Atta boy. See you soon.
I smiled as I slipped my phone back into my pocket, applauding myself for having put everything back to rights. His weirdly invigorating text went unaddressed, and he was on his way down here to hopefully ask out a pretty girl who wasn’t me. Everything was right in the world.
“He’s on his way,” I said.
Adrienne lit up, eyes sparkling and smile bright. “Oh, good. I hope it’s not weird that I’m here — he just mentioned he’d be here tonight and thought I’d stop in and say hi.”
I shrugged and joked, “I mean, it’s a little creepy, but Tyler’s not easily spooked.”
She laughed, and the sound was disarming. For a high-powered ad representative for Nike, she was nervous about Tyler. I took that as a solid sign that she was genuine. She was forward and honest, smart, and if what I’d heard from Sarah was true, she was one of the good ones in the world.
“So,” I started, fishing for more information, “you talked to Tyler today?”
“Just for work. I sort of asked him to come out, but he said he had plans to be here. After last night, I thought we hit it off, and he seems like a great guy.”
“The best,” I said with a smile as I leaned on the bar.
“And he doesn’t have a girlfriend, right?”
“Nope, no girlfriend.” I smirked. “Looking to fill the spot?”
Her lips were red, curling into a smile. “I think I am. The thing is, I’m a Type A kind of girl — I’m not afraid to go after what I want, you know? People play dating games: wait three days to call or text, don’t look desperate, blah, blah, blah.” She waved her hand as if to wipe the construct away. “But I don’t play games. I want to get to know him better, so that’s what I’m going to try to do. Hopefully I don’t come on too strong — that’s a problem for me sometimes,” she said with a chuckle.
Sarah laughed too. “I call her the Badass Honey Badger.”
“I can relate,” I said, amused. “Well, you came to the right place. I’m his gatekeeper.”
She chuckled. “So is this an interview to see if I’m the keymaster?”
I snickered. “Well, you just won major points for a Ghostbusters reference, so you’re well on your way to securing the job. This is your second interview, by the way — the first was last night.”
“And how’d I do?”
I smiled, admiring her for so many reasons. “Real well.”
“Well, hit me with your best shot,” she said as she leaned on the bar.
“All right.” My smile faded into seriousness. “Grape or strawberry jelly?”
She laughed. “Strawberry.”
I nodded. “Good choice. Unicorns — yes or no?”
“I’m a believer.” She raised her glass.
“Whiskey or vodka?”
“Depends on what night of the week it is,” she said before taking a sip of her drink.
I snickered. “Last long-term relationship.”
She swallowed, voice a little tighter when she answered. “David. We dated for three years, broke up because he was fucking someone else.”
“Cold. So, no stranger to heartbreak, huh?”
She shrugged. “What doesn’t kill us, right?”
I watched her for a moment, wondering if I could have crafted a more ideal girl for Tyler. “I like you, Adrienne.”
She smiled in a way that made me believe, all the way down deep to my gut, that she was genuine. “I like you too, Cam.”
“If you hurt him, I’ll rip your face off, even though you could probably crush me with your thighs. Just know I’m a fast runner.”
Adrienne chuckled. “I won’t hurt him. I promise. I don’t play games, remember?”
“I believe you.”
Greg flagged me from the other end of the bar, nodding to the crowd of chicks who had lined up in front of him.
“Be back when I can. Keep an eye out for Tyler for me. And Adrienne?”
“Yeah?”
I smiled. “Congratulations. You’re in.”
She laughed as I walked away, feeling as sure of myself as I did uneasy.
CHRIST ON A BIKE
Tyler
I DIDN’T FEEL ANY LESS confused as I made my way to Wasted Words, still sifting through my thoughts for answers. I’d turned down a date with Adrienne for Cam, if I was being honest with myself, and then Cam pressured me to come to the bar with the intent to convince me to ask Adrienne out.
I shook my head as I crossed the street, having opted to walk again to give me more time alone. Nothing made sense, not my feelings about Cam or my feelings about Cam trying to set me up with someone else. But she’d made it clear once more that she wasn’t interested in me at all. I just hated that it bothered me so much.
When I walked into the bar, I spotted Adrienne and Sarah, sitting across from Cam. When Cam looked up and saw me, her content smile spoke to my heart — it was a smile that knew me. And then Adrienne turned and smiled — hers was a smile that wanted me.
I only wished her smile had been on Cam’s face instead.
I took a deep breath, putting on a smile of my own as I greeted the women and took a seat in the empty seat next to Adrienne. Cam didn’t ask what I wanted, just poured me a beer and set it in front of me, sending me an encouraging smile before walking away to keep Sarah company.
Adrienne shifted in her seat next to me, tucking her hair behind her ear. She looked amazing, as Cam had said — a denim shirt unbuttoned low, tight black jeans, and suede flats. Her lips were red, lashes long as she looked up at me.