“—and it’s after ten!” I finish, flicking my eyes ahead to check that the light is still red.
“Yes, I can tell time, Fletcher.”
“Why didn’t you eat anything?”
“I meant to bring a granola bar, but I keep forgetting to pick them up from the grocery store,” she says with a shrug. “It’s fine. I’m so busy anyway. It never hits me until I’m on the way home.”
I shake my head and return my attention to the road as the light turns green. I bypass the highway’s onramp and drive a few blocks before pulling into the parking lot at a place that serves as my post-game ritual for all home games.
“You’re kidding me.”
“What? You don’t like In-N-Out?” I ask her, already horrified by the thought.
She angles her body to face me and crosses her arms over her chest. “Would I like In-N-Out if I were a vegetarian?”
I don’t think I’ve ever truly understood the phrasethe blood drained from their faceuntil now. I genuinely feel like all the color has seeped out of my face. How could I not even think to ask if she ate meat?Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“You know what they say about assuming, Fletcher,” she repeats my earlier remark with a smirk.
“I—oh my god. You’re right. I’m so sorry, Isa. I should’ve asked. I wasn’t thinking. God, I’m such an idiot. We can go somewhere els?—”
Her cackling interrupts the rest of my word vomit. I stiffen at the sound. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. Even a little obnoxious, but I love it, because it’sreal. She’s not laughing because she’s pretending to think I’m funny. She’s laughing because she’s truly enjoying herself.
Only problem? I don’t actually know what the joke is here.
“God, you’reso easyto mess with.” She wipes at her watering eyes. “Fletcher, I’m Italian.Of course, I eat meat. Pretty sure I’d be disowned if I didn’t. Italian citizenship revoked.” She shakes her head at me with a full-on smile. “I mean, I think In-N-Out is a bit overrated for a burger joint, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.” I raise an eyebrow, and her eyes widen as she realizes what she’s said. “I didnotmean it like that. Oh my god,” she groans as she drops her face into her hands. “This is instant karma for the vegetarian joke.”
It makes me laugh, which causes her to lift her face out of her hands and give me a look I can’t quite decipher.
I look at the line for the drive-thru ahead of us and another light bulb goes off.
“You cool if we park and eat inside? I don’t really feel like spending half an hour waiting for this line to move.”
She looks at the line, considering. Eventually, she comes to the same decision as me with a shrug. “Sure, why not. We’re both starved and this will make it all faster.”
“Next in line!”the young girl working the register calls to where Isa and I are waiting.
I step forward, but she hangs back. I look at her expectantly. “Oh, no, you go. I’ll order after you,” she says, trying to wave me off.
“Isa, come on. It’s fine. Let me put those millions to good use, right?” I give her a smirk.
I can see the fire light up behind her eyes at that. “Well, when you put it like that.” She flicks her hair over her shoulder and marches past me to the counter.There’s the firecracker. “Hi there,” she says, smiling sweetly at the employee, “could I please get a double-double, one fry animal style, and a large chocolate shake. Please. Oh, and whatever he’s getting.” She hooks her thumb in my direction as she steps away from the counter.
“I’ll have the exact same please,” I say as I pull my wallet from my back pocket, paying for our meals. Once I’ve collected the receipt, I track Isa down at the booth she’s secured in a quiet corner of the restaurant.
“This isn’t a date by the way,” she rushes out the second my ass hits the hard plastic of the bench.
I bring my hand to clutch at my chest. “Ouch. Make a guy feel really good about himself, why don’t you,” I joke through the sting of a second rejection.
“I…” She sighs to herself. “You paid for dinner, which thank you for by the way. I wanted to make sure your expectations on this were clear.” She’s back to nibbling on her bottom lip.
“Trust me, Isa. My expectations are crystal clear after you turned me down last week.” My words make her cringe.
“I’m sorry about that. I may have come across a bit… frosty.” The look on her face makes it seem like she’s genuinely apologetic.
“No hard feelings. Ihadonly just met you anyway. I’ve been told I come on a bit strong.” I give her my best self-deprecating smile.
“It’s not you. Well, not you as aperson. It’s you as an athlete.”
