He seemed visibly uncomfortable as he glanced up at her. “Uh, thanks, Em,” he replied, his voice polite but lacking enthusiasm.
Undeterred, Emily continued with a flirtatious smile, “Don’t forget about trivia night on Saturday. You promised you’d think about joiningmy team this time. Maybe I can help break that losing streak of yours.” She practically purred the last part, her tone dripping with insinuation.
I felt a wave of frustration building up inside me, annoyed at how Emily kept interrupting our time together. Her blatant attempts to draw Ethan’s attention away were grating, and I could feel the tension simmering just below the surface.
Ethan seemed to catch on it. He flashed me a warm smile, one that made my annoyance melt away a little. “Vinnie, how about you join us for trivia night? I’d love to have you there. It could be a lot of fun, and I could definitely use the help. I haven’t won a single one yet—I’m starting to think the trivia gods might have it out for me.”
Emily’s smile tightened as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, actually, our team is already full,” she said, feigning regret. “I wouldn’t want Vinnie to feel left out.”
Ethan didn't skip a beat. He flashed a reassuring grin in my direction. “No problem. We can always form our own team,” he said confidently. “Right, Vinnie?”
Emily’s eyes narrowed slightly as she turned to me, her tone dripping with fake sweetness. “Are you sure? Trivia night here might be a bit boring for someone used to the city’s club scene on Saturdays.”
I laughed, unfazed by her petty jab. “Honestly, that sounds like a dream compared to sweaty bodies and drunk people spilling drinks. I’d love to join you, Ethan.”
He chuckled, clearly pleased. “I’m sure we can keep Vinnie entertained.”
Emily’s smile became a thin, forced line. “Great! I’ll see you both there then,” she said, her voice tight with irritation. She flipped her hair over her shoulder with a dramatic flair, then turned on her heel and walked away briskly, her usual bouncy steps noticeably absent.
Ethan turned to me with a shy, playful smile, nervously fidgeting with his coffee cup. “So, it looks like we have plans for Saturday,” he started, his voice a little uncertain.
I smiled at Ethan’s nervousness, finding it endearing. “It seems so,” I said, taking a sip of my latte and meeting his eyes with a warm expression.
He continued, his voice a touch hesitant, “So, how about we make it a date? I mean, if you’re up for it. It might not be as exciting as a night out in the city, but I think small-town trivia nights can be pretty fun.”
The worddatesent a flutter through my chest, making my pulse quicken. My palms were clammy, and I wiped them on my jeans. I had come here to embrace dating and be the new Vinnie, and now was the chance to do just that. There was something about Ethan that drew me in, and I felt eager to see where this could lead.
I grinned, feeling a spark of excitement. “It’s a date,” I said, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.
Ethan’s face brightened, breaking into the most charming smile that reached his eyes. They twinkled with a genuine delight that sent a rush of warmth through me. He leaned forward, propping his elbow on the table, his bicep flexing slightly. There was a playful glint in his eyes as he continued, “Fair warning, though. Crazy Larry will probably be there.”
I glanced away from Ethan’s toned arms, feeling a slight blush rise to my cheeks. Meeting his warm, honey-colored eyes, I asked, “Who’s that?”
“He’s got a reputation for turning even the quietest nights into something wild. Last month, he brought in a karaoke machine and started a sing-off between trivia questions. It was . . . memorable, to say the least.” He leaned in even closer, our hands nearly touching, separated only by the coffee cups. “In his youth, Larry swears he was in a rock band—at least, that’s what he keeps telling us. Whether or not it’s true, he definitelyhas the spirit for it.” Ethan's fond smile made it clear that, despite Larry’s antics, he was a beloved character in the town.
I laughed, shaking my head. “He sounds like fun. Although,” I winced slightly, “I really hope it’s not karaoke this time. That’s my worst nightmare.”
I could feel Ethan’s curiosity, so I continued with a sheepish grin. “Back in college, my dorm mates somehow managed to drag me to this local karaoke bar. It was all fun and games at first, listening to everyone butcher classic songs. But then, they signed me up to singMy Heart Will Go On. Let’s just say I didn’t exactly channel my inner Celine Dion.”
I grinned at the memory, though it still made me cringe. “Being the center of attention is one thing, but having everyone watch me while I’m bad at something? That’s a nightmare. If Larry starts pulling out the karaoke machine, I’m definitely slipping out the back.”
“Well, if it comes to that, I’ll take one for the team and grab the mic myself,” he joked. As we both reached for our coffee cups, our hands brushed against each other, and we both pulled back, a soft blush creeping up our cheeks.
With a playful grin, Ethan added, “But . . . if Idoend up singing, promise to cheer me on. I might not be Celine Dion, but I can do a pretty entertainingBohemian Rhapsody—all the different voices and notes included.”
“Well, that’s a performance I can’t miss. I’ll be there, front and center, to witness your Freddie Mercury impression,” I teased. “Just don’t expect any backup vocals from me. I’m strictly an audience member.”
“So, tell me more about your college life,” he said. “I’m guessing you studied art?” He raised an eyebrow playfully. “Was it all wild nights and art classes? Or was there more to it?”
I smiled, nodding. “Yeah, I studied fine arts, much to my parents’ dismay. They wanted something morepractical, but I loved it. It felt like the right place for me to explore and create.”
I paused, thinking back to my college days. “There were definitely some wild times,” I said with a laugh. “This one time, a few girls from my dorm and I crashed a sorority party. We’d heard they were throwing this hugeAnything But Clothesparty, and we just had to see it for ourselves. We made these ridiculous outfits out of trash bags and duct tape—super creative, right?”
Ethan laughed, clearly amused.
“We snuck in and, honestly, the party was everything you’d expect from a cliché college movie,” I continued. “Red solo cups everywhere, people dancing on tables, and terrible pop music blasting. It was my first time cutting loose and getting drunk. I remember ending up in their backyard with a few of my friends, singing along to some throwback hits and attempting the worst dance moves imaginable. At one point, we even tried to build a human pyramid, but it collapsed after about two seconds.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “I think we avoided getting caught because everyone was too busy having their own fun to care about us. It was definitely one of those quintessentialfirst-time-getting-drunk-in-collegeexperiences. Messy, a little embarrassing, but a lot of fun.”
