Charlie’s wrist feeling suffocated by his watch as he checks it once more. Standing outside the restaurant he drops his wrist while simultaneously throwing his cigarette to the ground. He smashes it with his foot as he adjusts his watch with his opposite hand. “8:45 where is this girl at, reservations were at 8:30.” After his last word a woman slowly approaches him. He swiftly scans her from head to toe. “Phew not a catfish, check.” He says as she immediately reaches in for a hug. “Hey sorry I’m late, I had to…” before she can even finish her excuse he cuts her off to tell her that they have to get inside. They walk over to the hostess and with the deepest exhale Charlie says “hey it’s me again with the 8:30 reservation, she finally made it would you believe it.” In the most sarcastic tone imaginable. “It’s no biggie, as I said this is the emptiest day here so no stress I can get you seated now.” The hostess responds. “I believe it’s the principle, but hey it is what it is right she’s here.” Charlie turns to his date Sylvia who is fuming at this point. As they approach the table she stands behind her seat expecting him to pull out her chair but he didn’t even look her way before seating himself. “So um can we finally get to the introductions.” Sylvia says in a optimistic expression. After a brief pause as she stares at Charlie she proceeds to give her elevator pitch. “My name is Sylvia but you probably know that based on my Hinge profile. Thanks for waiting on me I was taking care my mother, she hasn’t been feeling too well lately.” With still not even a glance away from the menu she begin to wonder what would get his attention, a joke perhaps. “So it’s good to see you’re not a catfish.” He chuckles and finally puts the menu down. “Hell yeah you fine as hell shawty.” He responds. She giggles and then the waiter walks over to introduce themselves “ hello I’m Brandon and I’ll be your waiter for the evening me how are we doing tonight.”charlie replies “I was doing fine but I’m even better now that you’re here.” “Let me get a water, with a burger and fries and for the lady she’ll also have a water and some French fries because I know she’s gonna eat my food anyway.” With a humungus attitude Sylvia cuts him off “yikes that’s a huge lie, you haven’t given me any reason to even wanna touch your plate. Let me actually have a steak with a baked potato with a side of fresh garlic butter and-“ The waiter says simultaneously “corn on the cob.” She raises her eyebrow in confusion. “Hi Sylvia” the waiter says. “How do you know me” Sylvia says. “It’s me Brandon from the other night. You don’t remember you were dancing on me the moment you stepped foot in the club. Why did you not call me after we kissed.” Sylvia’s jaw is to the floor at this point. How could she not recognize him? Perhaps it was because the lights were off the whole night? What is she to say to being confronted in front of her date? Before she could respond Charlie cuts in “ hey sorry to cut off this little telanovela but I need my food I’m getting hungry, honestly I can care less about what you two got going on I’m just trynna take her home tonight you feel me my brotha” Brandon looks in disgust “ so this is what you’ve been up to” he gestures his hand towards Charlie. “Hey like I said I’m not here for all this drama man just put in my order, then if you wanna come back and discuss this that’s on y’all.” Charlie says. So Brandon storms off to the kitchen as Sylvia turns to Charlie and says “I’m at a loss for words.” Charlie replies “you should’ve stayed at a loss for words from the beginning and just let me order your food and you wouldn’t be in this mess.” Brandon returns “so back to what I was saying let me take you home, you shouldn’t be with this loser.” “Oh now you’re calling me out my name” Charlie rises from his seat. Just as Charlie is about to step to Brandon. A man about 5’8, dark hair, full beard approaches the table in a black hoodie. “Babe you left your wallet at the house.” He says to Syvlia. What the hell are you doing here Jake, I told you I was good.” Sylvia says in a stern tone. “And who the hell are you?” “Yeah” both Brandon and Charlie say as they stare Jake down. “ I’m Sylvia’s husband and who the hell are you two.” Jake says. “I’m Brandon, her side piece apparently.” “And I’m Charlie her date for the evening or so I think, I don’t know what’s going on at this point.” “So this is what you’ve been up to S really. You told me you were out with friends. I can’t believe you would do something like this to me, to us.” Jake storms out, as Brandon’s boss approaches with two full plates of food in his hand that he places on to the table. “Brandon get back to work I won’t tolerate this behavior at my restaurant slow day or not. Now enjoy your meal you two.” Brandon roles his eyes at her and says “block my number I never wanna hear from you again.” Then before the boss could walk away Charlie says “can you bring a to go box and the check, this one is on her trust me she has her wallet.” As Charlie let’s out a chuckle. They are stuck there in silence as Sylvia let’s out one single tear. After a few moments of Charlie boxing up his food he looks up at Sylvia and says “tell her mom I said feel better.”