A Mouthful — Long-Sleeve Tee

You choose the largest possible bite at exactly the moment they ask a question that deserves an attractive answer. There is no graceful way through this. You can nod, which might answer a different question, or hold up one finger and hope they appreciate a person who takes both dinner and accuracy seriously.

They wait. You finish. The answer, when it finally arrives, is that yes, you have been flirting with them. For quite a while, actually. You had hoped the evidence was becoming persuasive. They say it was, but they enjoyed hearing you say so. This is a very nice thing to tell somebody who has just had a practical difficulty involving a fork.

You like an appetite. For food, for conversation, for the person sitting opposite. You like a good pattern with dark trousers and the sort of evening where nobody congratulates themselves on having wanted very little. It is pleasant to be direct with someone who can enjoy it, and even more pleasant when they give you something direct in return.

They ask if you would like dessert. You say you would like to know what they are having, then admit you will probably want a taste. They suggest ordering two things you can share. An excellent proposal, although it introduces another complication: if they intend to keep asking you questions like that, you are going to need considerably smaller bites.

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