She should’ve gone with theIt’s against my religionreason. People didn’t argue about that one. “I don’t need alcohol to have a good time,” she said. “I’m an extrovert. It’s our superpower.”
His smile was back. “Fine. I’ll hold you to that.”
Once they’d finished their drinks, Nick led her out onto the dance floor. “I’m not good at this,” he said. “Have low expectations.”
“That’s my go-to attitude for first dates.”
As it turned out, he wasn’t joking. He danced awkwardly, like he couldn’t quite find the music’s beat. Somehow his awkwardness was endearing, though. It softened his perfect image, and she gave him credit for dancing when it wasn’t something he felt comfortable doing. He’d come here because she’d told him she preferred it over bowling.
They could always take dancing lessons before the wedding. That would be a fun date idea.
Dancing made them both thirsty, and they went back to the bar two more times for drinks. Each time he ordered alcohol, which perhaps shouldn’t have lost him points, but it did. Thanks, Mom. Now in Riley’s mind, drinks always came with imaginary little red flags tucked into the glass like those paper umbrellas in pina coladas.
Maybe he saw her disapproval. He took a sip of his martini and said, “I get better at dancing the more I drink. I’m doing this for you.”
“You dance fine.”
“Liar. For our next date, we’ll do something I’m good at. Do you like rock climbing or snowboarding?”
He wanted a next date. She glowed with the compliment. “I like them both.” If he enjoyed outdoor sports, they had things in common. He had potential. She flirted with him, and when they slow-danced, she let him hold her close and rested her head against his chest.
She felt that way until the next time he ordered a drink. Along with the two glasses of wine he had at dinner, this was his sixth drink. The red flags were getting larger and beginning to flap wildly in the breeze.
Time to call it a night. She reminded him that she had to work in the morning, and instead of returning to the dance floor, they got their coats and left.
“Remember,” he said as they crossed the parking lot, “you promised you would have a good time without drinking.”
“And I have. Dancing was fun.”
“By the third drink, dancing was fun.”
Should she mention that he hadn’t actually become a better dancer the more he drank? Nah, it was probably too early to tease him or tell him hard truths. “You’ve had a lot to drink, why don’t I drive?”
“No need.” He took his keys from his pocket. “My Tesla is completely sober. Look…” He pressed a button on his key fob, and the car not only turned on, it slid out of its parking space and pulled up in front of them. “The heater is already running, the seats are warming, and I can also have the car play the Star-spangled Banner or make farting noises.”
“Why would a car ever need to do those things?”
He walked around the vehicle to open her door. “Sometimes you’re feeling patriotic and sometimes you’re…” He searched for the right words. “Full of gas.”
“Not if you’re an electric car.”
He laughed a little too loudly.
She climbed into the passenger side. He got bonus points for opening her door like a gentleman, but minus points for being tipsy. She wasn’t sure what number that left him with. The math of attraction could be difficult sometimes. Was she just so desperate for a wedding date that she was giving points where they weren’t merited?
He put her address in the GPS, but instead of leaving, he demonstrated how the car could do a light show while playing Auld Lang Syne.
Everyone walking through the parking lot turned to stare at them. Riley slunk down in her seat. “Very nice.”
Then the car made farting noises. Nick laughed. She pressed her hand to her forehead. “Can people see through the windows?” He was definitely losing attraction points for this.
A couple of guys who’d just come out of the bar glared in their direction. One of them flipped the car off.
“They’re just jealous.” Nick made the car repeat the sound and called, “I fart in your general direction.”
He was quoting Monty Python on their date. Should that be a plus or minus in her point system?
One of the men marched over to them. His head was shaved, probably so people could better see the tattoos there. An inked snake coiled around his head like a threatening hat. “You got something to say to me?” He banged on Nick’s window.