“She didn’t get to me.”
“Oh yes she did,” Chase declared. “I bet you anything you end up calling her before Sunday.”
“Eh, I don’t know. I’d like to avoid all that if I can.”
“You could just get her wasted and take her home with you.”
Nick cocked his head and raised his eyebrows. “Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’ve done it.”
Nick shot him a look. “Now who’s the fucking douche bag?”
Chase shrugged and smirked.
“You’re horrible, Chase.”
Chase scoffed. “So are you. You’re just a different brand of horrible.”
Nick hesitated as he pondered the fact that Chase was right. “I’m definitely not calling her.”
* * *
Nick pulled his phone out of his pocket and stared at the screen for the hundredth time the following morning. He shoved it back into his pocket and walked back into his kitchen to pour himself a second coffee. He sipped from the mug and meandered out to sit on the porch, then pulled the phone out again.
It’s not a marriage proposal. It’s dinner. Then you can get down to business and never have to do this again. Just do it.
He thumbed the call button and placed the phone to his ear, half hoping she wouldn’t pick up and half hoping she would.
“Hello?”
He leaped off the bench. “Samantha, hey. It’s Nick. Remember me from—”
He was cut off by the sound of her stifling a laugh.
“Yeah, I remember you. It was only last night. How are you?”
“Doing well. Yourself?”
“I’m great.”
Awkward pause.
Maybe this was the real reason he avoided dating. Because he had no idea how to talk to women.
“So,” she began. “What are you up to this morning?”
“Not a whole lot.”
Another pause.
“Well?” she prompted sounding like she was still holding back laughter, which caused him to roll his eyes in exasperation and embarrassment.
“Well, what?”
