“Over-easyeggs.”
Sterling drops his menu down to the table. “Nope, can’t do it. That’s gross,Guppy.”
“Have you tried it?” Ipress.
“Obviouslynot.”
“Maybe you should. You might besurprised.”
“Eh, I don’t know. Maybe on our third date, okay?” He looks grossed out, but he should know he didn’t pass one of my date tests. However, I do realize that I have spent more time setting up date tests and point systems than I’ve spent in an actual relationship this past year. All I had were a bunch of failed dates and low-graded guys to scratch offmylist.
“I’m kidding. Cheese is fine,” I saydryly.
“Thank God, I was starting to worry about you there for a minute.” Over-easy egg on pizza is amazing but it isn’t for everyone, especially not for someone who isn’t willing to step outside their comfort zone or try something new for the sake of trying something new. That could potentially lead to a boringmarriedlife.
The waitress returns with our drinks and Sterling orders a cheese pizza for us to split. “I couldn’t help but notice you were having a rough time at the beach earlier. Are you sureeverything’sokay?”
“Oh yeah, it’s fine.” I’m drained from it and can’t think about repeating the story againtonight.
“Good. So, how did you and Jade meet?” He presses his elbows into the table and rests his chin on his folded hands. “You know what? No, this small talk stuff kind of sucks. I’msorry.”
I take a sip of my wine, finding my thoughts floating back to Liam in the lull as boredom grows between Sterling and me, whether he realizes it or not. It was Liam’s plan and it worked. “People learn about each other over time, Iguess.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right. Personally, I’d rather know the you who is sitting in front me at this moment—what you’re thinking right this second,”hesays.
“I’m starved,” I say with sort-of-fake laughter. “I guess that makes my mind a bitshallow.”
“Guppies like shallow water, soit’sokay.”
“Ha-ha, sofunny.”
The pizza comes out quickly and eating fills the blank spaces in our “in the now” conversation, though it doesn’t stop my vibrating phone fromdistractingme.
I peer down while finishing the last of my pizza, and I find a picture message from the Unknown Caller knownasLiam.
It’s a picture of Shermanator with a—I tilt my head to the side to get a better look—condom hat and a drawn face. It’s tucked into bed, resting on mypillow.
My teeth grind against each other with fury, knowing he’s crossed the line once again, and I’m not sure how much of this back and forth bullshit I can take before I losemymind.
I send him anothermessage. . .
Sterling handles the bill with our waitress while I wait for a response from Liam, but I don’t even get a “read” receipt of my text message.Damnhim.
“Are you all set?” Sterlingasksme.
“Oh, yeah, the pizza was pretty great, huh?” I ask, trying to push Liam to the back ofmyhead.
“Yeah, it was good,” he says while looking down toward the sidewalk as we head towardourcars.
We end up at my car first, and I stop in front of it, fidgeting with my keys. “Well, thank you for dinner. Next time it’s my treat, though. I had fun.” I think I may belying.
“I like the sound of next time, so I’ll take that, and it was my pleasure. So, what are you uptonow?”
I look down at my watch, just for effect. “I think I need to get some rest tonight after how long today was. It was a challenging dayforsure.”
“Cool, cool,” he says with a sense of discomfort. I think I totally lethimdown.
I press up on my toes and wrap my arms around Sterling’s neck, giving him a hug, or what might feel like a slap on the facetohim.
