That made as much sense as this actual date.
My phone buzzed and when I pulled it out, I had five messages. The first four were from Ellie.
SO???? How’s it going?
Chemistry still high??
Make sure you’re not too nice.
But be nice, ofc!!
I didn’t even attempt a response, because trying to explain the evening would take more time than I had.
The other message was from Matty.Dad wants to know if you’re being nice.
I rolled my eyes and set down the phone right as Connor came back to the table.
Wow, he was quite a sight.
His Elmer-Fudd-meets-serial-killer disguise was ridiculous, yet he somehow managed to pull off looking wildly attractive,even while costumed up. Maybe it was his massive size, or maybe it had to do with the sexy little smirk he seemed to live in, but unattractive seemed to be the one thing he was incapable of.How unfair, I thought as I sat in my busted boots.
“I can tell you’re desperate to blow me off, so I have an idea,” he said as he sat down across from me.
“What?”
His eyes dipped down to my phone on the table.Oh my God, he thinks I’m bored.He probably saw me rolling my eyes at my brother’s text and thought I wanted to get out of there.
“How about you do one duet with me and the worst date of your life is over; you don’t even have to finish your drink.”
It was wild, the way he said that, as if I actually hated going out with him.
Because that part definitely wasn’t true.
I hated the pomp and ceremony that’d accompanied the evening before we’d hit the bar, but I was actually having a good time with Connor. He seemed funny, kind, and smart, and in a different situation, I was pretty sure this would be a great date.
But I just didn’t know how to date somebody who was Somebody.
“Ithasbeen pretty dreadful,” I said with a smile, wanting him to know that I was having fun. “And I don’t even think thereareduets anymore, Cunningham.”
“What are you even talking about? There’s ‘Die with a Smile’ by Lady Gaga, that depressing song fromA Star Is Bornby Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, also wow—Gaga really likes a duet, doesn’t she?”
“She does,” I agreed with a laugh.
“We could also go super old-school, like ‘Islands in the Stream’ by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.”
“Ewww.”
“Whatewww? My nana loved everything Kenny and Dolly.”
“Of course she did.”
“Are you mocking Nana?” he teased with an eyebrow raise.
“I would never.”
Just as I was thinking that he could absolutely force me to do this simply by suggesting “Exile” (my all-time favorite song), he said, “And there’s always ‘Exile’ or ‘Coney Island’ if you’re into that Swiftie sort of thing.”
No way.