Page 16 of Dating and Other Theories
“Hey,” Jonathan said when Esther opened the door. He was holding a sheaf of papers bound with brass brads, which he held out to her. “Here’s the script.”
“Cool.” Esther carried it into the apartment, leaving the door open for him. She tossed the script onto her Ikea coffee table without looking at it.
Jonathan followed her inside and closed the door behind him. “You can redline that copy, or type your notes into another doc, whatever’s easier for you.”
Esther nodded. “Yep.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I did pretty well last night, huh?”
“You did okay.” It wouldn’t do to let him get cocky this early. “You’re going to have to do better than okay on the actual date though. What are you wearing?”
His brows drew together. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it. Clothes.”
“You should make an effort. No flannel. And no beanie either.”
“Seriously?” She couldn’t tell whether he was offended she thought he needed to be told not to wear a beanie on a date, or offended that he shouldn’t wear a beanie on a date.
“Seriously. What’s your hair look like under there, anyway?” She reached up and plucked the beanie off his head. He was taller than he seemed, probably because he did so much slouching. Esther was five foot nine, and she had to reach pretty high to get at the beanie, which meant he must be six one or six two.
She frowned at the mop of unruly hair that spilled out. “Okay, well, fortunately for you, Jinny happens to like her men vaguely disheveled. Just…put some product in it or something. And wash it.”
Jonathan snatched the beanie away from her and shoved it back on his head. “I’m not an idiot. I know to wash my hair before a date.”
“Where are you taking her?” Esther asked.
“I was thinking Tap 21.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Really?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s kind of boring. And full of posers.”
“I eat there all the time.”
“I rest my case. Rule number one: stay away from any place that calls itself a gastropub—all that means is mediocre overpriced burgers. You want somewhere with character, that tells her something about you. You should take her someplace unique. Someplace you love. What’s your favorite place to eat?”
“In-N-Out?”
Esther rolled her eyes. “I said somewhere unique. Somewhere no one else would think of.”
He thought about it. “Doozo’s.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s this Chinese noodle place on Venice. Kind of a hole in the wall, but they’ve got this cool, Blade Runner vibe and killer dumplings. And the old lady behind the counter likes me.”
“That’s perfect. Take her there.”
He frowned, running his hand over his jaw. His face was heart-shaped, tapering to a pointed chin. He actually did look a little like Jake Gyllenhaal, if you squinted and didn’t look too closely. “Is it weird to take an Asian girl to a Chinese restaurant?”
“She’s not Chinese, she’s Korean. And she loves Chinese food. It’ll be fine.”
He still looked uncertain. “Are you sure this whole thing is a good idea?”
Esther arched a threatening eyebrow at him. “Don’t you dare chicken out on me.” If he backed out now, Jinny would be so disappointed, she’d go running back to Stuart for sure.
Jonathan chewed on his lower lip. “It’s just…won’t she get pissed if she finds out you put me up to it and the whole thing’s a sham?”
