They finished eating and left bare plates on the table. The restaurant was as empty when they finished their meal as it was when they started. The dead echoes of passing cars wheezed their way through the door. Eddie wiped his mouth off with a napkin; Christine gulped the rest of her tea and thumped her glass down on the table.
Eddie looked at her. She didn't look at him.
Alejandra came to the table. "Are you both finished eating?" she asked. Christine nodded. Alejandra took the plates, left the bill and went to the back room. Christine reached for the bill.
"Let me pay for it," Eddie said.
"Look, do not try to--" Christine started.
"Let me pay for it," Eddie repeated. He grabbed Christine's hand. She looked into his eyes. Her face softened after a few moments, then immediately sharpened again. She let go of the bill and sat back in her seat.
"Fine," Christine said. "Pay for it if you must."
Eddie left the money on the table and stood up, pushing his chair back under the table. Christine stood, grabbed her coat and also pushed her chair back in. They left and got back into Christine's car. Neither of them spoke.
Christine started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. She eased back onto the road.
"Would you like me to drop you off back at home?" Christine asked.
"I can walk," Eddie replied. "Your house is pretty close to mine. It won't take long to get there."
Christine drove. She weaved through the streets back into the suburbs past the high school. Her house was close to school. It was a one-story, plain-looking place that had been recently repainted, although it was difficult to tell in the darkness. The lawn was fresh and green and wet.
Christine pulled the car into the driveway ahead of the closed garage. She got out, and Eddie followed her. They walked together to Christine's front door.
"So," Eddie said. "Good night, I guess?"
Christine paused. "Thank you," she said, after a few seconds.
"For what?" Eddie said. "What the hell did I do?"
"For taking me out," Christine said. "Now let us never speak of this again." She opened her door and began walking inside.
"Is that it?" Eddie said. "The night's over, then?"
Christine turned halfway around. She looked confused for a moment and craned her neck. Eddie turned around, too. He saw nothing. When he turned back around again, Christine was smiling.
"So that's how it is," she mumbled.
"How what is?" Eddie asked.
"Nothing," Christine said. "Yes, Eddie, the night is over. Don't worry; I won't make you kiss me. Good night."
She closed her door.
