An Unexpected Hunger by C. Rosa

promise,” he said, crossing his heart. “I would never do anything to hurt you. I never want to loose you.”
    I looked up at him and smiled, too happy in that very moment to see the truth. I had never once asked him to leave his wife, and deep down I knew it was because he never would. He was never going to fully commit himself to me. The day would eventually come when my heart would get broken.
    * * *
    Ricky beeped the horn over and over, even when I was halfway to the car.
    “Alright, alright…don’t get your panties in a twist,” I said , getting in.
    He didn’t say anything in response, didn’t even look my way. I wasn’t sure how long his silent treat ments lasted, but it had already gone on longer than I expected. I figured he would have let it go and moved on by now. I almost fell over yesterday when he completely ignored all of Heidi’s usual advances. I had to stifle my smile when she jeered at his rejection, knowing it didn’t happen too often for her, if at all.
    “Ricky?” I finally said. “How long are you not going to talk to me? It’s making these car rides very unpleasant.” I hoped my teasing tone would ease the stormy look in his eyes.
    “What’s there to talk about?”
    “What happened the other day.”
    My phone vibrated in my purse, rattling against my house key. It was an unknown number , and for a split second my heart dropped at the thought of it being Danny. I realized there was no way he could have my new number.
    “Hello?”
    “Alexa…hi. It’s Ethan.”
    My eyes darted over to Ricky, who glanced over in my direction, a curious look on his face.
    “Ethan.” I said slowly. “Hi. How’s it going?”
    “Pretty good. I s this a good time?”
    No! This is the worst possible time to call!
    I could see the storm in Ricky’s eyes darkening.
    “Um…I’m actually heading into work. Can I call you later when I’m done? It might be a little late though.”
    “Yeah, sure. I just wanted to see if you want to go out Saturday night. Call me whenever. I’ll be up.”
    I assured him I would call at the end of my shift. Stuffing my phone back in my purse, I avoided Ricky’s face all together.
    “What did he say?” He was gripping the steering wheel so hard the veins in his forearms were bulging.
    “Nothing…I told him I would call him back later.”
    “Did he ask you out?”
    I paused, not sure whether or not to lie.
    “Did he?”
    I looked over at him. “He wants to go out Saturday night.”
    “No way. Saturday is our busiest night. I need you at work.”
    I let out a dramatic sigh. “I already know that Ricky . I’ll be at work on Saturday.” I should of just dropped it there and let him think he had the upper hand. But I couldn’t help myself. “I’ll tell him Sunday is better.”
    “What? Sunday? I thought you were on the schedule?”
    I shook my head. “Nope…Casey and Heidi.”
    “Well, I might need you to come in and help Mia behind the bar.”
    “What?” I cried. “I don’t know how to bartend. Besides, Sunday is the slowest day for the bar.”
    “ I can’t believe you actually want to go out with that guy…”
    “Why? He seems ni ce. The kind of guy that could commit.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Nothing. I’m just saying…I’m not interested in being someone’s love lackey.”
    “So, what are you trying to say? That I’m the kind of guy who can’t commit?” he scoffed.
    “No, that’s not what I’m trying to say.”
    It really was , but I didn’t want to admit it to him.
    “Because I can commit. I bought the bar. Isn’t that a commitment?”
    “Ricky, that’s different. The day you get tired of the bar you can put it up for sale. It doesn’t work like that in a relationship. Besides, I made myself a promise...” I trailed off, regretting the words as soon as I said them.
    “What promise?”
    I kept my mouth shut.
    Ricky kept looking over my way, waiting for me to open my mouth.
    “Will you look at the road?”