“You gonna see him again?”
“Probably not. He was nice enough, but I didn’t like the dynamic with him and his friends.” There were too many times when they all but blew off us girls. “Plus, there were no fireworks.”
“Fireworks, huh?”
“I know it sounds silly, but I think that chemistry is important.”
“What about the firefighter? He seemed pretty into you.” Swirling his spoon in the bowl, he glances at me.
I admit I enjoyed dancing with Shane, except I’m unfortunately even more preoccupied with my boss now than I was last night. “Shane’s a nice guy. Maybe nicer than I thought he’d be, but I’m not feeling it. I guess I’m gun-shy after what happened with Ezra.” I take a bite of ice cream before I have the guts to return the question. “What about you? How was your date? Will you see her again?”
He tilts his head slightly. “It was fine, but like you said, there were no fireworks.”
I shouldn’t be relieved, but I am. “What are you looking for in a girlfriend?” My face heats with the question, which is more forward than something I’d typically ask, but if a tree can fall out of the sky and knock me on my ass, I can afford to be more daring.
“Nothing too serious. Mostly just someone to hang out with for the next few months until I hopefully get drafted.”
I cringe. “Not really selling it, are you?”
He huffs out a laugh. “Is casual dating really so bad?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve only dated Ezra.”
Nick chokes. “You’re shitting me.”
“Nope.”
“How did you get through high school only dating him?”
“That’s easy. I was a wallflower and a super nerd. And really shy. I’m still kind of shy, actually, and an introvert. I’d rather stay home on a Friday night and read or play Scrabble. Maybe crochet or learn how to knit.”
I look up to find Nick staring at me. “It’s okay to be shy. I can’t speak for all men, but I prefer shy over aggressive.”
“Do women get aggressive with you?”
“Yeah, but in a weird way. Like I’m a piece of meat they want for dinner.”
“You poor sex symbol.” We both laugh. I scoop another bite of ice cream. “If this is too personal, you don’t have to talk about it, but how did you and Hazel’s mom end up together? You were in high school too, right?”
His brows furrow as he stares off like he’s looking into a window from the past. “Gemma was this beautiful girl I’d see in the hallway. Super artsy. Totally out of my league. One day she asked me to help her carry this huge painting to the auditorium for a student exhibit. We started talking, and that was it.”
“Fireworks.”
He laughs. “Yeah. The kind that knock you on your ass.”
“And then y’all had Hazel at the end of your senior year?”
“Yup. Another kick in the ass.” He smiles ruefully. “Even though Gemma and I were both scared shitless, Hazel was immediately the light of our lives.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I say quietly. I don’t know why I went down this road with him. He’s probably still in love with her. I’m all choked up, and I didn’t even know the woman. “You’re doing a great job raising Hazel. I’m sure Gemma would be proud of you.”
His jaw goes tight. “I, uh… Thanks. I try. Really fucking hard.”
“Have you dated anyone since she passed? When was that?”
“Sophomore year in college. Three years ago this month, and, no, nothing serious since then. Not sure if I’ll ever be ready for anything serious again, if I’m being honest with myself.”
Which is probably why he’ll only do casual now.
