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Coincidental.
Allllll the -dentals. It wasn’t premeditated at all.
Though it occurs to me that you can still be put in jail for murder, even if it was committed with one of the -dentals. I push the silly train of thought from my mind and sit down. No one is going to jail.
I open up my Styrofoam container, and the smell of steak quesadillas drifts up to my nose. “What did you get?” I lean over as Tyler opens up his box. There's a half-eaten baked potato and a half-eaten steak.
I gasp. “Somebody ate yours!”
“What?” He looks down. “No, they didn't. It looks fine to me.” He moves the box so I can’t see it.
“Tyler.” I grab the lid, flipping it back open. “Look at your potato. It totally has a bite taken out of it. We should call the restaurant and complain.” I stand up and grab my cell phone. “You should get a refund. That's ridiculous.”
“It’s fine how it is. I can eat it like this.” He holds his hand out to me like he’s begging for my phone. “You don’t need to call the restaurant.”
I search their website and begin dialing the number. “It’s ringing.”
Tyler reaches for my phone again. “Meg, stop!”
“What? You can’t eat it like that.”
I watch him as he closes his eyes and takes in a breath.
“I have a confession to make.” He rubs his hands over his face. As they come down, his expression twists into something pained. “I was inside the restaurant eating dinner with my family when you pulled up. I saw you get out of your car and come in to pick up your order.”
I push the redendbutton and slowly lower my phone.
“I had them package up my food so that I could come talk to you.”
“Wait. What?”
He straightens. “What part didn't you understand?”
“I think I understood it all. I’m just processing it.” My forehead creases. “Soyouwere the one who took a bite out of your food?”
“That's correct.”
“And then you had them put it in a to-go container so it looked like we just randomly bumped into each other?”
“Yeah.”
I start laughing.
“Are you laughing because you're freaked out or because you think I'm the smartest man ever?”
“I don't know, but I don't think I've ever had anyone go to so much effort to have dinner with me.”
“So you're flattered?”
“More like surprised.”
“Surprised with a little bit of flattery?”
I shake my head. “No.”
Actually, yes.
I’m totally flattered.
