I spin. The unwanted blind date is at a table for two by the wooden columns in the middle of the bar. I have my escape plan at the ready as I go over.
“Hey. I’m Dylan,” he says.
He’s a nice-looking guy with short hair and an open smile.
I hover by the table, braving the awkwardness of the sentence I practiced on the way over. “Listen, I just want to let you know this isn’t going anywhere. My mom set this up and wouldn’t get off my back about it, but I’m not actually—” I wave my hands as I stumble over the words. “I have a boyfriend, she just doesn’t know it.”
Dylan blinks for a second, then gives me a friendly smile. “Thanks for letting me know. In that case, I have a confession, too. I’m also not looking for anything out of this.”
I unwind the tense set of my shoulders. “Oh. That’s great.”
“I’m just making my aunt happy while I’m visiting her before I go back to Boston. It’s her mission in life to set me up. She doesn’t understand why I haven’t settled down yet.”
I droop against the table with a relieved laugh. “Oh my god, same. My mom’s been dropping hints about me finding someone to ‘cheer me up’ after my last relationship ended. It was faster to come out to meet you and get it over with to appease her before she went into full-blown matchmaking mode than explain to her I’m seeing someone secretly.”
“Listen, if you want to walk out the door right now, I’m cool with that. Here, you can even splash a beer on me.” He frowns. “Can I have another sip first? This is really good.”
I smile, recognizing the light hue as one of Benson and Jess’ summer ales. “It’s fine. I’ll stay for a drink.”
“As friends,” he says.
Once I order, we end up chatting about the dating scene and general life struggles post-college. He shares that, like me, he took longer to graduate from college because he kept switching majors.
I plant my hands on the table and lift a brow, being dramatic. “So why aren’t you settled down, Dylan? Don’t you know bytwenty-five you should be married, have a house, and you’re losing the game if you haven’t thought about kids by now?“
He snorts. “My aunt never lets me forget it whenever I’m in town. She’s worse when it comes to my sister and can’t accept she’s choosing to live her life child-free.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
He shows me a picture of both of them on his phone. “We’re more invested in our careers. Me especially since I felt like I needed to catch up.”
“Yes! I totally know what you mean. If there’s anything I’ve figured out, it’s that none of us know what we’re doing. It’s pretty reassuring. Except the times I’m going through it feeling like I’m the only one who doesn’t have my shit together.”
We toast to not knowing what the hell is going on in our twenties.
Cole and Benson arrive shortly after, spotting me while I’m laughing at the story Dylan’s telling. Cole’s features harden for a moment, then he veers for our table with my brother in tow.
“Well, look who it is.” Benson sidles to me and messes with my hair before I bat him off.
“Shocker, you guys found me at the most popular place to go out for a drink within town limits,” I deadpan.
Cole edges closer, looming over Benson’s shoulder. I can’t help but feel like he’s sizing Dylan up. While the others are distracted, I slide my hand beneath the table to brush against his hip out of sight. He inches toward me.
I swallow at the memory of his voice echoing off my shower tiles earlier while he controlled the toy I had inside me. With my brother here, I can’t introduce Cole as my boyfriend.
Benson glances between me and Dylan. “What’s up, I’m Eve’s brother.”
“Dylan. Word is, my aunt’s friends with your mom.” He shakes Benson’s hand, then turns to Cole. “Are you Eve’s brother, too?”
Cole and I both freeze. He shakes his head.
“No. I’m Cole. Friend of the family.”
“You’d think it from how he acts.” Benson snickers and slaps Cole on the back. “But nah, we just grew up tight. He’s basically family at this point.”
“Want to move to a bigger table?” Dylan suggests.
“We don’t want to interrupt. Have fun.” Benson smirks, winking at me. “Come on, Cole.”
