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I thought about karaoke with Leo, the beach with the trash bag on my leg. I thought about the fun we were having. And then I thought about Carl. Boring, straight-edged Carl. A life of lasagna every Sunday, reading a high-brow, educational magazine before bed, Carl.
My life was messy. But a life with Carl wasn’t the answer.
“I’m not going. I’m not interested,” I argued, moving away from my closet and deciding no further outfit decisions were needed.
“You have to. I told him you would.”
I raised my eyebrows. “It’s not my fault.”
“Please. Just get lunch with him. Even just for the networking opportunity.”
“I don’t want to work at the hotel, either.”
“And I don’t want you to be miserable, Tillie. You’re a smart girl. I know law school isn’t what you want, and that’s fine. But it doesn’t hurt to explore other options. In all respects.”
I exhaled loudly. I didn’t want to go. Under no circumstances was I going. Mom stormed out of my room. I rubbed my temples.
I wasn’t going.
***
I FOUND MYSELF BEING dropped off at the Bayview Bar & Grill. Arms crossed, I swore to Mom I was going as a selfless favor and that I wouldn’t have fun. My face was set in a straight line, and I was determined to go to prove Mom wrong.
The appointment had gone well, which was at least something. Although it meant I wasn’t getting out of the date with Carl based on that. The doctor said everything looked fine and that getting out a bit was good for me, just so I didn’t go crazy.
So, there I was, with no excuse to skip the date with Carl—but at least also no reason to stop going out with Leo on small adventures. Still, lunch was something I was hoping would end quickly. I could text Grace to make up an emergency to get me out of the date. I glanced down at my outfit, though, grinning to myself. One look at me in my old, faded T-shirt, my messy top knot, and scowling face, and Carl would go running for the hills, if I was lucky.
“Have fun,” Mom shouted in complete blissful ignorance of my assessment.
“I won’t,” I argued.
“Don’t count on it,” Mom said with that infuriating grin as she got the final word before zooming away.
I crutched inside the restaurant that had a seaside-shanty vibe. The boardwalk that led to the front door was crooked and uneven, giving it a rustic charm. It was a place to have fun, to relax, and to enjoy being by the ocean—not a place to go on a date with your mom’s boss’s son she was trying to set you up with, thinking he would solve our problems.
I made my way through the front door and glanced around the restaurant that was sheltering a few tourists and a few lunch dates. At the sight of me, Carl leaped up from the corner booth he’d nabbed. He waved timidly, his face in a straight line. He had on a tie and a white button-up shirt, every single button meticulously buttoned. I hobbled toward him on my crutches, creeping through the lines of tables as he slowly walked my way, hands in his pockets. His face was in a straight line, and it looked like he was going for a root canal instead of to lunch with me. Perhaps his father had forced him, too. The thought humbled me but didn’t exactly lift my spirits.
“Mathilda,” he said with a nod. “It’s wonderful to see you.” His voice was monotone. I offered a weak, polite smile.
“Hi, Carl. How are you?”
“Better now.” He gave me a wink. So, he was happy to be on the date; it just didn’t really show other than the creepy wink.
“Please, sit. Order anything you like.” He did a dramatic hand motion like the world was my oyster, and he was offering it all to me.
“That’s kind. Thank you.” I settled in across from him, telling myself the lunch wouldn’t be so bad. We could just have friendly conversation, surface-level. I’d eat some food, we’d talk about our parents setting us up, and be on our way.
“I was so surprised when your mom told me you were dying to go out with me. I never sensed any interest from you, to be honest,” Carl admitted with a grin. “Other than that one romantic slow dance we had all those years ago.”
I felt my cheeks flame. Of course. Of course Mom would bend the truth.
“She said that, huh?” I said, shaking my head but softening my anger with a grin.
“Oh, yes. She’s been begging me to take you out. Says you need a steady man like me. Which, hey, honestly, you’re such a beautiful catch, it really isn’t a big problem, you know? Other than pulling me away from the hotel, what is there to lose?”
He smiled as if he’d just recited a sweet, Shakespearean sonnet. I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. This was going as piteously as I could’ve expected.
“So anyway, Mathilda, tell me. What are your current goals?” he asked, his nose slightly tilted up as if he were interviewing me for a job.
