The Last First Date

The Wrong Table

Chapter Three

The Wrong Table

For the first few minutes, Amara and Daniel simply sat across from each other, trying to figure out what to say.

The restaurant was filled with quiet conversations, the occasional sound of cutlery against plates, and soft music playing somewhere behind them.

Amara picked up the menu.

Daniel did the same.

"So," he said.

Amara looked up.

"So?"

"You were expecting me?"

She frowned slightly.

"Yes."

Daniel smiled.

"Good."

"Why is that good?"

"Because I was beginning to think I was sitting at the wrong table."

Amara laughed.

"Actually, I was thinking the same thing."

Daniel looked around.

"Did your friend tell you table twenty-three?"

"Yes."

"Mine did too."

They both looked at the number printed on the small table stand.

23.

Amara frowned.

"That's strange."

Daniel nodded.

"Very."

She pulled out her phone.

"I'm going to call Tolu."

Daniel nodded.

"Sure."

Amara dialed.

The call rang.

No answer.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

"Tolu is probably busy."

Daniel checked his own phone.

"I'll call Michael."

He dialed.

The call rang once.

Then twice.

No answer.

He tried again.

Nothing.

Daniel shook his head.

"He's not answering."

Amara looked at him.

"Maybe they're both busy."

"Maybe."

They sat quietly again.

Then Amara laughed.

"What?"

Daniel looked at her.

"Nothing."

"You laughed."

"I just find the situation funny."

"What's funny about it?"

"We're both supposed to be on dates with people we've never met."

"Yes."

"But neither of us seems to know what's happening."

"Correct."

"And neither of our friends is answering."

"Also correct."

Daniel smiled.

"So what do we do?"

Amara looked around the restaurant.

"We could leave."

"True."

"You could go home."

"So could you."

She nodded.

"Exactly."

Neither moved.

Daniel smiled.

"But we're still sitting here."

Amara smiled back.

"I noticed."

A waiter approached.

"Good evening. Are you ready to order?"

They looked at each other.

Daniel said, "Why not?"

Amara laughed.

"Why not?"

The waiter handed them menus.

"Take your time."

When he left, Amara looked at Daniel.

"So we're staying?"

"Apparently."

"For how long?"

"Until the food arrives?"

She laughed.

"That's a terrible plan."

"It's the only plan we have."

She looked at the menu.

"Fine."

They ordered.

Amara chose grilled chicken with rice and vegetables.

Daniel ordered pasta and a drink.

Once the waiter left, they looked at each other again.

"Okay," Amara said.

"Okay."

"We should probably introduce ourselves properly."

Daniel smiled.

"Daniel Adeyemi."

"Amara Okafor."

"Graphic designer."

She raised an eyebrow.

"How did you know?"

"Michael mentioned it."

"Oh."

"Architect."

She nodded.

"I guessed."

"How?"

"You look like an architect."

Daniel laughed.

"What does an architect look like?"

"I don't know."

"Then how did you guess?"

"Luck."

He smiled.

"I'll accept that."

She leaned back.

"So, Daniel, how did you end up agreeing to a blind date?"

"Michael."

"Your friend?"

"Unfortunately."

She laughed.

"Same."

"Tolu?"

"Yes."

"She sounds persistent."

"You have no idea."

Daniel smiled.

"Michael is the same."

Amara looked at him.

"How long have you known him?"

"Almost ten years."

"That's a long time."

"Yes."

"Are you close?"

"Very."

"What kind of friend is he?"

Daniel laughed.

"The kind who thinks he knows everything about your life."

Amara smiled.

"Sounds like Tolu."

"They'd probably get along."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Daniel laughed.

The conversation became easier.

They talked about Lagos.

About traffic.

About the strange things people did on the road.

About how everyone seemed to have somewhere urgent to be.

Amara told him about a client who had once asked her to redesign an entire brand overnight.

Daniel told her about a construction project where everyone changed their minds at the last minute.

They laughed.

Neither noticed how much time had passed.

Their food arrived.

They continued talking while eating.

At some point, Amara realized something.

She was comfortable.

That was unusual.

Most first dates felt like interviews.

Questions.

Answers.

Trying to impress each other.

Trying to decide whether the other person was worth seeing again.

This felt different.

There were no expectations.

Maybe that was why it worked.

Daniel noticed her expression.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You keep saying that."

"I'm thinking."

