All classic dinner conversation.
Miles
I wish. Then I would have nailed the date.
Owen
Maybe she found you awkwardly charming.
Miles
Plain awkward is more like it.
Owen
If you want to come over, I’m at home watching YouTube videos.
Miles
I think it’s best I go home and pretend tonight never happened.
Owen
Alright. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.
I lock my phone and stare at the empty stretch of curb where her car had been. She agreed to a second date. Somehow, I still managed to fumble it, but hope flickers anyway because she didn’t shut the door on a third. If that’s all I’ve got, I’m holding onto it like it’s oxygen.
Instead of going home to dissect every second of the night, I detour to Porter’s. A beer feels necessary. Maybe Rylee’s working. She hands out relationship advice to everyone else; surely she can spare some for me.
Porter’s is quieter than usual when I walk in. I slide onto an empty stool and scan the room.
“Hey, Miles. What can I get you?” Lach is already reaching for a coaster.
“Actually…” I adjust my glasses. “Is Rylee working tonight?”
The shift in his expression tells me before he answers. “No. She’s not here.”
My shoulders sag. “She’s good with advice. And I could really use some.”
He studies me for a beat. “Alright. Lay it on me. Maybe I can help.”
I hesitate. With Rylee, I know exactly what I’d get—direct, no-nonsense, actionable advice. Lach is more of a wildcard. But I’m already here, and he’s offering to listen. And he’s definitely had a girlfriend or two.
“There’s a girl I like,” I admit. His eyebrows lift, then he nods, inviting me to continue. “I’ve gone out with her twice. Somehow, the second date was worse than the first.” I comb a hand through my hair. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve got this feeling I only have one more shot. If I mess it up, she’s never going to want to see me again.”
“How do you know that?” He rests his elbows on the bar.
“Because if I were her and screwed it up as bad as I did, I wouldn’t want to go out with me again either.” I exhale. “So I need to wow her.”
He studies me. “How bad could the dates have been?”
I take a breath. “The first one turned into a double date with my parents. Not intentionally. They just happened to be at the same restaurant.” I wince. “My mom pulled baby pictures out of her purse.”
His mouth twitches.
“I left convinced there was no way I’d get a second date. But she agreed.” I shake my head. “So for the second one, I made sure my parents had plans. I was so focused on making it perfect that I rambled about anything and everything.” I pause. “Did you know sea cucumbers can expel their internal organs to ward off predators?”
Lach stares at me, not saying anything.
