Dodge hadn’t been to a Texas Roadhouse in years. The nearest one had to be almost an hour from Carp, lodged somewhere in an actual city, so he never even really got the chance. But it was Dayna’s birthday, so his mom let her choose anywhere she wanted to eat, and that’s the place she picked. Something about how their dad would always take them…

Dodge, Dayna, and their mom are seated at a table as soon as the interlude for dance music begins. He has always thought it was so funny that a restaurant would have its own theme song. When the dance song actually begins, he doesn’t recognize it, but his focus is immediately drawn to you: a server with a particular amount of energy, just beaming as you do the meager choreography to a short clip of the song. He finds himself smiling at you. And… oh, god.

You come right up to his table about forty-five seconds after the dancing is over. You introduce yourself and inform the guests that you will be their server for the night, ask if they would like any drinks or appetizers…

Dodge can’t keep himself together. He can’t stop looking at you, talking to you, wishing he could hold an actual conversation rather than restaurant small talk.

After the meal, his mother informs you that it is Dayna’s birthday. You return to the table with complimentary birthday ice cream and about five other servers behind you, all clapping in sync. You all sing the Texas Roadhouse birthday song. Immediately after, everyone disperses. All of the serves except for you absolutely hate doing birthday.

Dodge is literally grinning at you as you give the ice cream to Dayna. He says, “You oughta get a record deal for that one.”