“He does,” I confirmed, then cleared my throat. “I have a date.”
“Wait, a date?” Connor asked. “You have adate?”
I played it cool. “Yes, tonight.”
“With who?”
“Jacob Bluestein.”
Connor slowed Chip to a stop, and I did the same with Chop. He gave me a blank look. “I’m confused. I didn’t even know you knew Blue.”
“Of courseI know Blue,” I said. “He’s on the wrestling team.”
“Well, yeah,” Connor said. “But like, you don’tknow him-know him.”
“Yes, I do.” I straightened my shoulders. “We matched on that dating app Isa Cruz invented and have been chatting for a week. He asked me out a few days ago.”
Connor opened his mouth, then closed it. “What have you been talking about?” he eventually asked.
“Just stuff,” I replied. “Our summers, sports, movies, families, how we’d never want a bird as a pet.” I shrugged. “Randomness.”
He slowly nodded. “That sounds good.”
I smiled. “I think so.”
The expression on Connor’s face had twisted, making him look half perplexed, half pissed off.
Something on your mind?I wanted to say but didn’t.Are puzzle pieces fitting into place?
Instead, I laid it on thicker. “I’m really excited.”
And truthfully, Iwasexcited.
***
“He’s here!” Da called up the stairs just as I was finishing my makeup and pulling my hair into a high ponytail. I glanced out my window to see Jacob’s Silverado truck park where my car usually was.He’s picking you up, right?Meredith had asked, and after I’d said no, that we’d agreed to meet at the theater, Katie wrote:Unacceptable. Get him to pick you up. Tell him your car is in the shop so you need a ride.
I agree with Katie, Natalie said as my secondary consultant.Davis should’ve picked you up for our JProm. Show some manners, dudes.
No worries!Jacob texted back after I’d messaged him about car issues.I’ll swing by and grab you!
He was a big fan of exclamation points.
And he was also pretty cute. Stocky and strong from wrestling, he had curly brown hair and kind hazel eyes. I liked that he’d pseudo-dressed up for tonight, wearing a short-sleeve button-down and khakis. He came to the front door, and even though his knock set off Arthur and Francine, he took it in stride—letting them push up against him for pets while my parents welcomed him. “It was really great to meet you both,” he said after we talked for a few minutes. The movie started in a half hour. “I’ll have her home by—”
“Ten,” Da said at the same time Dad went, “Eleven.”
“Twelve!” I joked.
“Beforethe clock strikes twelve,” Da amended with an air of finality.
Dad shot me a look that said,You’re fairly confident in this date, aren’t you?
My stomach swished. Yes, I was, but I also had a feeling Connor would show up after he dropped Lauren off after their Six Flags date.
And I admit, I didn’t want to be home.
“Ready, Mads?” Jacob asked.
