“You’re making a fool of yourself.”

Tyler waved his hand, dismissing John’s disapproval.  “You’re just jealous.”

“What?”

“You’re jealous that she’s into me and not you.”

John scoffed.  “Yeah.  That’s it.”

Tyler looked over at their waitress.  “How do you not see it?  The way she flirts with me?”

“Dude.  She’s trying to get better tips.  She flirts with everybody.”

“You think I can’t tell the difference?  I’m telling you, she likes me.”

“Okay, man.  If you say so.”

The waitress came back over to their table.  “Another round?”

Tyler smiled at her, determined to prove his friend wrong.  “Sure… uh…  I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name before.”

She smiled.  “Denise.”

“Hi, Denise.  I’m Tyler.  This is my friend, John.”

She turned.  “Hi, John.”

John gave her a quick wave.

“So.  Same as before?  Or did you want something different?”

“Same.  Thank you.”

She smiled again and walked back to the bar.

“See?  I told you.”

John looked incredulous.  “Told me what?  She took our order.”

“Wow.  You must be blind.”

“And you must be crazy.”

“You just aren’t a romantic like I am.”

“That’s what it is.”

Denise returned with their drinks.  “Here you are.  Can I get you anything else right now?”

“If you have a break, you could join us?”  He ignored John rolling his eyes.

Denise gave him that smile he was already in love with.  “I wish I could.  I just came on a little bit ago, and my boss is pretty strict about giving us our breaks.  Maybe some other time.”

He used his own smile to cover his disappointment.  “No problem.  Don’t want you to get in trouble with your boss.”

“Thanks for the offer, though.”

“Sure.  Anytime.”

After she left, John leaned forward.  “Can we go now?”

“Why?”

“Well, you struck out.  We can leave, right?”

“I didn’t strike out.  You heard her.  Her boss is a hard ass.”

“Yeah.”

“Seriously.  I don’t know why I hang out with you.”

“Because I’m the only one who puts up with your shit.”

“Thanks a lot.”

John grinned.  “I’m just kidding.  But can we go?  I do need to get up tomorrow.”

“Okay.  Let me settle up.”

“Sure.”

Tyler took out one of his business cards and wrote his cell number on the back.  As they headed to the door, he handed the card along with a fifty dollar bill to Denise.  “Call me sometime, okay?”

“Sure.  Thanks.  Have a good night.”

“You, too.”

Outside, John let out a little laugh.  “I hope she calls you.”

“She will.  You’ll see.”

John slapped him on the back.  “I really hope she does.”