We’d all interpreted that to mean casual with sensible shoes.
Not that sensible has to mean boring. I glance down at my cheetah print Vans slip-ons. I have an impressive collection of printed Vans to wear with my plain scrubs. It entertains the residents at Sunnyside. I’ve paired them with bootcut jeans and a fitted black sweater.
“Class with sass.” Ruby points at my shoes. “It’s practically your brand.”
“I try,” I say.
“But you don’t,” Ava says. “That’s why it works for you. It’s effortless.”
“And fricking annoying,” Madi adds. She spends a looooong time curating every outfit she wears.
“Thank you and I’m sorry.”
“Proud of you for going on this date,” Ruby says.
“It’s not exactly a sacrifice. He seems pretty cool. But no getting your hopes up,” I warn her when she grins.
“A chance is enough.” She’s sitting on the sofa next to Madi, and she tucks her feet beneath the blanket they’re sharing. One of theReal Housewivesis paused on the screen. “It’s like I tell patrons when I’m trying to convince them to try a new author I know they’ll love. Give it three chapters, and if the writer can’t hook you, you’re free to drop it.”
“What chapter am I on with Josh?” I ask.
“Chapter one, the neighbor party,” Madi says.
Ava nods. “Chapter two was the weight room.”
“That means tonight is chapter three,” Ruby says. “But he’ll hook you. I can feel it. I’m not wrong about these things.”
“Annoyingly, you are not,” Madi mutters.
I frown. “Should I feel nervous about that?”
“Do you?” Ava asks, her scientist mind always observing and gathering data.
“No. Maybe that’s a bad sign.”
“No, ma’am.” Ruby says it like I’m a preschooler she caught coloring in a library book. “You will not start by talking yourself out of this or overthinking it.”
“Yeah. That’smyspecialty,” Ava says. “Find your own.”
“I’m not overthinking,” I say. “But it’s been a while since I was on a date, and I feel like I should be more . . .” I trail off with no idea how to finish the sentence.
“Excited? Are you not excited?” Ruby sounds concerned, like this is the first real threat to her plans that she’s heard.
“I think I am. I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”
She smiles and relaxes against the couch. “That’s good.”
“I’m not the expert,” Ava says, “but maybe you aren’t nervous about this because you both already click. Does that even make sense?”
I shrug. “How about I just roll with it?”
“That,” Madi says.
There’s a knock on the door, and I glance at the wall clock. It’s 7:00 exactly. That’s good. He’d lose a jillion bonus points if he were late when he lives next door.
I open it and smile. “Hey, Josh.”
“Hey, Sami. You ready?”
