The Contestant: Ex Lover Edition

The Dinner

Earlier, Chris was so excited I had agreed to do the show, he invited me to dinner. This was not the first time we had dinner together. We have done this on occasion with clients. This was the first time we had dinner with just the two of us. Usually, when it was just us, we ate breakfast or lunch, not dinner. Tonight we were going to the local Mexican restaurant. We could get food and the best margaritas. Nothing fancy.

I stopped by my apartment to change my clothes. I changed out of my business attire and put on jeans and a t-shirt. I pulled my hair into a pony tail and freshened my mascara. I headed to the restaurant.

Chris was waiting for me when I got there. He was sitting at the bar. He waved me over his way.

"It'll be 10 minutes on a table. I decided to get started on the drinks," Chris said.

"I like the way you think. I have been dreaming of a margarita!"

Just then, the bartender came over to me.

"What can I get you?" He asked.

"Can I get a strawberry margarita?"

"They are on sale for taco Tuesday. You can get a pitcher for $9.99," he suggested.

"Oh, I don't need a pitcher, just one is fine."

"Get her the pitcher," Chris chimed in.

"I can't handle a pitcher! I have to work tomorrow. My boss frowns upon me being hungover at work." I said while looking at Chris.

"Lucky for her, I am really close with her boss. Get her the pitcher," Chris told the bartender.

"I hope you don't mind ordering me an uber." I joked with Chris.

"Nonsense, I have watched Dateline. I can just drop you off at your apartment. I can swing by and pick you up in the morning and take you to get your car. Enjoy your night. You work too hard. Your boss is a jerk." Chris said, trying to be funny.

"Alright, I can't argue with the boss! However, you are not a jerk." I winked at Chris.

After 2 glasses of margaritas, our table had opened. We were seated and ordered. I ordered chicken fajitas and Chris ordered shrimp tacos with no tomatoes. Chris wasn't a fan of tomatoes.

"Have you started packing?" I asked Chris.

"Only a woman would think about packing while celebrating." He smiled.

I gave him a smile back. I could feel my face getting warm from the margaritas, or that smile.

"I just don't think I have enough clothes for 10 weeks." I joked.

"Stacey, I'm sure they'll let you do your laundry. Hell they may even have people to do our laundry for us. Why don't you quit worrying and enjoy your drink?"

When the food came, my pitcher was empty. I asked for water. I was pretty tipsy. I don't think the food or the water was going to help. After the check came and Chris paid, we headed to Chris's car.

I went to the passenger side of Chris's car and he went to the passenger side too. He unlocked the car with the key fob and then opened my door. I was not expecting this, so I looked at him blankly.

"Do you need help?" He asked, concerned.

I started giggling. I was definitely tipsy. I don't normally giggle.

"All sorts of help, but I can get in the car by myself." I responded.

I climbed in and Chris carefully shut the door behind me. Two minutes later, we were on our way to my apartment. I started messing with the radio.

"Hey, driver gets control of the radio," Chris yelled.

"No. The driver needs to watch the road. However, the driver gets the final say on whether or not they can listen to whatever the passenger is listening to on the radio without wanting to drive into oncoming traffic. Your sad country music is making me want to drive into oncoming traffic." I joked.

"That's a little dark. It's a good thing you are not driving." He joked back.

"Yeah, and a good thing I'm here to save you from this horrible music." I was laughing again.

"Listen to what you want, but fair warning I will use my veto rights, if I must."

"Yes, sir." I responded.

I found an 80's rock station we both liked. I sang loudly and danced in the passenger seat and Chris laughed at me. He did sing some along too. We made it to my apartment without him kicking me out and leaving me on the side of the road somewhere, so I'm calling that a win.

"Here we are, sit tight," Chris said, looking over at me.

He got out and was coming to open my door, but before he made it around the car I opened my door. He reached for my hand and helped me stand.

"Let me make sure you get in okay and I'll be on my way." He said, seriously.

I lived in a townhouse apartment. It was two stories and I had my own door on the ground level. I was pretty much home. I just had to walk up the 20-foot walkway to my door. I looked at Chris and looked at my door. I started giggling again.

"Just give me the satisfaction of knowing you made it through the door safely," Chris said.

I fumbled through my purse for my keys. It took me a little longer than I should have to find them. Chris grabbed my keys. He held my elbow and walked me to my door. He unlocked it and followed me into the apartment.

The first room you walked into was my loving room. I just had a couch, coffee table and TV on the stand. It wasn't much. I turned on the light and kicked off my shoes. I picked them up and went to put them away in the closet.

"Stacey, I put your keys on the coffee table. If you are good then I am going to head out. I'll be back in the morning to give you a ride to your car." Chris yelled to me.

I was back in the room before he finished his last sentence. He was still standing by the coffee table. He looked at me as I walked back into the room.

"Of course I am good. I'm home," I gestured to the apartment.

He was about a head taller than me and I wasn't wearing shoes. I had to look up slightly to look him in the eyes. He had dark hair and stunning brown eyes. We held eye contact for a few seconds. He finally turned and walked to the door. I followed.

"Thanks for dinner. Thanks for the ride." I broke the silence.

"It was my pleasure. See you in the morning. Good night." He said, looking back at me.

"Drive safe and sweet dreams. Wait until you get home for sweet dreams!" I joked.

We both smiled. I closed the door. I heard his car start and saw his headlights pull away. I was still standing by the door. Did I really just tell my boss sweet dreams? I'm blaming the margaritas.

I went and sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. I'd just check out the weather channel real quick then head to bed. I set the remote down on the coffee table next to my keys and my list...

MY LIST! I hope Chris didn't see it. There's no way. I wasn't gone that long putting my shoes away. Was I? No. There is no way. I don't want him to know he is the only reason I could find to do the show.

I had lied and told him there were way more pros than cons. Really, protecting him was all I wanted to do. If he saw this, I dont know how he would feel. I crumbled it up and headed to bed.