The club was nearly deserted, the last group of stragglers walking slowly out the door. The night had felt like a dream to Emily, and she wondered when she’d blink and find herself in another disjointed scene.

Mary: “I’m going to run to the bathroom really quick; did you need to come with me, Em?”
Emily: “No, I’m good. I’ll wait here.”
Mary: “Mr. Stone, I’ll hold you personally responsible if anything happens to my best friend here.”
Andy: “I promise you I’ll protect her with my life.”
Mary: “Damn straight.”

Mary quickly ducked into the bathroom, leaving Emily and Andy alone.

Andy: “How are you settling in?”
Emily: “I think things are going pretty well; it’s not like I had a lot to unpack.”
Andy: “This was all pretty unexpected for you, wasn’t it?”

Emily let her gaze drift over the empty dance floor, nodding slowly.

Emily: “My grandfather just passed away a few weeks ago; he was pretty much the only family I had. Mary called me up on a whim the night of the funeral, and here I am.”
Andy: “I’m so very sorry for your loss.”
Emily: “Thank you. It hasn’t been easy, but I know I’d be a lot worse off if I hadn’t come out here.”
Andy: “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m very glad you did.”
Emily: “I am, too.”

Emily was grateful for the darkness of the club as she felt a flood of heat across her face. The swimming sensation she felt in the pit of her stomach caught her off guard, as did the odd heaviness in her limbs. As Andy smiled down at her, she felt strangely unable to look away. At the same time, she felt a good deal of her nervousness melt away.

Andy: “Listen, I know this probably seems a bit forward of me, but would you be interested in having dinner with me some time? I know of this great Thai place I’d love to take you to.”
Emily: “I dunno, something about this doesn’t seem quite right.”
Andy: “Oh. It’s OK; I understand. I’m sorry—“
Emily: “Oh, I’m definitely interested in having dinner with you, but there’s no way I’m letting you pay again. We may just end up with cheap Chinese take-out, but it’ll definitely be on me this time.”

Emily couldn’t help but laugh as Andy’s expression changed from utterly disappointed to confused, before finally settling on relieved.

Andy: “Sounds fair to me. How does Tuesday at seven sound?”
Emily: “It sounds perfect.”
Andy: “Great. Let me give you my home number.”

Emily waited while Andy wrote something down on the back of one of his business cards before handing it over.

Andy: “Feel free to call me whenever you want. I’m really looking forward to Tuesday.”
Emily: “Thanks, and me too. Maybe we can get Thai over the weekend if you’re not busy.”
Andy: “That sounds like a fantastic plan.”

Emily was just becoming aware that she was smiling stupidly when Mary emerged from the bathroom. With a new spring in her step, she followed her friend out of the club and to the car.