Page 118 of Collide
Could this date get any worse? I suppose this is karma for not actively listening to Oliver’s fishing story.
“Yeah, Summer was getting that vitamin A with a side of that D, if you know what I mea—ow!” Kian yelps when I elbow him.
“We did an assignment together,” I explain. “You know, the one on athletes and burnout.”
Oliver hesitantly nods, but it doesn’t take a genius to understand what Kian is getting at. Just as I’m about to throw the stupid hair clip at Dylan’s smug face, the waitress pops in.
“Oh! Is this a double date?” she asks, looking between us.
“Yup,” says Dylan, putting his arm around Oliver. “I think it’s love at first sight.”
Oliver’s eyes widen in alarm, and he shrinks in the booth. Kian and Dylan have personalities the size of the campus. It’s hard to be around them if you can’t keep up. This date will leave Oliver with some serious post-traumatic stress issues.
“Fantastic. What would you like to order?”
Before Kian can speak, I push him out of the booth. “Actually, there’s been a change of plans. Come on, Oliver.”
Dylan doesn’t budge for an uncomfortably long minute until he sees my scathing glare and concedes, letting my date out. I walk straight out of the diner, taking Oliver's sweaty hand in mine. We’re about to cross the street when someone calls my name.
Connor Atwood.
Haven’t I suffered enough?I throw a sheepish smile at Oliver. He’s gawking at the quarterback. I might as well have run into the entire Dalton roster.
“Haven’t seen you in a minute, Sunny. What’s up?”
Apparently, the damn nickname is catching on. “I’m good.”
Connor runs a hand through his blond hair. “Are you coming to the charity game?”
“Not today, I’m kind of busy. Maybe next time.”
He cocks his head. “Really? I thought you and Crawford would for sure come together.”
My teeth grind. “Don’t know why you would think that.” Either he’s being purposely obtuse, or he hasn’t seen Oliver’s hand in mine.
Connor’s eyes shift towards him. “Who’s this? Cousin?”
“No,” I grit out. “This is my date, Oliver. Oliver, this is Connor.”
Connor scrutinizes the poor guy. “My bad. What’s up, man?”
Oliver smiles and politely shakes his hand. “What game are you talking about?”
I almost groan out loud. Why must he engage Connor?“Football. You don’t watch?” Connor asks.
“I’m not really a fan of sports.”
He gives me a look as if saying,Seriously, this guy?
Squinting past the heavy rain, I mark my exit. “We have to go. I’ll see you around, Connor.”
In the car, the rain pours harder. The parking lot is secluded, just me and this guy who has been on the weirdest date ever. The only sound between us is the water droplets hitting the windows. When he starts the car, the suggestive lyrics that spill from the speakers make my skin itch.
“Sorry about that,” I finally say, scattering the hush.
He pulls onto the main road toward Dalton. “Don’t be. Your friends seem nice.”
I suppress a snort. Those assholes were not trying to be nice. “I feel like I ruined our date.”
