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“I’m glad you finally made it,” she says. “Keith has been talking you up for weeks. He said you just broke up with your girlfriend?”
I nod even though it’s been close to a year.
Muriel sighs. “Me too. It’s hard going through a breakup during the holidays.”
I send Keith a look, wondering what kind of story he’s been spinning about me, but there’s no way he could have heard what she said.
“Now that you’re here, let’s order some real food,” Keith says with a nod to the empty appetizer plates littering the table.
The food comes quickly and is the best part of the date so far. Especially since as time goes on, the restaurant gets more crowded, making harder and harder to hold a conversation. Even with Muriel leaning toward me, talking into my ear, wrapping her arm around mine as if we’re either old friends or have been dating for a while.
She’s nice, but the situation isn’t the most comfortable. My shoulders slump with relief when the ladies decline dessert. I have my credit card out and in the waiter’s hand before he can even bring us the bill. By the time we step out into the cold evening air, I pull in a few deep gulps.
“Are you okay?” Muriel asks as we walk the few blocks to the party where we’re supposed to ring in the new year.
I take one more lungful of air before I answer. “Sometimes I have a hard time with chaos like that,” I admit.
“You and me both,” Keith’s girlfriend says.
I’m going to have to ask him her name again before I either say the wrong name or stall the conversation.
“That’s why I have to get out of the house sometimes. I live in chaos,” she continues.
“But you live with your parents to save money while you finish your degree,” Keith says.
“And my four little brothers. They’re a menace. I’ll take a drunk night at the bar anytime over the four of them. To be honest, they’re not much different than a bunch of drunk frat guys.”
Muriel snorts. “That’s why I’m never having kids.”
I stop mid-stride and look at Keith. His face freezes in a wide-eyed expression. His shoulders have hiked up a few inches toward his ears. A few things click into place.
Our dates continue on, talking about the horrors of younger siblings. Gripping Keith’s arm, I hold him back, letting the women get a few steps ahead.
When they’re far enough away, I grit through my teeth, “why do they think I was an hour late?”
Keith rubs the back of his neck. “They think your car broke down.”
“So you did know.”
“What does it matter if she wants kids? It’s not like you’re going to marry her. She’s on the rebound after a breakup. She’s looking for fun, not a serious relationship. She gets to have a date for New Year’s, you get laid, win-win.”
I shake my head. “You’re a dick.”
Keith rolls his eyes. “Maybe, but at least I know mine still works. You need to get out there.”
“Not under false pretenses.”
“You realize if you put it out there now that you’ll be going home alone,” Keith says.
But the only thing that going home brings to mind is the thought of Maggie’s dark hair fanned out over my sheets. And even if I were to go home and find her in my bed, she wouldn’t be naked, but that’s exactly how my horny brain pictures her.
“You realize that you might not get any tonight either when your girlfriend realizes that you lied to her friend.”
Keith groans. “Fuck. Can’t you wait until we’re gone to tell her?”
I shake my head and punch him in the arm hard enough to know that I’m not happy, but not hard enough to really hurt him. Before we get to the party, I pull Muriel aside.
“Before we head into yet another place where we won’t be able to hold a conversation, I wanted to tell you something.”
