I roll my eyes, a small huff of laughter breaking free. He’s insane. This isn’t how you win a woman over.
“Well, I don’t buy it.”
“Well, you should.”
“I don’t.”
“One date then.”
I pause, my mouth open. A date?Why do I not hate the sound of that?I’m not sure what I’m more caught off guard from—his response or my feelings about it. I think maybe if I’m honest with myself, he was trying to ask me out last night. But I am not admitting that now.
I must freeze for longer than I think because he lets out a grumpy laugh and says, “I’m telling you now. I want a date. One date to prove myself.”
“No,” I say, emphatically.
“Why not?”
“Hmm, let’s see.” I tap my finger to my jaw as if I’m thinking deeply about this. “You are literally here on a date. You had your arm draped around her no less than five seconds ago.” My eyes are ready to jump out of my skull as I point at the woman. Is he seriously doing this? I know I should be poised. My mother’s voice practically shouts in my head,Don’t make a scene, Olive.But, I can’t.
He laughs. Not like a little chuckle, but a full belly-rolling laugh. “Oh, that? That’s Bridget. She’s my sister.” The anxiety and clear effort to cover up being caught makes me let out an exasperated breath. It did not look brotherly when they were laughing together earlier.
“Mmmk. I think I’m good. No thanks.” I shift on my back foot, turning to walk away and rejoin my friends who are undoubtedly watching this blowup.
“That was so hot!” Meg fans herself for emphasis.
“No, it wasn’t,” I quip back, continuing to walk.
“But actually, why won’t you give him a chance?” Ari asks, linking arms with me as we hit the sidewalk.
“Are you serious?” I halt completely, turning to look at her.
“Yeah. I am. We told you he’s a nice guy, and he clearly has an effect on you. Why not take him for a spin?”
“I just . . . There’s something about him. I can’t. He is literally on a date right now,” I say in mock concern for the girl I don’t even know. There was something about his denial that I believe. But the evidence all points to him being committed to someone else, and that’s easier than admitting that I’m afraid of the way I feel around him.
“That’s his sister, Bridget. He was telling the truth, and you’re scared. You might actually feel something for the first time in . . . maybe ever, and you’re running. I hate to say it, babe, but there’s a chance those college guys were right.” Remorse or pity, I can’t be sure which, passes across her face. Even my best friend sees it. She can tell I’m not capable of taking a leap. And in my defense, all those “men” I dated in college wanted me for only two things—Daddy’s bank account and my ability to look pretty at a party.
“Let’s just go get some drinks,” I plead, desperate to clear my mind of this whole thing.
“Okay, but we will be circling back to this,” Ari concedes, for now.
eight
Sam
The Hollow Hearts Festival (Sam's Version)
At seven in the morning, it’s safe to say I’m not my best. Early Riser is a nickname I lost around the time my first tooth fell out. Since then, it’s been more like Lucky to Be Up by Lunch. Lately, I’ve had more and more responsibilities piling on that require me to get up early, though—not to mention how I tossed and turned after my interaction with Olive on her porch.
Today’s the Hollow Hearts Festival, which means I have to not only get in two clients before noon, but also check in on Mom’s booth and convince my sister to be my date. The first two things are easy, the third not so much.
The door chimes, announcing Xavier’s arrival.
“Hey, man, how’s it going?” I ask, trying to drag myself out of my stupor.
“Too early for this shit,” he grumbles, practically flopping face down on my table.
“You can go to sleep, bro. Let the buzzing take you away.”
