The man’s mouth spread into a toothy grin. “Can’t complain. When ya gonna bring a girl to one of thesemovies?”
“Whenever I find a girl who can handle me,” Conrad responded. He forced a chuckle, even though he didn’t find humor in the statement anymore. The same question and answer were part of a weird unspoken ritual betweenthetwo.
“Well, then, enjoy the show.” The man held his hand to his mouth as if he were about to share some secret knowledge. “And make sure to drink a beerforme.”
Conrad gave a mock salute. “Sure thing,” he said going through the motions of their never-changinginteraction.
Once inside the building, he headed straight to the concession stand to buy a beer. Conrad then made his way to the second story balcony. There were less people up there, and he liked to sit in the front row seats so that he could put his feet on the ledge that overlooked the first story. He took a sip of beer, enjoying the last bit of music before the show started. It was a peppy tune he didn’t recognize, but he clapped with everyone else when the organist finished playing and stood with a small bow to thecrowd.
Soon, the lights were dimming and the screen came to life with some independent film. As the minutes ticked by, Conrad felt his attention waning. Try as he might, Conrad couldn’t get into the plot. It was rare that the Polk disappointed him, but there was always a first time for everything. When his phone buzzed, he saw it was Dominick, and he jumped at the chance to see what was up. He walked out into the second-story lobby and answeredthecall.
“Don’t tell me she’s already dumped your sorry ass, Nicky. At least tell me you gave her my number.” He smiled as his cleverness, but the grin quickly dropped when Dominick only responded by saying Conrad’s name. His voicedsoundgrim.
“Wait.” Conrad pulled the phone from his face and looked at the time. “Tell me she didn’t actually dump you already. You’ve only been gone for likeanhour.”
The two proceeded to talk about Dominick’s terrible date. As much as he teased his roommate, Conrad wanted to help. He gave his best advice, knocked on some wood trim on the wall, andhungup.
In no hurry to get back to his seat, he decided to take the opportunity to run to the bathroom. The bathrooms, like everything in the theater, were over the top. There was a sitting room that led to the actual stalls, and as he walked in, he noticed a couple wildly making out on one of the plushchairs.
At least someone’s date was going well that evening, Conradthought.
He chuckled, causing the couple to jerk apart and both heads snap in his direction. The girl groaned and covered her face, but the guy just lifted his chin in unashamed greeting. The cocky grin on his face made Conrad laugh again, because the kid barely looked out of highschool.
“By all means,” Conrad said lifting his hands. “Don’t let me stop you. I’m just taking a leak and then I’ll be outofhere.”
He did so, taking all of thirty seconds, but the couple was nowhere to be seen when he exited the stall. Maybe they decided to take the party home after getting caught, not that Romeo had seemedtomind.
Conrad grabbed another drink, in honor of the man behind the ticket booth, and slowly made his way back to his seat. He propped his feet up on the ledge, and tried once more to get into the movie. But his thoughts kept wandering to his roommate and his date. The smiling girl in the photograph didn’t exactly seem like Dominick’s type. And by that, Conrad really meant Dominick didn’t seemlikehers.
Then his mind went to the Date Maker service as a whole. He’d tried to be cool about his roommate getting set up with a hot date, but couldn’t help but wonder why hehadn’tbeen.
He wallowed in his thoughts instead of paying attention to the movie, and before Conrad knew it, the lights were coming back on and people were filing out of their seats. With no reason to stay, he got up and made his way down the steps. He was so lost to his musings, he accidentally bumped into the couple in frontonhim.
The girl yelped as she grabbed the handrail. The guy beside her fussed over her before turning back. “What the hell, man?” But the words caught in the guy’s voice before he’d gotten the entireaccusationout.
Conrad’s smile lifted when he recognized the guy yelling at him, but only briefly, before confusion took over. It was the guy from the bathroom, the smug expression from earlier gone. Now, his eyes were wide as he slightly shook his head before tipping it toward the girl who stood beside him. She was checking out the back of her calf where Conrad bumpedintoher.
And she wasn’t the girl he’d been making out withearlier.
Whereas the girl in the bathroom had fiery red hair, this girl was blond. Standing several steps in front of him, she had to strain her neck when she went to look up at Conrad. She lifted her brows and looked to be waiting for something. Did she know that had Conrad had seen her date making out withanothergirl?
That was crazy, but the expectant look didn’t go away. He stared back at the girl, her eyes doing something funny to his chest. Something he wasn’t willing to acknowledge, so he continued to rack his brain for a reason she’d be looking at him the wayshewas.
It hit him all of a sudden, and his face heated inembarrassment.
Conrad had bumped into her, which meant he should be apologizing. He’d just been so caught off-guard by lover boy, he’d lost his normal train ofthought.
He forced his mouth into a smile. “Sorry about that. I guess I wasn’t payingattention.”
But she ignored his attempt for amends, her gaze never leaving his. “Do I…” Her eyes narrowed as she examined his face. “Do Iknowyou?”
Conrad shook his head as a bona fide smile took over the bottom half of his face. She was gorgeous—blue eyes, full lips, and tan skin, which was on full display with the short dress she wore. There was no way he’d forget meeting a girl like her. And knowing that her date was making out with another girl during the movie, he felt no guilt sneaking in acompliment.
“Nope. I’d remember meeting you.” He winked, earning a scowl from the guy who stoodbesideher.
“Come on,” the guy said, pulling on her elbow. “It’sgettinglate.”
She turned that same inquisitive gaze on douche-canoe and held it for a long time before turning back to Conrad. “Are you sure? You look so familiar and it’s going to drive mecrazy.”