"About?"

She smiled.

"How strange this is."

"The wrong date?"

"The wrong table."

Daniel nodded.

"Yeah."

He took a sip of his drink.

"Maybe we should call it something else."

"Like what?"

"The accidental dinner."

Amara laughed.

"I like that."

"Good."

They continued eating.

After a while, Daniel asked, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why did you agree to the date?"

Amara paused.

"Honestly?"

"Honestly."

"My best friend wouldn't stop asking."

Daniel smiled.

"Same."

"So you didn't want to come?"

"Not really."

"Me neither."

She laughed.

"Then we're both here against our will."

"Apparently."

"But you're enjoying it."

Daniel looked at her.

"Yes."

Amara felt something shift inside her.

She quickly looked down at her plate.

"Me too."

After dinner, they stood outside the restaurant.

The city was alive around them.

Cars moved along the road.

People walked past.

The evening breeze carried the smell of food from nearby restaurants.

Daniel checked his phone.

Michael had finally sent a message.

Michael: Sorry. Busy. Hope dinner is going well.

Daniel stared at the screen.

He typed:

Daniel: You have some explaining to do.

Then he put the phone away.

Amara had also received a message from Tolu.

Tolu: DON'T LEAVE. I'LL EXPLAIN LATER.

Amara stared at it.

She showed Daniel.

He laughed.

"At least she's alive."

"Apparently."

They both laughed.

Then silence settled between them.

Not an uncomfortable silence.

A comfortable one.

Daniel looked at her.

"Do you want coffee?"

Amara raised an eyebrow.

"Coffee?"

"There's a café nearby."

She hesitated.

"This isn't turning into another date, is it?"

Daniel smiled.

"No."

"Good."

"Just coffee."

She smiled.

"Okay."

They walked together.

The café was small and quiet.

They found a table near the window.

Daniel ordered black coffee.

Amara ordered hers with very little sugar.

Daniel noticed.

"Not too sweet."

She looked at him.

"You remembered."

"You mentioned it earlier."

Amara smiled.

"You're observant."

"I try."

They sat there for almost an hour.

They talked about childhood.

Amara told him she grew up surrounded by cousins and relatives who always seemed to know everything about her.

Daniel told her about growing up with a strict father who expected him to take responsibility early.

They talked about dreams.

Amara wanted to build a design studio someday.

Daniel wanted to design buildings that people would remember long after he was gone.

"What about marriage?" Daniel asked.

Amara became quiet.

"That's a big question."

"You don't have to answer."

She looked out the window.

"I used to think it was simple."

"And now?"

"Now I think it's complicated."

Daniel nodded.

"I understand."

"What about you?"

"I don't know."

"You don't?"

"I used to think I knew."

"And now?"

"Now I'm not sure."

Their eyes met.

Neither said anything.

It was strange how easily they understood each other.

They weren't promising anything.

They weren't making plans.

They were simply two strangers having coffee after accidentally sitting at the wrong table.

Yet Amara felt something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Peace.

When they finally stood to leave, Daniel reached for his wallet.

"I'll pay."

"No."

"I invited you for coffee."

"You didn't invite me."

"You still came."

"So?"

"So let me pay."

She laughed.

"Fine."

Outside, they exchanged numbers.

Daniel looked at her contact.

"Amara."

"Yes?"

"I know this isn't exactly how either of us planned tonight."

"No."

"But I had a good time."

She smiled.

"So did I."

"Maybe we could do this again."

Amara hesitated.

"Coffee?"

"Coffee."

"Just coffee?"

Daniel smiled.

"Just coffee."

She nodded.

"Okay."

They said goodbye.

Amara walked toward her car.

Daniel watched her leave.

Then he smiled.

He had gone to the restaurant expecting a disappointing blind date.

Instead, he had met someone he genuinely wanted to know.

Amara got into her car and looked at the contact she had just saved.

Daniel Adeyemi.

She smiled.

Maybe this wasn't a date.

Maybe it was nothing.

Maybe it was just one strange evening.

But as she drove home through the Lagos night, she couldn't stop thinking about the man at table twenty-three.

And somewhere on the other side of the city, Daniel was thinking about the same woman.

Neither of them knew what would happen next.

But for the first time in a long time, neither of them was in a hurry to find out.

Some mistakes were worth making.

And sometimes, the wrong table could lead you to exactly the right person.