I got myself fixed up really nice because the restaurant Barry was taking me to was a really nice, Italian restaurant. I told him over and over again that we don't need to go to fancy places, but he always insists. The only other time I have been to this restaurant was once with Max. Wouldn't you know as soon as we walked in the door, we found Max at a table. We walked up to him. This was going to be uncomfortable.

"Hey, Max. You followin' us, around," Barry asked in a joking manner.

"Oh, hi," Max replied, caught off guard.

"Not again," I say with a sigh.

"What brings you here, Max?" Asks Barry.

"Mostly habit, I guess. We used to eat here a lot."

I smile at Max. "One time."

"You two must know each other then, huh?" Barry laughs and then goes to get us a table.

"Darcy, I've got to talk to you right away," Max says, seriously.

"Why? Because I'm with Barry?"

"No, that's not it."

Before anything else can be said, Barry takes me to our table. The waiter hands us our menus. I'm not even hungry now. I tell Barry I don't know what to do. I'm worried about Max, and I don't want him to be upset. I know he wanted to talk.

"Should I go check on him?"

I shrug. It might help put my mind at ease. I sit and wait for Barry to come back. I don't even look over at them. I just want to go home and go to sleep. Max is the only thing that's on my mind, lately.

Barry comes back and tells me that Max is fine. Good. I excuse myself to go to the ladies' room. Once I get back, however, it's strange. Our menus are both gone, and so is Barry.

"Hi."

I look over to see Max coming towards me.

"I just thought you'd like to know, Barry had to leave. He had a nosebleed."

"What? Is he all right?"

"I think so. He said he felt fine. He's with a doctor."

"A doctor?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Why would a grown man with a simple nosebleed need a doctor? Barry squeamish?"

"No," I say, shrugging. The nosebleed must of been pretty bad for him to need a doctor.

"Look, let me see you home."

I sigh. "Max, I'm not up to you tonight."

"No, I just wanted... let me get you a cab."

I couldn't say no to him. He seemed okay. I agreed. He asked me if I wanted something to eat first, and I told him I would just eat what I had at home.

As we were walking down the sidewalk, Max decided to ask me to move back in. I wanted to, I really did, but I just couldn't.

"No!" I know I sounded whiny, but I couldn't help it.

"Why? Why not?"

"Because I don't believe you'll ever change."

"I will change. I already have."

"In two days? Bologna, Max. Taxi!"

The taxi didn't see me and continued driving. Max decided to continue the conversation.

"You have to come back. Look, I promise I won't call you. I won't call you at work. You can go out with those guys on those business dates. You can even bring them home for dinner."

"Max, you really don't take this seriously, do you?"

"Oh, God! No, I do!"

There was a pause. Max then tried a different tactic.

"Okay, okay, look. If you won't move back in, could you at least come over for a few hours every day and sit with me?"

I can't help it. I start to laugh. Even Max smiles a little.

"Let's go out tomorrow night."

"No."

"No trouble. Just for fun."

"Okay. No, maybe. I'll- I'll have to check and see if I have any commitments."

"Commitments? I'm more important than any commitments."

Oh, my God. "See, Max? Cut it out!"

"Okay. Okay, you're right. I'm sorry. I can't help it. It's just that things have been going strange for me lately."

"What do you mean?"

We walk over to a parked taxi.

"I, uh- I-I don't want to bring that up now. You've had enough of me tonight."

"All right, well, I'll call you tomorrow, then."

"Okay, good. Good."

"Okay."

We both said good night, and then kissed. Maybe we would be able to work things out after all.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he says.

"I'll call you tomorrow."

"Right."

Max opens the door to the cab for me. I get in and head home, feeling better than I have in a while.

TBC