Dinner ended. There was rain again.
My friend offered a ride.
I declined her, "It's out of your way. I'll Uber."

"Cabs are impossible in this rain!"
"It's fine."
I watched her drive off, suddenly envious.
She got her license right after high school. I wanted to learn driving too, but Liam stopped me,
"Why bother? You have me, your personal chauffeur."
He spoiled me, making me depend entirely on him.

He convinced me that any problem could be solved with him by my side.
Like on our first date, I had the Cioppino too fast and got a fish bone stuck.
I was about to pour wine in my mouth when Liam snatched the bottle away and tilted my chin up,
"It's useless. Open wide. Let me see."

It was so embarrassing to let him look into my wide open mouth on out first date.
I squirmed as he frowned, peering intently.
"See anything?" I mumbled.
Talking made drool spill down his hand.
It was mortifying!
I grabbed napkins, frantically wiping his hand. My face was burning.
"Relax. It's fine."
"Bone's deep. We need to go to the hospital."
He took my hand. His knuckles were red from my scrubbing.
The experience traumatized me.
I never ordered Cioppino again.
Even when he kissed me later, I would pull away fast.
Liam hated that. He’d cup my neck, speaking in a husky voice,
"Relax, Sophie. Open up."
"Can't kiss you properly this way."
His kisses were deep and demanding, stealing my breath.
He claimed it was "exposure therapy", always kissing me until I was dizzy.
Thinking of kisses... The bar scene crashed back.
A cold, slimy feeling crawled down my spine.
...
In the Uber, I found a driving school and enrolled.