“Sorry,” I say quickly, thinking on my feet. “Just trying to skip out on a bad date. Is there an exit through here?”
The waiter’s an older guy in his mid-thirties. He looks immediately sympathetic. “Oh s**t, okay, sure. Just walk straight down past the kitchen and make a left. The exit is right there. Good luck.”
“Bless you!” I gasp, already running off down the hall.
The back of the restaurant opens out into a narrow street instead of an alleyway, which isn’t what I had in mind but actually works out perfectly. A cab pulls up to the curb right as I step outside. Complete accident, but the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
I don’t have a lot of money on me, but Casey’s isn’t far. I give the cabbie my address and tell him to step on it.
My heart is thundering against my ribs the entire
