I looked around a bit and ascertained that there was no trace of any of his friends.
“Come on, let’s sit down,” he invited me, motioning to a small, secluded table.
This part of Tropical looked like a classic ’50s diner, with red-and-black checkered tablecloths and an array of stools at the counter.
“Did your mom drive you?”
“Yeah.” I sat down and realized we were alone.
“What’s she like?”
“Crazy.”
My answer made him raise an eyebrow.
“I mean, she’s an artist,” I explained.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I’d never been alone with a guy, even at school. It was my first date.
“Interesting. What kind?” he inquired attentively.
He was making small talk, but the way he made eye contact with me made him seem genuinely interested.
The idea that our date was a joke had crossed my mind more than once. But in that moment, while I was with William, I started believing that he was serious.
“She does contemporary art with some realist inspirations.” I pulled out the adjectives I’d heard a million times during my mom’s exhibitions.
“So, in laymen’s terms, cool stuff,” he said as he leaned toward the counter, hoping to get a waiter’s attention to bring us a menu.
“Weird stuff,” I corrected.
“I thought so. And tell me, was it just the two of you who moved here? Are you an only child?” Did we really have to broach this subject on our first date?
Poor William didn’t know what kind of brutal, boring drag my life was, and I had every intention of sparing him the details.
“My dad remarried. He still lives in Virginia.”
“Were you born there?”
“Yeah. Can we talk about something else?”
“I’m sorry. Shall we order?” I saw him motion to the waiter, who brought over a laminated menu.
“I’m open to recommendations,” I announced after skimming the bizarre milkshake names.
“They make a great chocolate shake here. But maybe you’d prefer something lighter,” he guessed.
“Oh, twist my arm why don’t you. Milkshake it is,” I exclaimed impulsively. William stared at me, intrigued.
“You should know it’s so big that it’s inThe Guinness Book of World Records. But you’d set the record for the first girl to ever take on a challenge like that if you finish it.”
“I’m up for the challenge! So, tell me something, do you like playing football?” I tried to change the subject.
He laughed. “I hate football.”
“Really?”
William drummed his fingers on the table nervously without looking at the menu. “I’ll have a juice.” He ran his fingers through a lock of his hair.
