Bruce arrived at the restaurant as the sun was setting and stood at the sign that read, “Please wait to be seated.”
“Table for one?” the host asked brightly with a smile. She reached for the stack of menus.
“Two,” Bruce replied. “She’s meeting me here.”
The host led him to a small table, where he took the seat facing toward the door. He frequently glanced that direction.
Even though this was their third date, and Cynthia had requested another date each time so far, Bruce couldn’t help but wonder whether she would show up. Before they started dating, he’d harbored some interest in Cynthia for a while, but she had been the one to take the initiative to approach him after class and ask him out to dinner. But when they were together …
Bruce didn’t have to wait long. Cynthia walked in and spoke with the host, who led her to Bruce’s table. Cynthia hurriedly joined him, and Bruce stood with a smile and a greeting. He tucked in her chair as she sat and then returned to his seat.
They engaged in the usual small talk as they decided what to order. As soon as Cynthia set down her menu, she pulled out her smartphone and began tapping and scrolling. She still managed to carry on a conversation, but sometimes Bruce had to wait through a pause while she looked up and processed what he had said, and twice she asked him to repeat himself. Then once she had replied, her attention went back to her phone.
So far, it was going the same as the previous two dates.
After they had ordered, Cynthia excused herself to use the restroom.
Bruce tapped his fingers together as he tried to decide what to do. The food arrived, and he thanked the server.
When Cynthia came back, she smiled at Bruce briefly as she sat down. No sooner was the first morsel from her plate into her mouth than she had her phone in hand again.
“Cynthia,” said Bruce. She cocked her head slightly, eyes still on the screen, then looked at him a moment later. “This is going to sound a little strange, but I’d like to have a staring contest.”
She blurted out a laugh, then covered her mouth. “Okay?”
Bruce leaned forward on his elbows. “Start.”
Grinning, Cynthia put down her phone and rested her hands on the table. She gazed steadily into Bruce’s eyes. For his part, Bruce didn’t expect to enjoy this—he had merely wanted Cynthia to focus on him for a few minutes. Wasn’t that what they were on a date for? But he found himself admiring the shape of her eyes and the way the blue around her pupils gradually gave way to green along the outsides of her irises.
Bruce wasn’t sure how much time passed before Cynthia’s phone buzzed, vibrating the table sharply, and broke their concentration. He fully expected her to check it, but she looked at it for a long moment, then picked it up and put it in her handbag.
“Thank you,” Bruce said. “I was starting to think there were three of us on this date.” He chuckled.
“I’m horrible, aren’t I?” Cynthia replied. “I spend too much time looking at my phone. I know it.”
“It just made me wonder … You’ve asked me out a few times, but I don’t feel like we’ve really connected with each other. I mean—I feel like you have maybe wanted a relationship because this isn’t our first date. I feel like there could be a relationship here, but to be honest, I have felt sort of … neglected. It was nice to have you focus on me for a minute.” He paused. “And I liked focusing on you.”
Cynthia blushed. “You’re right. My phone will stay in my bag for the rest of the night, I promise. And you’re right. I will focus more on you so we have a better chance at a relationship here.”
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