Page 4 of Pretend Girlfriend

Chicago sports team fandom (Bears and Blackhawks for me, Cubs and Bulls for him.)

“You don’t like football or hockey?” I asked. “Ouch. Minus two points for Theo.”

He arched a dark brown eyebrow. “I’m being graded, huh?”

“Nah, just joking. I’m not keeping score.”

I was absolutely keeping score.

“As long as you don’t root for the White Sox,” Theo said, pointing at me with his drink, “then we won’t have to go back in the alley and fight.”

“Baseball is boring. Everyone’s just standing around the whole time!”

Theo sucked in his breath. “An extreme disrespect of America’s pastime? Minus fourteen and a half points for Joanna.”

“Hey! That’s a lot of points!”

“Be glad it’s not more. I’m being very fair.”

I stuck out my tongue at him.

“I’m surprised you’re not watching the game tonight,” Theo said. “The Blackhawks are in the playoffs, right?”

“The puck doesn’t drop for another hour,” I answered. “If the date is going poorly by then, I’ll go home and watch the game.”

“Ouch. I’d better front-load all of my charm, then. How was your martini?” Theo asked. “My whiskey sour tasted like cough syrup.”

“It’s good!” I replied. “I’m going to order another.”

Theo caught the attention of the waiter. “Two more strawberry martinis.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You’re ordering one?”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s kind of a girly drink.”

He made a face. “Judging someone based on the drink they get is dumb. Unless it’s something really weird.”

“Like those insane Bloody Marys with way too much food stuck in them?”

“Yes!” Theo exclaimed. “I saw one the other day that had a cheeseburger slider on it. That Bloody Mary needs to settle down.”

I chuckled at that as our drinks arrived. Theo held his martini up for inspection. The pink, feminine drink looked out of place in his large hand as he took a sip.

“It tastes like candy!” he said with a grin.

“Candy that gets you drunk,” I added.

“Why don’t men know about these? You ladies have been keeping your delicious drinks a secret.”

“The cat is out of the bag,” I said.

“I’m never drinking straight liquor again. I don’t care what anyone thinks.” He smacked his lips happily.

Not afraid to buck traditional gender stereotypes? That’s another point for Theo.

“Your profile said you work at a dentist’s office,” I said while taking my own sip. “That sounds interesting. What do you do?”

---