“Okay, this is all doable. You already have one step marked off from last night and you can check off the challenge him step, too. From what it sounds like, all you two do is challenge each other.”
“Exactly,” I agree, “we challenge each other too much for our own good. I think I’ve aged ten years since he got here. I’m developing gout.”
“You’re not developing gout. Now I get to pick what you’re going to do next.”
“Why are you encouraging me? The last time Ryan was in the picture, you were glad I broke up with him.”
“Yeah, but that was a long time ago and we were all a mess after everything with Dad. From what you told me, Ryan seems like he has his act together now. You should pursue this for real. You’re not getting any younger, you know.”
“I hate it when you and Mom act like I’m one birthday away from death’s door just because you were a child bride.”
“I got married when I was twenty-nine years old, Kara.”
“Irrelevant! I’m just not good at this stuff.”
“It sounds like you did a good enough job last night.”
“Sure, and he flew out of here this morning like a bat out of hell.” I try to keep the bitterness out of my voice, but I can’t quite manage it.
“So he got a little spooked, big whoop. Know what you should do now? You should go out with someone else. Jealousy. I choose the jealousy step. Ryan needs some competition.”
“I don’t want to play any more games, Jen.”
“You’re not playing games. If anyone’s playing games, he is. You’re a successful writer doing what she needs to do for her career and you’re also a single woman. There’s nothing wrong with what’s happening here.”
I fold my arms behind my head as I look up at the ceiling. “Maybe.”
“Try to make something happen for tonight and don’t tell Ryan where you’re going or when you’ll be back. The less details you give, the better.”
“Tonight might be pushing it,” I say, scouring my brain for a dating prospect.
“You don’t have anyone you want to go out with?”
Well, there is someone.
I grab my cell phone from off my bedside table and unlock it. Jen crosses her arms with a villainous smile as I switch off Celine and scroll through my recent calls until I find who I’m looking for. I hold the phone to my ear and start talking once I hear the beep.
“Hey, Maggie, it’s Kara. I’m just curious to see if you met up with Kyle yet. I have a question about his friend Adam.”
12
I do a spin in front of the standing mirror in the corner of my bedroom, watching my blue short-sleeved sundress rise and fall as I twirl. A few seconds later, I walk out into the living room feeling confident in my comfortable but fashionable wedge heels. My hair is washed and blown out, I shaved my legs above the knees and I’m wearing mascara. Basically, I’m a supermodel.
Ryan is sitting with his laptop at the kitchen table and I give him a quick smile before scanning the room for the boho purse I want to take with me tonight.
“You going out, Sullivan?” he asks, taking in my appearance.
I pretend not to hear him right away. “What’d you say?”
“I asked if you were going out.”
“Oh, yeah, but I shouldn’t be too late.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m meeting some friends for drinks.” I find the bag I’m looking for on the hanging coatrack by the door.
“Nice. Where?”
Interested, are we?
“Just to a bar.” Moving over to the entryway, I pull the bag down and take inventory of what’s inside, trying to decide if I should bring my whole wallet with me or just my license and a credit card.
“I’m sure you are going to a bar,” Ryan says, “but which bar?”
“Why do you care?”
“I’m just curious.” He pauses. “Wait, are you about to commit a crime, Sullivan?”
I pivot around to look at him. “And why would you ask me that?”
“Because if you’re getting ready to go take part in a complex bank heist, then you being vague right now makes sense. I would actually appreciate you leaving me out of the loop since I’m not trying to get shanked in prison for being your accomplice. But since you said you’re not about to commit a crime, I’m not sure why you’re refusing to tell me where you’re going.”
Well, being mysterious was fun while it lasted. It was a brief and shining moment—like Camelot.
“We’re going to McFadden’s. It’s around the corner.”
I zip my bag closed in a huff. I’m poised to leave with my hand on the doorknob when Ryan speaks again.
“I would ask which friends you’re meeting but I’d hate to throw off your femme fatale persona any more than I already have.”
His smug remark rubs me the wrong way and I turn back around. “To put you out of your misery, I’m meeting two guys and my friend Maggie.”
That earns me a surprised look. I enjoy it.
“Oh, yeah? Is this a double-date thing?”
What’s it to you, smart-ass?
“I don’t know if I’d call it a date, but Adam seemed really interesting and cute so I wouldn’t mind if it was.”
Ryan’s jaw tightens. “Well, have fun.”
“Thanks,” I say cheerfully. I exit the apartment without another word.
I’ve learned a lot about Adam in the past hour. He’s an accountant, he grew up on Long Island, he wrestled in high school and, on his days off, he likes to watch reruns of Seinfeld and do crossword puzzles. To sum things up, he’s lovely.
I have also learned several other things while talking to Adam. There are seven buttons on his shirt. No one has scored in the Mets game playing on the flat screen above the bar. A couple standing a few feet away is arguing over their plans for this coming weekend. And I have also learned, after stealing clandestine peeks at my phone, that I have only been here
