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“Some women use dating apps for free dinners.”
“And what did I do that made you think I was doing that?”
“You ordered seafood.”
“That’s not the point.”
“We’re in a seafood restaurant.”
The woman at the next table lowered her glass.
Bryce’s jaw tightened.
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t. You picked the restaurant, ordered the seafood tower, and told me you wanted to treat me.”
Bryce shook his head. “It’s the principle.”
“You know what I mean.”
That was when I stopped trying to make his argument make sense.
“Did you think I was trying to get a free dinner before tonight?”
Bryce hesitated.
“Bryce.”
“You have to be careful.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Did you think I was trying to get a free dinner?”
Bryce shifted. “A friend told me what to watch for. Women suggesting expensive places. Stuff like that.”
“I suggested coffee.”
“Before I suggested dinner.”
I stared at him.
“So accepting your invitation counted against me?”
Bryce opened his mouth.
I stared at him.
Nothing came out.
The woman beside us muttered, “He invited you.”
Bryce turned sharply.
“Can you mind your own business?”
Heat climbed up my neck.
I didn’t want the entire restaurant involved.
“He invited you.”
I looked at her.
“It’s okay. I’ve got it.”
Then I raised my hand.
“Caleb?”
He came over.
“Could you put my entrée and iced tea on mine, please?”
“Caleb?”
“Absolutely.”
Bryce scoffed.
“Seriously?”
“I was going to offer half anyway.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m paying for my portion only.”
“I was going to offer half anyway.”
“I’m just making sure I’m not getting used.”
I looked directly at him.
“By the woman who asked you to get coffee and get to know you?”
He went quiet.
“That’s the part you still haven’t explained.”
The smirk disappeared.
“I’m just making sure I’m not getting used.”
Caleb returned with separate receipts, and I put my card down.
“See? So you were going to pay anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Then what are we even arguing about?”
For a second, I almost started explaining my job, my bills, the coffee I’d suggested.
Then I stopped.
“So you were going to pay anyway.”
“The bill wasn’t the problem,” I said.
Bryce frowned. “Then what is?”
“You could’ve told me you wanted to split it. That would’ve been fine.”
“Then why are you upset?”
“Because instead, you pushed the bill at me and accused me of using you loudly enough for strangers to hear.”
His eyes flicked toward the neighboring table.
“Then what is?”
“I wasn’t trying to humiliate you.”
“Then you picked a strange way to show it.”
He didn’t answer.
Caleb returned with our cards. I thanked him, put mine away, and stood.
“You’re leaving?”
“The date’s over.”
I’d already heard enough.
“I wasn’t trying to humiliate you.”
***
I walked toward the exit without answering.
Outside, I was halfway to the parking area when I heard the door behind me.
“Jessie, hold on.”
Bryce caught up beside me.
“Look, I’ve had women use me before,” he said. “So has a friend of mine. After a while, you learn to be careful.”
“I’m sorry that happened. But I didn’t do it.”
“Jessie, hold on.”
“I know.”
The answer came too quickly.
I stared at him.
Bryce rubbed the back of his neck and looked toward the restaurant.
“I mean, I know now.”
Something in my stomach shifted.
“I know.”