Page 40 of Switch!

“Really? What’s his name?”

“Her, actually.” I look around the restaurant, as if seeking that person. “I’d rather keep her name a secret, if it’s all right with you.”

“How mysterious,” Sarah says. “Hey, maybe we can keep each other company while we wait for these socially inept people to finally ask us out.”

I shrug, like it doesn’t matter to me either way. “Sure.”

“Then it’s a date.”

“Yeah. I guess it is.”

My smile is slow and cool, when inside, I’m doing cartwheels. I rise to return to work, and when waiting on my remaining tables, my mood is so upbeat that I become the most charming man in history. That’s great for tips, which will come in handy soon. Maybe. I’m not sure where we’re going. Is that for me to decide? Caleb has the answer.Do what they want so they let you do whatever you want.That was his philosophy when it came to women. I hope he’s right. When my shift is over, I go to the men’s restroom to freshen up as much as possible and wish I could brush my teeth. Just in case.

“Still no luck?” I ask when returning to the table where she sits.

Sarah doesn’t miss a beat. “Nope. His shift is over, so there’s no point in hanging around here anymore.”

“Where are you headed?” I ask as she stands. “Maybe I can give you a ride.”

“I prefer to walk. I’m not going home anyway. I need some fresh air. Ever been to Titlow Park?”

“Yeah! It’s beautiful. Especially when the sun is shining.”

“Which isn’t often,” she says with a smile. “Care to join me?”

“I’d love to.”

We’re in luck. When we step outside, the sky is mostly clear, although there isn’t much daylight left. We walk down the street at a leisurely pace, glancing over at each other and chuckling nervously.

“It’s weird seeing you out in the real world,” I say.

“Are you disappointed?” she asks. “I know what a turn-on screaming children and sticky tables can be for a guy. If it helps, we can go to a different restaurant. One of the competitors maybe.”

“No thanks!” I reply with a chuckle. “No more food. Unless you’re hungry.”

“Not in the slightest.” Sarah looks over at me and gasps. “How embarrassing! We put on the same outfit this morning!”

A red and white checkered shirt and blue jeans—the standard uniform where we work. “It’s worse than that,” I say, sniffing theatrically. “I think we use the same scent. Is that Mesquite Mystery you’re wearing?”

“No. Mine is called Habanero Heartbreaker. It always drives my dates wild.”

“Is that what I am?” We joke around a lot, which I like, but I want to be sure I understand the situation right. “Is this really a date?”

“I want it to be.” Sarah tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “Do you?”

“Yeah. But I was under the impression that I’m not your type.”

Sarah cringes. “Confession time. You’re exactly my type. My ex-boyfriend was all muscle too. That’s why I was standoffish when you first started talking to me. I assumed you would be a jerk like he was. It wasn’t fair of me to judge.”

“Nah,” I say. “I used to be a jerk too.”

“Really?”

I nod.

“What happened?”

“I became a lot more spiritual,” I say, figuring it’s close enough to the truth, “and that led to a change of perspective.”