“So, um, what did you want to talk about?”
I considered lying, making up something trivial and going with that. But this whole date thing happened because I was trying not to be a coward anymore. Which meant I had to fess up.
“I didn’t,” I said as I gripped the steering wheel. “I thought you’d find an excuse to back out.”
He twisted in the passenger seat to stare at me. “You expected me to say no?”
I shrugged.
“Why exactly do you think people are automatically going to say no to you?”
“Experience?”
He snorted. “When have you ever been turned down?”
I sighed. It was like I could read his thoughts. He thought that a cute girl like me could wrap the world around her little finger, but that wasn’t true. It had never been true. Nobody cared that I was sweet or nice. The world didn’t bend over backward for me, any more than it did for anyone else.
“Ellie—”
“It’s not me, it’s Rachel. Ever since she was little, I’ve watched her barrel through life. She begs, cajoles, harasses, and bullies until she gets her way. And it works most of the time.”
“Yeah? So?”
“So I’m not built that way. I can’t pester people once they turn me down. So I don’t even try. Not unless I already know I’ll get the answer I want.” Didn’t he understand? That was the whole reason I started this “get rejected” campaign—so I would force myself to ask and keep asking for things, no matter how many times the world said no.
He didn’t respond, but just stared at me while I kept my eyes on the road. But this time, I was the one who broke first.
“What?” I asked.
“I need to know if you want me to be honest with you or just keep my mouth shut. We’re stuck together for the next few months, so I’m trying to make this as easy as possible for you.”
Traffic was going nowhere, so I turned and looked at him. “Why is that even a question? Of course I want you to be honest.”
“Are you sure? Because I’m not going to hold back.” He blew out his breath. “I’m known for being kind of blunt.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m a nurse. I’ll match your bluntness and see you a sarcastic retort.”
He grinned. “Game on, then.”
“So?” I prompted. “What did you want to say?”
“That you’re not timid. You have no trouble speaking your mind. And I don’t, for one second, believe that all the guys in your past have rejected you. You’re too beautiful for that to be true.”
My body flushed hot and happy at the word “beautiful,” and it was in no way drowned out by the fact that he was calling me a liar.
“You’ve met Rachel, right? Ms. Dramatic Beauty? No one ever looks at me after—”
“Bullshit. I looked at you. All the guys on the team looked at you. And that was just one picnic.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but then shut it with a snap. The idea that everyone had looked at me was…delightful. Special enough that I couldn’t help smiling. “Really?” I asked, knowing that I needed to hear him say it again.
He groaned. “I cry bullshit again, Ellie. You know guys look at you.”
“Then why don’t they ask me out? Why—”
“How many boyfriends did you have in high school?”
I bit my lip. “Serious? One.”
