“Come on, guys!” Emmett interrupts. “It’s going to be fun! Wyatt’s great, he’ll fit right in.”
I don’t say anything, instead sinking into my seat and crossing my arms. I have no idea what game she’s playing, but clearly Kalani still thinks I’m going to ruin this date, so I’m going to be on my best behavior and make this the best damn date Wyatt’s ever been on.
—
Wyatt is good-looking, I’ll give him that. He has kind brown eyes, light brown skin, and dark, curly hair. He smiled warmly when we met at the restaurant and was friendly and welcoming, making me instantly comfortable around him. But even though by all accounts he’s great and polite and friendly and charming, there’s just somethingoffabout him, and it’s no fault of his own. I just have this weird feeling that he’s not the one for me. Something tells me his eyes aren’t dark and intense enough, and it bothers me that he wears a genuine smile instead of a sarcastic smirk.
Right now, he’s sitting next to me at the table, with Emmett on my other side, Kalani in front of him, and Daphne and Emi beside her. We’ve already ordered and eaten, and though my shrimp was good, it had a weird taste, probably because of that nagging feeling that something feels off. Even Kalani is being quieter than normal and hasn’t brought up prom once. It made everything taste weird, less enjoyable.
“So, Carina,” Wyatt says as we wait for the waitress to bring the dessert menu, “Emi and Emmett have been bragging about your art forever. Are you going into graphic design like Emmett?”
Another conversation that makes my stomach queasy.
“No, I’m going into business. Art is just for fun.”
“Oh, that’s cool,” he says, and that’s the end of that. It’s a normal, perfectly fine reaction. But where’s the teasing that I’m not good enough? Where’s the banter?
Kalani shoots me a look, and I imagine her scolding me,Make an effort, Carina!
I sigh and fiddle with the napkin. “What are you doing next year?”
He tells me how he’s interning at his dad’s advertising company this summer before starting his marketing degree so he can be promoted faster. I smile and nod when appropriate, but I’m not sure how convincing I am because Kalani’s still giving me the side eye. Emmett, Emi, and Daphne join in as normal, so it must just be Kalani I can’t convince because she knows me best.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Wyatt. He’s not insulting me, not proposing marriage, didn’t bring his mom, isn’t a drug dealer, and actually knows my name. I just need to get out of my own head. I promised myself I’d show Kalani this would be the best damn date ever just to prove to her I could do it, especially since she might have been sabotaging me, so that’s what I’m going to do.
By the time we order dessert, I have relaxed a bit and allowed myself to actually laugh at Wyatt’s jokes. We even agreed to share a slice of molten chocolate cake. That’s a cute, date-like thing to do.
After dessert, Wyatt pays for my portion of the bill, which is nice, and even pulls my chair out for me when we stand to leave and holds the door open for me.
“It’s going really well!” Emi stage-whispers to me as we walk through the parking lot, her hand in Daphne’s.
Wyatt’s walking a few feet behind us, engaged in a conversation about hockey stats with Emmett and Kalani.
“Yeah, I guess,” I reply.
Daphne leans around Emi. “Actually, he reminds me a lot of Emmett.”
“Oh my God! Yes!” Emi exclaims. “I knew there was something I couldn’t put my finger on. It really felt like we had another Emmett there.”
I frown as I consider it. Wyatt didn’t remind me of Emmett at all. The evening was so tame and unexciting. I never thought a date with Emmett would be so . . . average.
Daphne studies me. “I’m sure it’ll be smoother at laser tag.”
Emi gasps. “That reminds me!” She stops walking and waits for the others to catch up, forcing Daphne and me to do the same. “Hey, Wyatt!” she calls. “Where are you parked?”
“Right over there,” he says, pointing a few rows over.
“Great.” Emi shoves me in the direction he pointed. “Carina will ride with you to laser tag.”
I catch myself before face-planting on the asphalt only because I wore sneakers rather than heels in anticipation of laser tag. She smiles innocently at me when I glare at her.
“Cool,” Wyatt says, sending me his wide smile, and I follow him to his car while everyone else goes in the other direction. This is officially the first time I’ve been alone with him on our date.
“Thanks for driving,” I say, following him to a shiny blue two-door BMW.
“No problem,” he says, opening the passenger side door for me. I slide into the leather seat and admire just hownewthis car seems. It even has that new car smell, which I usually love, but right now it just makes my stomach feel unsettled.
Wyatt sinks into his own seat, and the engine roars to life. “Have you got any music requests?” he asks, opening the music app on his phone.