You Make Me Whole

The thought had crossed her mind, but Ray had no interest in taking advantage of Carter’s money. Not only did she consider herself a moral person, who didn’t like to take advantage of people, but she also felt that it defeated the point in proving to people that she didn’t need money to have a good time. Whether it was hers or someone else’s, money wasn’t the answer to happiness, and she was determined to stand by that.

“Will you stop? I’m not taking this guy for a ride. I just want to keep my parents off my back for a while.”

“I was only kidding,” Annabelle said, rolling her eyes. Ray wasn’t so sure. “Where are you guys going for your date?”

“We’re going for dinner at Harry’s.” Ray and Carter’s mothers had organized the whole thing on the phone barely a few minutes after Ray had agreed to go on the date, so she hadn’t even spoken to Carter herself yet. The slight bit of hope she got from that was that it sounded like Barbara was just as much of a pushy parent as her own mother was. Perhaps this meant that Carter was just as disinterested in the upcoming date as Ray was, meaning she wouldn’t have to feel guilty when she said goodbye and thanks at the end of the night. She wouldn’t be surprised if this was the case, given that she couldn’t exactly see how Tanya would have made her case when describing her to Carter. “Come on, Carter, come and meet the girl without a penny to her name and who can’t keep a job down for more than a few months!” In what universe their parents thought they were an appropriate match was lost on Ray, but then they came from a generation where the female only had to have a working set of reproductive organs to match the criteria.

“Oh, that’s just a couple of blocks from the bar we’ll be at for Marcie’s birthday tonight! Come meet us after you send Captain Boresville home?”

“Sure, I’ll be there.” At least she had something to look forward to tonight, not to mention a reason to politely excuse herself. The best-case scenario was that Carter would have a sense of humor and they would be able to share an awkward laugh about knowing what it’s like to have parents playing matchmaker before shaking hands and parting ways. But Ray remained doubtful of how much of a sense of humor an accountant would have…

*****

She deliberately arrived at Harry’s ten minutes after they had agreed to meet. She was pretty sure it was an age-old trick carried out by females for generations. A girl wants to arrive for her date with said date patiently waiting for her, her tardiness implying she had plenty of places to be, and that he should think himself lucky that she made time for him.

The restaurant was quaint and cozy. Ray had passed it plenty of times but had never been in it. As she stepped inside, she immediately liked the quirkiness of the mismatched furniture, and the dimly lit booths so that customers could feel like they’re in a place of their own. It was a comfortable environment, and it instantly settled the flutter of nerves Ray couldn’t help but feel on her way to meet him.

The waiter escorted her to the table, although it wasn’t necessary. The place was only half full, and Carter stood out to her from a distance. She could see him looking around nervously for her, whereas the rest of the tables had couples or groups immersed in conversation and laughter. He stood up to greet her, the look of relief on his face that she had arrived obvious as he didn’t even try to hide it.

“Ray,” he said softly, holding his hand out to take hers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He leaned in awkwardly to kiss her on the cheek, his hand still shaking hers. His eyes widened with horror as he realized too late that leaning in for the kiss forced her hand to press against his crotch as their bodies pushed themselves together. He dropped her hand as if she had burned him, and Ray couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I’m so sorry…oh my God.” He ran his hand over his shaven head in humiliation before crossing to hold Ray’s chair out for her.

“Don’t worry about it,” Ray chuckled, trying desperately to hold in her laughter to spare the guy’s feelings, but the look on his face made it next to impossible. She took her seat, still laughing away to herself. When she dared to look up, she saw his expression had relaxed, although still a little apprehensive.

“I’m sorry,” she said breathlessly, wiping a tear away with her fingertip. “That’s just a new one for me!”

“Well, we can call it an ice breaker at the very least,” he said grinning sheepishly, shaking his head at himself. “If you hadn’t guessed already, maybe the first thing to know about me is that I’m not the most graceful of guys.”

“I’ll bear that in mind! Maybe we’ll just report this part back to our mothers?”

“I think that’s probably a good idea.”

 At least he could laugh at himself, Ray thought. She got a good look at him as she gave him a reassuring smile, making sure he knew he hadn’t freaked her out in the slightest. He had a kind face, with warm eyes behind sleek, thin glasses, enhancing his angular features. He had dressed very well in a dark blue suit and white shirt. His top button was undone; making him look far more relaxed and approachable then Ray had imagined him to be. He was clean-shaven, including his head. It suited him, the light in the restaurant reflecting off his smooth skin.

The odd start had relaxed Ray completely, but he still looked a little nervous. Perhaps it was because she had already written this date off from the start, whereas he might have put a lot more pressure on himself for it to go well.

“Can I get you a drink?”

She nodded gratefully, “White wine, please. Just the house one is fine.”

“I’ll share a bottle with you. I often have quite cheap taste buds when it comes to wine, but I’ll happily get whatever one you like.”

“No, really. The house wine will be perfect. Thank you.” She liked his honesty, even if it was down to nerves and he was blurting things out. She also liked that he wasn’t trying to put on any show by throwing money about the place.

The next test that Ray always submitted upon her dates was all down to how they treated the waiting staff. She had been a waitress herself countless times, and had been treated like dirt too many times to be able to bear being with a guy who thought it was acceptable to do the same. If a guy so much as clicked his fingers at a waiter, which was always the bottom line for Ray, she couldn’t help herself but end it then and there.

Carter passed the test with flying colors. He waited until the waiter walked past their table, rather than shouting loudly over other guests. He gently patted him on the arm to get his attention before asking for the bottle of wine “whenever you get a chance,” all with a genuine smile and an excitable thanks when the waiter assured him he would “be back straight away.”

“You look very lovely, by the way,” he muttered shyly. She looked up from her menu and suddenly felt the heat rise to her face at the way he was smiling at her.

“My mother has told me how beautiful you were. She wasn’t wrong.” It was kind of cute how embarrassed he seemed to make himself, as he dived his head back behind the menu as he chuckled nervously.

“Thank you, that’s very sweet, but I don’t think I’ve ever met your mother?” Ray’s mother had talked non-stop about Barbara since they had met at Bingo last year, and since then they saw each other at least three times a week. She had always insisted Ray meet her, but Ray had yet to summon the energy to be in the presence of two middle age women whose favorite pastime was to squawk at each other about all the problems in the world, and how different it would all be if they were in charge.