Page 63 of Fun Together
Instead, it’s clunky and I’m distracted trying not to think about how we’re standing precariously next to a puddle of unknown substance. My thoughts wander to places anywhere but this kiss. Like, is Eli having a good date, and did he wear his new shirt? I didn’t end up wearing my new dress. I put it on, and it felt wrong to wear it for this date, like it deserved something more special.
Cameron seems pleased when he pulls away. The Uber pulls up shortly after and I have never been so happy to see a silver Honda CR-V in my life.
“Have a good night,” he says, licking his lips as he shuts my door for me.
I give him a small wave through the window, relieved that I can go home now. Even if I only have a family of potentially rabid squirrels for company.
20
Eli
I love first dates.I’m good at first dates. I look forward to first dates.
That was my mantra as I brushed my teeth before heading out to meet up with Dani.
It was my mantra when I was waiting outside for her to arrive. I thought if I repeated those three things to myself enough, I’d start to feel excited about meeting her. I figured maybe my lack of enthusiasm was because it’d been a while since I’d gone on a first date. I was rusty, and that’s why I was dreading it all day.
No matter what, though, I couldn’t stop thinking about Faye and her date. Was she wearing that dress? Was Cameron making her laugh? Was she going to kiss Cameron in a not-pretend way?
I’m leaning against the wall next to the building’s entrance, checking my phone yet again for any texts from Faye. I was sort of hoping she’d text me something funny about how awful the date is, and I would be able to make some kind of excuse to Dani to go meet up with Faye instead. I shake my head, trying to physically shed those thoughts because that’s not exactly fair to the woman I’m about to be on a date with.
A woman approaches, and I know it’s Dani based on my mom’s description of her. “She’s petite with beautiful brown eyes and the kind of curly dark hair I’d pay a fortune for,” she had said.
And she wasn’t wrong. She’s very pretty, with a calm sort of confidence and a kind, smiling face.
“Eli?” she asks.
“Hey, Dani. How are you?”
“Nice to meet you,” she says with a smile.
I open the door for her and follow her inside. We get in line to order our beers. “My mom told me you moved here recently from Mexico?”
“Yeah, I was living with my dad in Mexico City.”
“I’ve always wanted to go there. It seems really cool. And beautiful.”
“I loved it, but my mom wanted me closer to her. You were in New York, right? How have you been adjusting to being back to non-big-city life?”
“It’s been mostly fine, but I definitely miss being able to walk to the store without having to cross a major highway.”
She chuckles as she looks up at the chalkboard drink menu. “Seriously. I feel like I need to re-learn how to drive a car.”
We get our beers and sit at the picnic tables outside in the back, making more small talk about what we do for work. She just started working at a law firm, and we bond over being newbies at our jobs. She seems funny and kind, but I’m forcing it. I sort of get the sense that she is too, though. About five minutes later, she puts me out of my own misery.
She places her palms down on the table. “Let’s get something out of the way. We’ll tell our moms we had a great time tonight, but I’m so busy with my new job and you’re focused on your—” She pauses and makes a vague gesture in my direction. “Something or other. We’ll part amicably, knowing we’ve fulfilled our duties.”
So she doesn’t want to be here either, which piques my curiosity.
“Is it my hair cut? I just got it cut today and you know a hair cut kind of needs to settle in a couple of days before it looks good.”
She looks confused. “No, your hair looks fine.”
“Is it this shirt? My friend Faye told me I wear too many plain shirts. Is she right? Is this shirt too plain?”
She seems to pick up on my joking. “Yeah, I saw you standing there in that basic shirt and knew it was a no-go,” she says with a grimace.
“I appreciate your honesty.”
