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“I’m in.”
“Good. We have a deal.”
“Yep.” Beau raised his beer to my water bottle until they tapped.
I smiled. I could see the A for Communication 224 on my transcript now.
4
Beau and I had watched the first two episodes of the new season of Love Match and tonight was our first fake date. We had settled on going to the West End Wine Bar and then a pottery-painting place.
Victoria, the newest bachelorette on Love Match, had already been on countless dates with her collection of suitors. Most of the dates were completely out of the question for us, like singing on stage with Bon Jovi or acting as stunt doubles in a movie. We suffered through the episodes, waiting for a date that had some kind of plausibility for our college budget.
There were still twenty minutes before I had to meet Beau. I stood in front of the mirror debating my outfit. I opted for skinny jeans, leather boots, and a fitted sweater. It only took me a few extra minutes to curl my hair so that it cascaded down my shoulders in long layers.
“Wow-za. Look at you.” Nina whistled as she walked up behind me.
“It’s just a fake date. Don’t get excited.”
“You look pretty hot for a fake date. Where are you two going?”
“Wine bar and then the pottery place. Do I look too dressed up? I don’t want to look like I’m dressed up.” I started pulling on my sweater, thinking maybe it clung to my curves more than I had intended.
“You look amazing. He’ll like it.” Nina winked at me.
“I don’t care if he likes it. We’re group partners. This isn’t a real date. You know that, right?”
My roommate stuck out her bottom lip. “I can dream, can’t I? You haven’t been on a date since last semester, London. Why not try him out?”
I didn’t need Nina to remind me how things ended with my ex. I chose plays and rehearsals over movie nights and parties. It made sense that dating someone else involved in drama would be a great fit, but even he didn’t get me. Acting was only a college hobby for him.
“I am perfectly ok with my love life. I’m leaving for California in a few months. There’s no point in even trying to date someone right now. And Beau Anderson is not that person.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
I ran my hands through my hair to give it an extra shake of volume before spraying it with a light mist of hairspray. “I didn’t say there is anything wrong with him. There just isn’t anything about him. He’s just a normal, regular guy.”
“Um. Ok, whatever you say. Not everyone is an artist or an actor. There are guys in the world who are interesting even if they aren’t involved in theater. Why don’t you just date him?”
I shot Nina a don’t-mess-with-me stare.
“I get it. You don’t want to dat
e right now. Not a nobody. Not a theater guy. But, speaking of theater guys, I’m going to call Derek and see if he needs any help with the play.”
I thought about telling my friend to give it up. Derek hadn’t returned a single advance and all he did was take advantage of her willingness to help his artistic crises. I liked him but enough was enough.
“London, did you hear something?” Nina scrambled off my bed in the direction of the muffled sound.
I followed her to the living room. Candace stood in the middle of the room with her hands covering her face.
“Candace, what’s wrong? Are you ok?” I questioned my distraught roommate. We huddled around her.
Sobbing into her hands, I thought I heard her say something about a breakup.
“Sweetie, we can’t understand you. Here, sit down.” I led her over to the couch. “What happened?”
“He said it’s over, that he just can’t see where this is going.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve. “How can he not see a future for us? What is he even saying?”
