Ognjen studied the menu so long that Maja thought he was choosing wine. He was actually calculating whether he could order a starter and still buy new work shoes. She had chosen the restaurant, as she had the previous two times. She owned a small business and was accustomed to paying for a pleasant evening without much thought. He worked in a warehouse, knew exactly when his wages arrived, and more precisely what had to wait until the next payment.
When the bill came, Maja took it. Ognjen reached at the same moment and overturned his glass. Red wine spread across the white cloth. The waiter brought a napkin, Maja said she would pay, and Ognjen heard himself say he was nobody's project. He had not meant to say it. Her expression showed that the wrong sentence had nonetheless reached the right place.
They left the restaurant separately, then stopped beneath the same awning because it was raining. Maja asked when she had treated him like a project. Ognjen had to admit she had not. But three dinners he considered a special expense were an ordinary week for her. He agreed so he would not appear mean, then resented her for failing to guess a figure he had never told her.
He showed her on his phone how much he could spend each month on going out. She did not ask to see his salary. She simply said she was sorry he had felt as though he were taking a test beside her. Then she added that she would not withdraw every offer to pay for fear of offending him. If she wanted to invite someone, she wanted to be able to treat them. Ognjen watched rain strike the edge of the pavement. That sounded more reasonable without a bill attached.
Next time he chose. They bought savoury pies and sat in the park, while Maja brought expensive strawberries because she had seen and wanted them. Ognjen almost asked what they cost, then ate one instead. Not every difference had to become a negotiation. Later they argued again, this time about a weekend she could afford and he could not.
They found no single formula. They had cheaper places, occasional invitations at her expense, and several postponed plans. When he finally bought work shoes, Maja admired them. He showed her the soles as though unveiling a new car. They finished the evening eating leftovers from his fridge, relaxed enough to admit that the cheese had abandoned all hope.