But what would I say?Hey, guys, remember that seriously hot girl Ollie set me up with? Yeah, I totally made an ass of myself on our date. Despite the fact that I’m twenty years old, I have literally no clue how to date, so I figured the best way to learn is to get a tutor, right? So I asked Mel, and she laughed in my face. But then her douchey, middle-aged ex showed up and she kissed me. So…yeah…what should I do next?
I mean, it’s the truth, but there’s a lot there I just don’t feel like explaining.
Plus, I can almost guarantee that Mel wants to call our deal off. And if that’s the case, I’d rather keep all the embarrassing details to myself.
Class starts to fill up, so I tell myself to just text her and get it over with. Rip the Band-Aid off and all that.
Will:I’ve got mandatory study hall from 4 to 5, then practice until 6:30. Can I swing by then?
Mel: I only work until 5…why don’t you come by my place after practice? You’ll probably be starving, right?
Will: I’m a hockey player. We’re always hungry.
Mel: Want to have dinner at my place?
Will: Yeah, that sounds good. See you tonight.
The electronic whiteboard at the front of the room comes to life as the professor picks up where we left off last week, but my mind isn’t on civics or forms of governments. I spend the whole class wondering if my girlfriend is going to break up with me before we even start dating.
* * *
“Nice place,”I say as Mel opens the door to her apartment, stepping back to let me in.
“You were here two weeks ago,” she says, laughing. “I haven’t changed the decor since then.”
“Fair, but I had a killer headache that night and couldn’t turn my head to the left without making the entire room spin. I wasn’t really taking in my surroundings that weekend. I was just concentrating on not puking on you…or your furniture.”
“I appreciate your commitment to that cause. Come on in and have a seat on the couch. I love this place, but it’s not exactly spacious, and I end up eating on the couch most nights. I hope that's cool.”
I nod, shedding my jacket and draping it on the hook by the door. “You’re feeding me, so we can eat wherever you want. Thanks for dinner, by the way.”
Mel disappears around the corner, just to reappear seconds later, holding two brown bags. “I hope you like Thai. I ordered my faves from the place on Brickman. It’s so good. So, if you hate it, that just means more for me.”
I smile broadly. “Sorry to break it to you, but I love Thai food. I love all food, really. Except for grape jelly. That shit’s nasty.”
“Grape jelly? That’s your hard line?”
“Yep,” I say, taking one of the bags from her and unpacking its contents onto the small coffee table. “I’m pretty sure I OD’d on the stuff in elementary school. Can’t touch it now.”
“I'll keep that in mind in case we ever decide to go on a picnic. Is water ok to drink?”
“Yeah, that’s great, thanks.”
She sits next to me on the couch, just like she did that Saturday morning after the date disaster. We were strangers then, but we don’t quite feel like strangers anymore.
“Good practice?” she asks, relaxing into her spot and taking a bite of a summer roll.
I dip mine into the chili sauce and take a taste. So freaking good. “Yeah, it was. I feel like I’ve been skating with these guys a lot longer than a few weeks, which is good. Our season opener’s not too far off, and I think we’ll be ready for it.”
“You damn well better be,” she smiles. “I’ve got tickets and if you don’t wipe the ice with Claybrooke, I may have to make a scene.”
“You’re coming to the game?” I’m not sure why this surprises me. Mel’s friends with all the guys, so I’m sure she’s been to lots of games.
“Yeah. Ian’s coming back for the night to see Booker play before both their schedules get too hectic.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
“Plus, my boyfriend’s on the team, so…” the words hang in the air like they’re electrically charged.
