Merlot

Everything had to be perfect, up to the last detail. Mike had the perfect car, the perfect suit, the perfect wine, and the perfect party to take Nina out on a date. He would walk up exactly two minutes past 6, he would ring the doorbell and compliment her dress.

“That’s a nice dress,” said Mike to the rearview mirror. He tried again. “That’s a nice dress,” he said with a smile. “That’s a nice dress,” he said with a wink. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the puzzled look of a woman walking a dog. He grabbed on to the steering wheel. He avoided eye contact and waited until the woman and the Pitbull with a pink skirt turned the corner.

A pink skirt. A skirt. Mike pulled out his cellphone in a moment of panic.

“Hello?” answered Avi.

“What do I say if she’s wearing a skirt?”

“Sorry?”

“I can’t say, ‘that’s a nice dress’ if she has a skirt on.”

“Mike, calm down. If she’s wearing a skirt, compliment the blouse. Are you/”

“What do I say if she’s wearing a jumpsuit?” Mike interrupted.

“A what?”

“You know, a jumpsuit. It’s like pants and a shirt together.”

Avi sighed. “Mike, no girl wears a jumpsuit to a first date.”

Mike slouched into his seat. “Be pretty cool if she did, tho.”

“She won’t.”

Mike grabbed on to the steering wheel. “Okay, okay.”

“You ready? Do you remember what I said?” Asked Avi.

“Yeah, I think.”

“What do you say if she asks why you’re single?”

“I say,” Mike took out a small notepad and pen from his pocket. He flipped through the pages. “I say I was having fun, but now I’m ready to settle down.”

“Don’t say settle down, you’ll freak her out. Say commit. Girls love the word commitment.”

Mike ran his fingers through his hair. He tried to cross out ‘settle down,’ but the pen wasn’t working.

“Just survive until Silvia’s. Then leave it to me.” Said Avi. “You sure she’s vaccinated?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m inviting her to a ‘we got vaccinated’ party.” Mike shook the pen and tried again, it still didn’t work.

“Just checkin.” He said. “You got the bottle?”

Mike shook the pen harder, only for the ink to spill all over the notepad and his tie. “Umm” He took the tie off. “Yeah, yeah. It’s a Merlot. It came with two wine glasses.”

“You’re going to a party, you don’t need wine glasses. Whatever. That’s fine. Okay. Just don’t blow it.”

“I’ll try.” Said Mike, throwing the tie into the back seat.

“Don’t mention slavery.”

Mike shook his head. “Why would I even do that?”

“She’s black, she probably has strong feelings about it.

“I have strong feeling about it, Avi, and I’m white.”

“Mike, trust me on this one.”

The phone’s screen lit up. It was a message from Nina. “Where are you?”

“Shit. Okay. I won’t. Bye.“ He said, opening the car door.

“Whatever you do, don’t mention Ian.” Said Avi.

“I won’t” He tried to get out, but he was jerked back into the seat. He had forgotten to take the seatbelt off.

“And don’t forget/”

Mike hung up. He ran to the house and rang the doorbell. For a second, he questioned if it was the right house, he hadn’t checked the number.

Nina opened the door with a big smile.

“You’re late.” She teased.

Mike was out of words. He had never seen a more beautiful woman. She wore her hair down, showing off her curls and framing her face. He got lost in her eyes. They were brown and they were staring right back at him, expectantly.

“That’s a nice dress,” he said, nervously.

She laughed.

Mike opened the car door for Nina. As he himself got into the driver’s seat, he caught a glimpse of Nina’s outfit. She was wearing a teal jumpsuit.

Mike started to drive.

“Thank you for giving me a ride.” She said.

“No worries.” There was an uncomfortable silence, then he added. “The Uber would have been very expensive.”

She raised an eyebrow “I can afford it, you know.”

Mike opened his eyes at the realization. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, I meant the no worries part. I know you can afford it. I’ve seen you at the office, you’re a hard-working woman.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Not that I’ve been watching you. I mean, I’ve seen you, but, but not like that.” He kept his eyes straight on the road, avoiding all eye contact. He was sure his face had turned the color of a tomato.

Nina laughed. “I am a hard-working woman, thanks for noticing.” Then she added, “Not that you were watching, or anything.”

Mike laughed back. As the road was engulfed by trees, the radio was interrupted by static. “Do you want to hear some music?” He handed her his phone. “Just pick any song you like.”

90’s music began to play. “Who is Ian?” She asked.

Mike’s heart dropped. “Why do you ask?”

“You have a message, from Avi, saying ‘Remember, don’t mention Ian.’”

Mike could feel Nina’s eyes on him. He sighed. “He is my ex.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you liked men.”

“I do,” he said. Then he corrected, “well not right now. I mean, I do find men attractive, but that doesn’t mean that/”

Nina laughed “I know what you mean.”

“You do?” Mike looked at her before focusing back on the road.

“My sister is bi.”

Mike smiled, “that’s cool. Do you have other siblings?”

The conversation babbled on without silence. When they weren’t talking, they were singing. When they weren’t singing, they were laughing.

A ‘ding’ interrupted the conversation. Mike’s face went pale. Only now he realized what Avi was saying before he hung up. ‘Don’t forget to get gas.’ It was too far into the drive to go back and too far away from Silvia’s to make it.

Mike parked on the side of the road. He hit the steering wheel. “I forgot to get gas.” He didn’t turn to face Nina, he was so ashamed. “I’m sorry. I wanted to impress you and now we’re stranded. I’ll call for someone to bring gas and I’ll take you home.” Mike got out of the car to make the call.

Once he was done, he leaned against the hood and stared at the clearing in front of him. He listened to Nina getting out, he didn’t dare look at her.

“What did they say?” she asked.

“They should be here in around three to four hours.” Mike sighed. “I’m sorry. I wanted this night to be perfect and everything went wrong.”

“At least you got one thing right,” she held up the bottle and the two cups. “My favorite.” She opened the Merlot and poured each one a glass. “It’s soft, and it goes well with everything.”

Mike said nothing, he dared only stare forward. The clearing was big enough to open a window into the sky.

“I’ve never seen a sky so clear.” She offered him a half-filled glass.

He took it. “How are you not mad at me?”

“I like you,” she said. “I hadn’t had so much fun in years.”

“Really?” He took a sip of the wine, it tasted of hope.

“I haven’t dated anyone seriously, I think I’m ready to settle down.” She added.

Mike looked at her. Her eyes shined with the light of the stars.

“Can I kiss you?” The words escaped Mike’s mouth.

“Only if you ask for a second date.”

They kissed under the stars, surrounded by the forest and the muffled sound of Avi’s ringtone.

Everything had gone wrong; it was the perfect night.