“None for me,” I say.
“I’ll have a glass of merlot.” Harry glances at me, and I nod as Rudy scribbles on his notepad and zooms back to the kitchen.
Once Harry has his wine, talking seems easier for him. I’d love a glass, but I’m driving—and Harry’s alreadygot me distracted. Rudy brings the food out, and as I hoped, Harry’s enthralled.
“Oh, my gosh. You weren’t kidding, Darius. This is amazing.”
“Rudy doesn’t mess around. I’ve been eating here since college. Well, eating his food. In college, it was more of Rudy bringing takeout to our dumpy apartment situation.”
“Wait, so you dated his son?”
“Oh gosh, no, Marco and I were roommates. As in, actual roommates. He had a girlfriend. We weren’t in some fantasy hockey world where straight dudes suddenly want to bang their teammates. We were friends. And Rudy brought us Sunday dinner most weeks.”
“Okay, not Rudy’s son, but your last boyfriend was in college?”
“Yes, Doug. We dated for almost a year, which at the time felt like an eternity. Now I realize how short that really was.”
“And nobody since?”
“Dating? Nope. I’ve hooked up with a few guys. Last time was about three years ago. I was feeling lonely and downloaded one of those apps. You know, where you’re matched with guys based on your location. It was fine. I mean, it did the trick, but the whole thing felt off for me. The guy was friendly enough, but he had no interest in staying when it was over. No talking. No cuddling. Nothing like . . .”
“Rhode Island.” Harry leans over his plate, offering a genuine smile that makes mypulse race.
“Listen, Harry, when you walked into the teacher’s lounge four years ago, you immediately grabbed my attention. And yeah, teasing you so hard makes me an immature goofball, but I only did it because I had such a major crush on you.”
“Yeah, I’ve figured that out.”
“So,” I said, leaning in a little, “about the next part of the night?—”
Harry raises an eyebrow, looking skeptical. “Next part? Skating?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got a plan. Thought we could keep this going.”
He leans back in his chair, glancing at his watch. “Um . . . it’s a school night.”
I grin. “Oh, don’t worry, Cinderella. I’ll have you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”
He rolls his eyes, then smirks. “Is that the extent of your literary knowledge? A fairy tale that was made into a Disney film?”
“Hey, those mice are hella cute.”
Harry’s eyes widen, and we both laugh. He’s mocking me, but in that way that makes my insides all gooey. We’re in sync now, the teasing flowing both ways. And for the first time tonight, I can tell he’s all in. That wall he’d been keeping up? It’s crumbling.
9
DARIUS
The cold airhits me as I step out of the car, biting at my skin. It’s mid-March, but winter’s not ready to let go yet—there’s still a thick blanket of snow on the ground, and the icy wind cuts through my jacket like it’s got a personal vendetta against me. The outdoor rink run by the parks division isn’t too crowded, though, which I guess makes sense for a Thursday night. A few people glide along the edges, but it’s mostly empty.
I glance over at Harry, who’s still in the passenger seat, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else but at a skating rink. We had such a delightful time at Rudy’s, and I’m determined to carry that over here.
He looks at me with wide eyes. “You know I don’t skate, right?” he asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “As in, I don’t skate because I don’t know how.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, I know. But I do. I’m gonna teach you.”
He looks less than convinced but nods, grabbing hisjacket and stepping out into the chilly night. I pop open the trunk, the freezing air making my breath puff out in little clouds. Inside, there are two pairs of skates—one that I’ve had for years and one that’s a bit newer. I hold them up, giving them a quick once-over.
“Think these’ll fit?” I ask, tossing them over to him. “I wasn’t sure about your shoe size, but based on . . . Warwick, I guessed we’re almost the same size.”
