Page 50 of Fun Together
I know exactly how he got roped into it. Because he’s charming and handsome and exactly the kind of person you want giving a speech at your party.
“I’m sure you’ll give a great speech.”
“Everyone keeps saying that, but I’m a little nervous about it.”
“Why?”
“Because . . .” He shifts in his seat and I’m seeing him express discomfort in a way I’ve never seen before. “I don’t know what it feels like.”
“What do you mean?”
“Being in love. I’ve never even been in a real relationship before.”
I’m honestly not super surprised by this, considering Eli always had a steady but short-term sort of dating lifestyle from what I observed during college. Maybe that hasn’t changed much. But I am surprised at how he seems to be disappointed by his lack of a serious dating history.
“I think you can still give a great speech about your parents without having experienced that yourself.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He looks down, almost like he’s feeling shy about what he wants to say next. “I just feel like Ishouldhave experienced that by now.”
“Have you . . .” I don’t know how to ask this because it’s none of my business. “Tried to be in one? A relationship, I mean.”
“Kind of, but not really. I’ve been told I’m not serious enough.”
Told by who? A previous girlfriend in New York? I want to ask more, but if he wants me to know more, he’ll tell me.
He shakes his head. “I just haven’t met the right person, I guess.”
I ball up the tissue paper my danish was wrapped in. “You never know, maybe Dani will be the right person.”
He chuckles. “I appreciate the optimism.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fun. You always make things fun.”
He tilts his head, and I swear I almost see him blush a little. “Thanks.” He leans back in his seat. “So, next time you come in you’re going to get that date, right?”
“I thought I’d just pine over him for a few years before doing anything about it,” I say.
He shakes his head at me, with a smile. It’s a real one; the kind of smile that makes you feel like the only person who’s ever been smiled at before. If he smiles at Dani like that, his mom will have nothing to worry about.
I shut down those thoughts along with my laptop and lift my empty coffee cup. “Cheers for good luck to both of us?”
His face is relaxed and earnest as he clicks his cup against mine and says, “Cheers to that.”
16
Faye
Rettand I are lying on my bed, newly clad in an overpriced striped linen duvet cover and sheet set I impulse-bought from an Instagram ad, staring up at my freshly-painted bedroom walls.
“What if I made the wrong choice?” I ask.
In the paint aisle of the hardware store, “Dark Burgundy Wine” felt very moody and relaxing. In reality, it’s making me feel like I’m actually inside a glass of merlot.
“I don’t really think there’s a wrong choice. You like this color, don’t you?”
“Do you think it’s a little dungeon-esque?”
She shrugs. “Maybe this is just the right color for you right now. You can always change it.”
