The night was young. Only a few tables in the pub were occupied by office workers wanting to destress after a long day. Light country music blared from the speakers, accompanying the clink of glasses and raucous laughter.

Sitting across from Thomas in the cozy corner booth, Sandra giggled as she sipped from her beer mug. “How long has it been since you were on a date?”

Thomas shifted in his seat and combed a hand through his hair. “It’s been a while,” he chuckled nervously, trying not to let his eyes flit over Sandra’s body.

She looked gorgeous, even in a simple tee and shorts. Her clothes hugged her body, accentuating her curves. He breathed in the light fragrance that wafted from her. She had applied date perfume. He smiled. He too had gone out of the way to wear his favorite checkered shirt and jeans, and spray some cologne on his skin.

“Alcohol helps, you know,” Sandra said.

Thomas eyed his full beer mug and contemplated downing it. Thinking better of it given the nervous fluttering in his stomach, he shook his head. “I’ll wait for the food first.”

Shrugging, Sandra took another sip. “Suit yourself.”

As if on cue, a waitress materialized in front of their table carrying their plates. She placed it down on the table, gave a quick smile, and left after murmuring “Enjoy your food”.

Thomas took a whiff of his burger and fries. The wholesome aroma brought a smile to his face. He looked over to Sandra who was licking her lips at the sight of her chicken chop. “Does it look the same as before?”

She met his gaze and bobbed her head. “Exactly like how I remember it. I can’t wait to taste the meat! But before that..”

Sandra fished out her phone and aimed the camera at her plate. A white flash illuminated the table, followed by the sound of the shutter.

Chuckling, Thomas picked up his cutlery and stabbed a fry with his fork. “I didn’t know you were the kind to take pictures of your food. Mind if I start eating first?”

“Oh no go ahead. I just need to post this on my Insta.” Her gaze was on the phone as her fingers flew over the touch screen. “And…. done.”

Sandra plopped her phone down on the table next to her plate. “I only started taking food pics in recent years, I guess.”

Her movements were graceful as she cut into the chicken and took a bite. A contented hum left her lips, her eyes squeezing shut. “Oh, that is good. So juicy.”

“So what made you start taking pictures of food?” Thomas said as he bit down into his burger.

“Professional reasons at first.” Her voice was muffled as she chewed.

“Professional?”

“Yeah.” She swallowed and dabbed at her lips with the napkin. “Times have changed. Celebrities need to be active on social media and show how they live. It makes them real to the fans.”

“Wow.” Thomas’s eyes widened. “That sounds… tiring.”

Sandra gave a small shrug. “You get used to it after a while. I find it kind of fun.”

Licking his lips, Thomas finished the last of his burger and turned his attention to the fries. He didn’t follow any celebrities, so he had no idea how things worked. But he did read the news. And he recalled how crazy fans could be. The Internet only made it easier for them to stalk their idols.

“But wouldn’t that mean you have less privacy?” he pondered out loud. “I mean I assume fans would bother you online as well.”

He looked up from his food to see the slight downturn at the corner of her lips. Realizing that he might have hit a nerve, he placed his fork down and reached for her hand on the table.

Unaware of Thomas’s gesture, Sandra brought her hand to her forehead. Massaging the throbbing pain between thumb and index finger, she gave a cynical laugh. Her eyes averted his gaze as she remarked with a bitter tone, “You have no idea how much shit goes on in the virtual world.”

Thomas retracted his hand. A wave of pity washed over him as he watched Sandra take a chug of her beer. What had she been through when she left for the city? Was she happy with the path she had chosen? Is that why she was back here now?

He opened his mouth to ask a deeper personal question but was cut short by a peal of laughter from Sandra.

“At least they know I’m not dead or in trouble now!” she chortled.

Thomas flashed a wry smile as he speared the last few fries with his fork. He suspected she was joking to avoid further questions. Were he a closer friend of hers, he would press further. The thought brought on a tinge of sadness as he decided not to pursue the topic.

“How about you?” Sandra broke his reverie. “Are you active on Insta? Facebook? Twitter?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I'm not that active on any of those. No one would know if I were dead or alive, I guess.”

Sandra threw her head back as she laughed, one hand covering her mouth as she did. “Oh, that’s a good one!”

Happy to see her enjoying herself, Thomas broke into a grin. He lifted his still-full beer mug up high. “Want to toast now since I’m done eating?”

“Ah yes,” Sandra wiped away the tears of laughter that pooled at the corner of her eyes. “No better time. What should we toast to?”

Thomas hummed in thought for a moment. “To our meeting after so many years?”

“Sure!” She lifted her mug. “And to many more meetings.”

Her eyes twinkled at him and he couldn’t help the flush creeping up his cheeks at her implied meaning. He grinned sheepishly and touched the side of her mug with his. “Cheers!”

“Cheers!” She chugged down the remaining beer. A satisfied breath escaped her throat as she ran her tongue over her lips.

After Thomas took three big gulps, he placed his mug down on the table. Seeing she had finished hers, he gestured to the empty mug in her hand. “Want another one?”

“Sure,” she chirped.

Thomas turned and lifted a hand to beckon the waitress over, but she was busy entertaining another group. As his gaze raked through the crowd, he glimpsed a towering man at the entrance glowering in his direction. He frowned, looking around for anyone that could be the target of such a glare. Most of the crowd were huddled closer to the bar and the nearest couple was seated two booths away.

His gaze zipped back to the stranger. The two men locked sights. Thomas gulped under the intensity of his unflinching glare. Everything about the man spelled trouble - from the unkempt hair and bruise on his jaw to his leather jacket and scuffed jeans. He seemed vaguely familiar, his name on the tip of Thomas’s tongue, but he couldn’t put a profile to that face.

Instinctively, Thomas reached for the holster at his hip. His fingers touched air and he cursed inwardly. Of course, he hadn’t brought it with him. He was off-duty, why would he bring a fucking gun to a date?

His eyes flickered to the cutlery on the table. Better to be armed in case anything were to happen. The stranger was probably a local, but that didn’t mean a fight wouldn’t break out. He slipped his hand over the knife handle and gripped it hard, readying himself.

Noticing the tense vibe and Thomas’s odd actions, Sandra raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong?”

When she followed his gaze, she tensed. The piece of meat in her mouth turned dry. She coughed and swallowed it down.

Thomas’s attention shifted back to her. Seeing the fear in her eyes, his free hand reached over to squeeze her wrist. He kept his voice low and reassuring. “Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. It’s probably some loser wanting to rant.”

Sandra shook her head vigorously, her eyes flitting from him to the stranger and back to him again. “I know that guy.”