“I like clarity.”
“I’m starting to understand that.” She cocks her head to one side. “So, did you do anything fun today?”
“Practice with the girls. They’ve got Saturdays, but also Tuesdays and Thursdays for another month.”
“I didn’t realize they were on the ice so much.” Vivian sits back in her chair, crosses her arms, and takes me in. “So, did you come over here to talk about practice, or to talk to me, or just to say hello to all of us?”
“I wanted to say hi. To all of you.” I hesitate, then add, “But mostly to you.”
She goes perfectly still. “Why?”
I consider that for half a second longer than most people probably would. “I’m doing things to take me out of my comfort zone this week, and one of the things that would keep me comfortable would have been sitting at that table and not getting up to say hello.”
Her mouth curves. “Wow. I didn’t realize I was part of a personal development plan.”
“You’re not,” I say. “You’re a variable.”
Her eyes widen. “A variable.”
“Yes.”
“That sounds…not good.”
“It’s not that,” I say. “It just means you weren’t predetermined.”
She studies me for a second, then laughs. “You’re very hard to argue with.”
“I’m not trying to argue.”
“No, I know,” she says. “That’s what makes it tricky.”
There’s a small movement as she turns a little more toward me, elbow resting lightly against the bar.
“So,” she says, “what else is on that very structured list of yours?”
“Nothing structured about it,” I say. “I’m just doing things I wouldn’t normally do.”
“Like talking to women at bars?”
“I talk to women,” I say, but even I can hear the defensive tone in my voice.
She dips her chin. “But, do you?”
The lilt of sarcasm clues me in, and a tiny grin pulls at the corner of my lips. “Yes.”
She tilts her head. “Ty…?”
I cross my arms. “Fine. Less than average,” I admit.
She smiles, like that answer works for her. “Honesty. Bold choice.”
“I like being honest.”
“So in the spirit of trying new things,” she says, eyes flicking to mine, “you got up from a perfectly good table, walked across a crowded bar, and inserted yourself into girls’ night.”
I consider that. “That’s true.”
“Is trying new things hard for you?”
