only had a couple of dates over the 4 years in college.  I just figured I wasn't anyone's type." I spoke.  Okay, time to slow down on the wine...I was starting to get loose lips.  I thought to myself.  

"Ah-Mandy?  Have you not looked in the mirror before?  Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE had a crush on you! - it's just that you and Mike were glued at the hip and then eventually Tina as well...everyone thought that the three of you were together!  It was like you were unattainable or off the market."  Alexa was heartfelt about this, but I was still a little shocked at what she just said because I didn't see it that way.  (I would know, I lived it).

"Your kidding!  We never...." I exclaimed,  

    It was hard to gauge how much we had consumed because it seemed like the glass never emptied.  I didn't even realize the waitress was constantly filling up the cups every time they were a little low mostly because I was so focused on our conversation.  I was really enjoying myself in what felt like the first time in a decade without Mike and Tina around.  It made sense though, we did order a bottle...and then another... but before we knew it, it was 8 o'clock, we were both a little tipsy and starting to put our coats on after Alexa insisted on paying.  She said that she can write it off as a business meeting.  (we did talk about work for 2 minutes and that qualifies)

So here I was- 2 blocks from work- technically too drunk to drive on a Friday night and an hour from home.  OH f**k!  it hit me as we were walking out into the freezing cold, dark night and I immediately started thinking where the closest hotel was.  There was no way I would ever drive like this, no matter how much I drank.  I didn't have to pick Cody up until 2 tomorrow so I would have no problems there.  and then Alexa broke into my thoughts

"Please tell me you are not going to attempt to drive?' Alexa exclaimed

"No, I would never!  I was just thinking of the closest hotel...."

"Non-sense!  My place is only a few blocks away.  If you want, we'll head back to my place.  you could sober up a bit before heading home later or if you are up for it, we can go out or just crash- no pressure!" She stated nonchalantly. 

"ah, I wouldn't want to impose..." I really don't like putting people out like this " ... you probably have other plans tonight and I do not want to ruin that."  I wasn't sure if she were just being nice or was hitting on me and I am a little naive...but it would save me a couple hundred bucks.  Hotels downtown were not cheap at all.

"Are you kidding me?  No, I didn't make other plans, don't be silly!  Come!"  as she looped her arm with mine and guided me towards a cab that was nearby.  We hopped in and took a short cab ride to her condo.  It was close enough that we could have walked, but then you are a little drunk and it is so cold outside you can't breathe through your nose or your nostrils would get stuck together you take a cab, transit or Uber- whatever keeps you warm!