Page 93 of It's a Date (Again)

He texts back,I’m sorry too. I’m the lucky one.

His message brings a smile to my face. I type out another because I don’t want our conversation to end. A text from Tyler pops up telling me he’s here, but I swipe it away so I can finish my text to Robbie.

And good news, we don’t have to worry about the pact anymore. Lol. I finally figured it out, and I’m so sorry I blamed you for me not knowing who I love.

The three dots pop up and then disappear and pop up again and disappear. Another message appears from Tyler. I swipe it away. Finally, a message from Robbie comes through.

Congrats. Hope you’re happy.

I let out a heavy sigh, rereading the four words over and over again. They’re short and impersonal. He didn’t even ask who I picked. Isn’t he at least curious? Robbie’s the one that said he would help me figure it out. He said he would make sure I picked the right guy just to prove he wasn’t trying to sabotage our pact. And now he doesn’t even care who it is. I type out an angry message but then I erase it. Then I type a message riddled with questions. I delete that one too. Then I write up a snarky one, sayingI am happy. Thx.Remembering what Debbie said,I erase that one too and instead reply:No matter what, you’ll always be my friend, Robbie.

He’s just scared of losing me, and I know fear can bring out the worst of us. The three dots pop up and a text from Robbie lands on my screen.

I know.

I hope it wasn’t just a flippant message and that Robbie truly knows that I’ll always be in his life. He might be upset and scared now, but I’ll prove it to him.

I text Tyler, saying I’ll be right out.

The charm bracelet full of coins jingles as I slip on my jacket. They’re supposed to be lucky but right now I feel anything but.

I’m seated in a booth at a small sandwich and soup shop in the West Loop. The walls are covered in a hodgepodge of old street signs, and Tyler stands at the counter ordering for the both of us. We’re the only ones here aside from the employees. He fills up two Styrofoam cups at the drink station and returns to our table.

“Here you are,” he says, handing me a cup and sliding into the booth across from me. He pops a straw in his and sips.

I give him a small smile.

“Happy birthday,” he adds.

“Thanks.” I unwrap my straw and stick it in the drink.

“Sorry, I wanted to take you somewhere nicer than this, but with the short notice, I couldn’t get reservations at any of the restaurants I had in mind.” Tyler tilts his head.

“That’s all right. I don’t care where we eat,” I say, and I mean it. I force myself to smile because I want him to know that I mean it andthat I’m happy to be here with him, even though I’m feeling sad about how things are with Robbie right now. I never wanted to lose him as a friend over this whole thing.

A middle-aged man wearing an apron sets a basket in front of each of us. He nods and tells us to enjoy before strolling back behind the counter. There’s a bag of Lay’s potato chips and a Reuben sandwich in mine. Tyler doesn’t hesitate to pick up his meatball sub and bite into it. He moans as he chews.

“Dig in.” He gestures to my food, while still chewing his own.

I take a bite and wait until my mouth is free of food before speaking. “It’s really good,” I say.

“I knew you’d like it.”

“How did you know I’d like it?” I raise my brow.

Tyler shrugs and cracks a smile. “Because it’s the best. Everyone likes it.” He takes another large bite.

I press my lips together and force the corners of them up. We continue eating in silence and making eye contact intermittently. He finishes before I do.

I clear my throat and wipe my mouth with a napkin. “You said when I told you that I had ended it with Nash that you knew it was you and me that were supposed to be together.”

“That’s right.” Tyler sips from his straw.

“How did you know?”

“Because we’re good together.”

I pluck the last few chips from the bag and toss them in my mouth, chewing slowly.

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