Is it me, or did Carrie’s jaw just twitch? I can’t tell whether she’s trying hard not to laugh, or if she’s pissed. I glance across the table. Cheyenne is still waiting for a reply, and I suddenly realize I don’t want to say yes.
“I need to check my practice schedule. Give me your number?” I offer. “I’ll let you know after training.”
“Sure!”
I sit patiently while she saves her details.
She smiles as she hands my phone back. “Can’t wait to hear from you. Catch you later!”
I give her a small smile. “Sounds like a plan.”
She sneaks a glance at Carrie, who doesn’t look up—just gives her a half-hearted wave.
As I watch Cheyenne cross the park, I turn to Carrie and slap her thigh playfully.
“Ah! This feels good.”
“What—you hitting me?” she snaps.
“Realizing that you’re a bitch to other people, too.”
“What can I say?” She shrugs. “The world needs more negativity. And the library feels like a good place to start spreading it around.”
She scoops up her things and hops off the bench.What’s the hurry?I hate seeing her this cold—it reminds me of how she was when we first met, and it only reinforces the thought that maybe she’s sick of hanging out with me.
Instead of asking her directly, I decide to fuck with her a little.
“I think I get it now,” I say slowly. “You’re all bratty because you want me to yourself.”
Her bag falls to the ground as she stares at me, her eyes wide as saucers. I had to dig deep for the exact right thing to trigger her, and it seems to be working.
“You’re worried that once I find the perfect girlfriend, there’ll be no more Wolinski premium sex ed for you, and—”
She throws her empty can at me. “Are you out of your mind?”
I hold up my hands in protest. “Hey, listen. I showed you a bunch of profiles, and you shot them all down. I get it, Carrie. You’re scared to lose me, but don’t w—”
“What the hell, dude?!” she yells. “You asked for my opinion, so I gave it—that’s all. You really are an arrogant, narcissistic jerk, aren’t you?”
She crouches down, cussing as she scoops up her things, and straightens, taking a few deep breaths before slapping a smile on her face and looking me straight in the eye.
“Cheyenne seems like a real sweetheart. Kind, smart—and she was cool with giving you her number. She’s not an airhead, and she read the room—she knew when it was time for her to go.” Carrie nods. “Ask her out for that coffee. I’ve got a good feeling about her.”
And then she turns on her heel and stalks away.
I watch as she crosses the park. “I was only kidding, you know!”
She doesn’t turn back. And I just sit there like an asshole, and a little irritated at how unbothered Carrie seems to be about this first date I’m going on. Because yeah—Iwillgrab that coffee with Cheyenne. I’m suddenly feelingverymotivated to go on that date.
I jump up and head back over to the parking lot, where my three buddies are leaning against Adam’s car.
“What’s up, guys?”
“We were just wondering…” Lane trails off.
There’s an engine revving somewhere behind me, and I spin around to see the greatest fucking car I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Holy shit,” whispers Lewis. “A Pontiac Firebird.”
