"Has Lance been bothering you lately?" Sabrina asked.

Bettie's face contorted with frustration.

"Don't even mention him.

He's got a girlfriend now, and he's still bothering me. It's infuriating to run into him."

Sabrina was taken aback and her disdain for Lance deepened.

“I'm going to freshen up."

"Okay," Bettie agreed.

Just as Sabrina was about to enter the room, Bettie suddenly stopped her and inquired, “Sabrina, I seemed to hear a man's voice outside a moment ago."

Sabrina halted and replied with feigned composure, “You must have misheard."

"Really?"

“Of course."

Bettie couldn't help but quirk a knowing smile, finding amusement in Sabrina's feigned earnest demeanor.

At precisely eight-fifteen in the evening, the Sunset Bar was teeming with life.

Bettie and Sabrina had orchestrated their late arrival with a hint of mischief, defying the originally scheduled eight o'clock meeting.

Bettie had reckoned that the blind date might grow impatient and depart before they graced the scene.

The bar buzzed with a kaleidoscope of patrons, each submerged in their own world.

Bettie and Sabrina, however, managed to secure a cozy booth, summoning two drinks to their service.

With her phone in hand, Bettie sent a message to her blind date, saying, "I'm here. Where are you?"

A swift response from her date appeared on her screen.

"Haven't made it there yet. Just hold tight.”