The two sat in an uncomfortable silence, until Dominick asked her another question. This time it was about hermajor.
“I’m pre-med,” Harmony answered. “But I don’t know if I really want to be adoctor.”
Dominick leaned forward. “Whynot?”
“First of all, I don’t really like people.” Harmony looked up to gauge his response. He hadn’t been wrong when he said that, but that didn’t mean she liked hearing it from other people. Dominick’s eyes were wide, so she winked to let him know she wasteasing.
“But I think the biggest issue is I don’t have any passion for it. I thought I would do it for the money, but the more I learn about insurance, the more I realize I won’t be making as much as I originally thought. I don’t know if I can spend the next forty years doing something I hate if the money isn’tworthit.”
Dominick’s head tilted to the side as he watched her. “Would any amount of money be worth doing somethingyouhate?”
“Probably not.” She snorted and slowly shook her head. “What about you? I’m curious if the full-time student is following his passion. You look like an English major. Maybeliberalarts?”
This time, Dominick laughed. “Economics.”
She found herself leaning forward. “And what do you plan to dowiththat?”
“Become an actuary,” he mumbled under hisbreath.
“Awhat?”
Dominick shrugged his shoulders. “They calculate insurancerisks.”
That sounded like the worst possible job—stuck at a desk all day in front of a computer. And he had the nerve to talk to her about following her passion? She pushed back. “And that’s something you’re passionateabout?”
He stared directly into her eyes, the intensity making Harmony uncomfortable. “It’ll pay the bills. Andthat’ssomething I’m passionate about. I never want to worry about my family going hungry or about whether or not they’ll have to leave their home because they can’t afford itanymore.”
She was the first to break eye-contact. Her gaze went to the cloth napkin on thetable.
“I’m sorry,” he added quietly. “My family has had some hard years in the past. I never want my kids to have to worry where their next meal willcomefrom.”
She nodded even though she couldn’t quiteunderstandit.
It was true, she had to work while she went to school. But only because she liked having a car, or going out to eat, or going to the movies. Harmony had never gone without. Even now, if there was something she wanted, she’d just call her parents and ask. Nine times out of ten, they’d give ittoher.
There was another awkward silence, until Dominick, once again, started asking Harmony questions. This time, he was careful to stick to topics that were safe. Where was she from? How long had she been working at the coffee shop? What television shows did she watch? What kind of music didshelike?
It was like he was collecting as many facts about her aspossible.
They continued this way until the waitress came back with their drinks. The two ordered their food, followed by even more forcedconversation.
Dominick was kind in all he said, seeming to be genuinely interested in what Harmony had to say. But even so, dinner was a mercy. There was only so much interest Harmony could force. Dominick was nice, but this wasn’t going anywhere—not when Pax was her intended match. And throughout their dinner together, Harmony hadn’t forgotten that she was supposed to be here with Pax and notDominick.
With mouths full of food, neither one of them was forced to speak to the other. Instead, they ate their meals with the occasional comment on how good everythingtasted.
She couldn’t be sure about Dominick, but Harmony was lying through her teeth with eachmmmsound she made. The chicken dish she’d ordered tasted like cardboard. Although, she wasn’t sure if it was the chef's fault or if she was still viewing the evening through goggles ofdisappointment.
She'd much prefer rose-coloredglasses.
When the meal was done, the waitress brought the check. Harmony and Dominick reached for their wallets at thesametime.
"I've got it," he said, though his voice carried an emotion she couldn't quite place. It was neither pride nor frustration. Maybe resignation? "It's a dateafterall."
A date that never was supposed tohappen.
The waitress was quick to take his card and return to the table, bringing them one step closer to the end of thisdisaster.
Dominick signed the receipt then looked down at his watch. “We should probably getgoing."
