Elijah frowned. “What’s a French exit?” He wrapped his scarf around his neck haphazardly and put on his coat. “Just a sec, gotta get the bill.” He drummed on the counter and leaned over it, belatedly realizing the bartender was not coming back anytime soon. “Uh...” He pulled out his wallet, took out some cash, and stared dumbfounded at the drinks they had ordered. What was that, like thirty bucks?

In the spirit of estimation, he dropped more cash that was probably necessary and took her arm. “Okay, let’s bounce.”

The hairdresser was on her tiptoes looking around, only now considering that being late without a text might not have been in her best interest. Her eyes locked on Elijah for a minute, but kept going once she noticed the other girl. Not her date, then.

He cruised past her and into the cold air.