Page 40 of Any Second Now
“Don’t skip out on the bill.”
“No woman is going to pay for her meal when she’s out with me,” I scoff.
“Spoken like a rich man.”
I shrug. There’s no use denying it. “How about always share your french fries? And dessert.”
“See?” Raleigh tilts her head at me. “You don’t need my help, Atticus.”
“I do. I am your dedicated student, coach.” A student of Raleigh Hayes for sure. “Give me a weird dating tip. One most people don’t think of.”
She presses her lips together.
“This is probably an anti-tip, actually, because I think any guy I asked this on a first date—or second, or third—would run screaming into the forest. But I always want to know.”
“Alright, I’m intrigued.”
“Ask them where they see themselves in five years. Professionally and personally.”
“Wow. That’s an intense question.”
“I know. It’s a total job interview question. But I think it comes from my mom and all her detailed planning of my life.”
“So what is your ideal answer to that question?” My mind spins because she might ask me this question next. I try to focus on her answer.
“I don’t know.” Raleigh shrugs, color filing her cheeks. “Jacob told me he wanted to have a big house and a bunch of kids. But we never got around to the kid part, which I’m thankful for now.”
I process this information, not quite sure how to respond. With my own shit answer, I suppose.
“Five years is a lifetime away. I’ll probably be retired from hockey,” I say, my stomach flipping uncomfortably. “And I really don’t have a clear plan for after that. Professionally or personally.”
“I think that’s okay.”
“Yeah? Because I feel like that’s the exact wrong answer to give you.”
“If this was a real date? Maybe.” The corner of her mouth twitches up into a smile. “But this is between friends.”
“Right.” Isn’t this a real date? It feels like one. Between friends.
“Have you really never dated anyone?” Raleigh is studying me.
“There’s been women I’ve seen more than once, but it never felt right to keep up with them.” I twist my wine glass in between two fingers. “One was too pushy about commitment. One begged me for a jersey. Mostly, they just wanted to date a Blizzard player.”
“Well that’s shitty.”
“I guess. I don’t think I’ve been going around breaking hearts. More like temporarily damaging egos.”
“And now? Why are you wanting to date someone now?” Raleigh’s brown eyes are bright, and she tucks a curled chunk of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks are lifted in the remains of a smile.
Why, indeed.
“I guess I’ve just been feeling really isolated lately. Everyone is partnered up.”
I don’t fit in with my friends who are partnered up, and I don’t want to find a new group of single dudes.
And then she stumbles back into my life. The perfect summer distraction.
“Mmm.” Raleigh leans back and crosses her arms, studying me with narrowed eyes.
