The hostess has taken off, weaving through the crowded tables. I follow. My sister trails close behind, like she’s using me as a buffer.
As soon as we’re seated, my name rings out.
I make sure to widen my eyes and drop my jaw. Henry’s walking toward us, wearing the sameWhat on earth are you doing here?expression I’m feigning.
“Hey,” he says. “Here for dinner?”
“Yep. You remember Tati?”
He gives my sister a nod. “It’s wild running into you guyshere.”
“Oh?” I smile up at him. “Why’s that?”
“This is my dad’s restaurant.” Subtly, he winks at me. He’s a cute winker, not a smarmy winker. Of course he is.
My stomach’s flitting around again, same as when he grinned at me a few minutes ago.
God—I’m attracted to Henry.
I mean, I’ve been attracted to a dreamy, idealized version of Henry for the last three years, but that was meaningless, because that Henry was just a fantasy.ThisHenry, this flesh-and-blood, studious boy who wants to go to West Point and likes to dip his fries in tartar sauce and thinks he’s too good to read the Delphina trilogy? He’s real, and he’s standing right in front of me, smiling like he’s been waiting all night to set eyes on me.
I’m not sure I have a type, but if I have ananti-type, it’s Henry Walker.
And yet…
He turns to Tati. “My dad opened Blitz Brews a few years ago.”
“How nice for him,” my sister says, voice tight.
A beat of silence passes before I remember the script and gesture to the chair beside mine. “Henry, you should join us.”
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude.”
“You wouldn’t be. Right, Tati?” I frown at my sister and call, “Hello—Earth to Tati?”
She’s scanning the restaurant like a lifeguard scanning the beach.
I say her name again, sharp with impatience.
“Oh!” she says with a nervous laugh. “What?”
I roll my eyes. “I was telling Henry he should join us.”
“And I said no thanks. Third wheel and all.” He’s good—hitting the beats we discussed right on cue, his tone light, his vibe virtuous. “Actually, though,” he says, touching his chin. “My dad’s here. I could go get him. Then there’d be four of us.”
“I don’t think—” Tati starts.
I beat her to the punch. “Yes! Go get him!”
Henry motors away, giving Tati no time to manufacture an argument.
She fidgets.
I sip my ice water.
Henry returns with his dad.
The astonishment that splashes over Davis’s face is pure comedy.
