I manage to put a lid on my escalating giddiness as he makes his way towards us through the minor crowd. Maggie, on the other hand, does not.
“Sweet lord, he’s walking over. What should I do? Should I sing?”
“Please don’t sing.”
“Whenever two people are about to admit their love for each other in a musical, they always sing. I should set the mood for you guys.”
“Don’t you dare.”
Ryan is then at my side, resting his hands down against the table.
“Hello,” Maggie sings. We both look at her and she starts nervously laughing. Uncomfortable situations were never her strong suit. “Hello,” she says again, normally this time. “I’m Maggie. Sorry about the weird hello. I have a background in music.”
“I can tell. You have a great voice. I’m Ryan.”
And Maggie is back nervously laughing. “Yes, I know who you are.”
“Oh, yeah? Has this one been trash-talking me?” he asks, nudging his head in my direction. A waiter appears and Ryan orders a beer on tap.
“What? No, not at all.” Maggie’s trying to recover. Bless her heart. “I mean yes, Kara has mentioned you in passing but nothing out of the ordinary. You guys went to summer camp together, right?”
“College.”
“Really? My mistake, I must have been thinking about her summer-camp boyfriend that we often discuss at great length. You, not so much.”
Ryan smiles in a confused sort of way and looks to me for clarification. All I can do is shrug.
“Hey, Sullivan,” he says softly.
“Hi.” We hold eye contact for longer than we should and Maggie starts humming the opening notes to “Tale as Old as Time.” I give her a warning look and she cuts it short, appearing guilty but satisfied as she glances back towards the jukebox.
“Yeah,” she says, “maybe this isn’t the best time for me to mention this, but our current suitors are now on their way back. Should I clear the area?”
“No, don’t do anything,” I tell her.
Kyle and Adam return to the table and Maggie immediately picks up her purse. “Hey, Kyle!” she says, a thousand times louder and peppier than she needs to. “You know what? I’m starving and I love dinner. Would you like to get dinner?”
“Sure,” he says, giving a quick look over to Adam. “Are we all going?”
“Nope, just the two of us. We should go now, though, because I want to hear more about your parakeets.”
“Parakeets?” he asks, confused, as Maggie grips his arm and drags him towards the door.
I’m now left standing inconveniently alone with Ryan and Adam. I’m trying to think of what to say when I feel Adam’s hand on the small of my back. Ryan notices and squares his shoulders.
Awkward.
“Can I get you another drink?” Adam asks, leaning in close to my ear even though the bar isn’t that loud or crowded.
I’m about to tell him I’m good when Ryan clears his throat.
“Right. Sorry, I should introduce you guys. Adam, this is Ryan.”
Adam stretches his arm out around me. “Nice to meet you.”
Ryan shakes his hand, saying, “Likewise.”
After a nice painful silence, I realize I should probably start talking. I face Adam and try to explain. “Ryan is my friend from college. He’s crashing on my couch this week until our mutual friend’s wedding.”
