“Yes, I couldn’t even make this up if I wanted to. My car was right there so I offered to drive and he flipped his shit.” She sighed, rolling her eyes into the back of her head as she leaned against the seat, looking over to Davin. At least someone else was just as appalled as she was and she wasn’t crazy. That was good. “See, why aren’t all guys like you? And I was trying to do him a favor! Some people don’t even like to drive, so I was just offering to help out. I’ll have you know I’m an excellent driver. I got my license on the first try, and I was six months pregnant when I took the test. My stomach hit the horn on accident when I leaned up to see the road, it was so funny.” She laughed at the memory, her eyes lighting up as she thought about it. “And the seat heaters are just a bonus of my amazing driving.” She added with a proud smile. “Oh it was rescheduled, so I should be alright. But thank you for your encouraging words…I’m trying to branch out as much as I can. Ever since Mia started school I’m pretty much working full time while she’s there.” She shrugged, unable to believe her daughter was in the first grade. “I know, right? A girl who eats and wants to drive the car, that’s just the biggest disgrace in the entire world. But most of them are guys I know through work…they’re friends of the people I work with. Some of them are friends through clients of mine…you know, people I do makeup for. I don’t know…it’s just been one terrible date after another. I swear, D. It’s got to be me.” She sighed, looking up to him. “Davin McDermott, do I strike you as a Tinder kind of girl? I mean, if that’s your thing than go for it… but no, Jesus…no. I don’t use Tinder. I signed up once, once, that was it, and in the first two hours I got a bunch of matches but the guys only wanted pictures of my ass or to met and hook up. I mean, come on…I know I have a nice ass, but what happened to buying a girl dinner first?” She teased, laughing again. “Okay…let’s see. The last guy I went out with was twenty-nine, because I have this thing about older guys. And them being more mature…all of that. So once we had gotten through our salads is when he had the audacity to ask about the White family. Not even me, just my parents. Who I don’t talk to, which you know, so he was literally a dumb ass and obviously knew nothing about me but heard the last name White and asked me out. Oh, and when I told him I have a daughter, he asked for the check. Not even kidding.” Saying it out loud still stung a little, but she was giving Davin the satisfaction of knowing he was better than every guy she’d been on a date with. “You should feel better about yourself. Most guys aren’t like you, so.” Claire gave him an honest smile, honored to have him in her life. Davin was a good food taller than Claire on a normal day, but she had on heels specifically because she knew she’d be with him. If she wore the right ones she was just tall enough to lean against him, her head fitting in his neck. She leaned against him as he asked for the back booth, smiling at the waitress before asking how she was. Claire always asked people how they were doing, said please and thank you. People may have blamed southern hospitality, but it was just Claire. She laughed at him, her eyes lighting up before she rolled them softly at him. “Yes. If you don’t get disgusted at me for eating and doing normal things, I’ll even buy you the gum ball myself.”
Davin rolled his eyes, growing more displeased with the pathetic man that Claire had to suffer being in the presence of. “If I ever acted that way, I would prefer that you shoot me in my feet and shins.” He snorted, shaking his head in disapproval. “There are others out there like me. I don’t even know exactly what that means. I’m just...me, I’m Davin, you know? I’m sure there are others out there that even better than what I am.” He shrugged. Davin was used to hearing genuine comments about the way he carried himself, it wasn’t uncommon. People were kind to him, kind enough to express the way they see him. He always appreciated the kind words said about him. He never disagreed with anyone, he just never completely saw himself as the way he was told he was like. He just saw himself as, well, himself and that was the easiest way he could explain it without sound insane. “Feel free to drive whenever you want when we hang out, I will never mind that. Six months pregnant and you still passed on the first try? That’s incredible and that’s hilarious, about your stomach hittin’ the horn.” He laughed, imaging his petite friend with an expanding belly doing maneuverability practice. “You don’t get enough credit for all that you do, you know, working full time as a single mother. You’re amazing and I know we’ve only known one another since the minute you moved here, but you’ve made me so proud this whole entire time. Mainly because of all the food that you can eat, though. Everything else is just an added bonus.” He teased as his dimples were on display with the grin that spread across his face.
“Claire White, do I strike you as the type of guy to use tinder?” He mocked, placing his hand at his chest for dramatics. “I’ve signed up for it, used it a few times for hook ups. Don’t really care for the app. I’d rather just fuck someone I know or come across in person. Since I’m buying lunch, does this mean if I ask for pictures of your ass you’ll follow through? It definitely is nice and I wouldn’t mind receiving spontaneous ass pics, so feel free.” Davin wasn’t entirely sure if he was joking as his laughter filled the air around them. Platonic nudes being shared between them was something he never imagined, he wasn’t even sure if they would be platonic. “I’ll probably ask for ass pictures when I’m drunk and this is me apologizing beforehand. God, Claire, you really do get yourself involved with some real assholes. I’m sorry that you even had to have the misfortunate of going on dates with these tools. Mia is an absolute angel and that guy can choke on glass for insinuating that your daughter was a deal breaker. Although he set himself up considering he only swiped because of your surname.” Humbled by her compliment, Davin produced a shy smile as Claire leaned into him. Naturally, his arm wrapped around her for a moment before he plopped himself down in the booth. Immediately, Davin ordered milkshakes for the two of them to get started on as they looked over the menu. A half chocolate and half vanilla one for himself and a strawberry one for Claire. “You’ll even buy the gum ball for me? You’re too sweet to me, Claire. It’ll only be fair if I buy you one as well. Sorry for ordering that milkshake for you. I mean, I didn’t meant to order for you, you can speak for yourself and I chose to ignore that. Just figured you would have wanted a strawberry shake.”