It’s not that I’m having a bad time; I’m just not focused. I should be giving Adam my full attention. He’s good-looking, nice, he has a job and he doesn’t give off any noticeable let’s-see-if-you-fit-in-the-trunk-of-my-car vibes. By modern standards, he’s the holy grail. Other single thirtysomethings would gladly club me over the head and walk over my unconscious body to get to him. That’s why it’s so unfortunate that upon further investigation, I’m not attracted to him at all.
He and Kyle have just walked over to the jukebox that charges a dollar a song when Maggie slides next to me at the cocktail table we’re standing around.
“So, what do you think?” she asks.
“It’s going okay.”
“You hate him.”
“I don’t hate him,” I clarify. “He’s very nice.”
“Calling a guy nice on the first date is the kiss of death. Did he offer you money to touch your feet? Does he train seventeen cageless parakeets on the weekend?”
“I don’t think so.” I chuckle.
“Lucky. Kyle does.”
“Does he really?”
“No, but he did tell me he has a waterbed, and that’s a deal-breaker for me.”
“Really? I bet you’d get your sea legs after a week or two.”
“It’s possible but it’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Devastatingly so,” she agrees, picking up her wineglass. “At least you have your actual dream man back at your apartment. The only thing waiting at my place is bitterness and old age.”
“That’s not true. You see your dream man multiple times a year.”
“The Phantom of the Opera doesn’t count. Though he should count, since we’re obviously in love, but the fact that I have to buy a ticket to see him every few months makes me feel dirty.”
“Well, Ryan doesn’t count either. So once again, it’s just you and me.”
“I’m good with that.”
“Me, too.” I lift my bay breeze and we tap our glasses together, smirking and taking a sip. I turn to look towards the jukebox where the guys are still searching through songs when I notice a lone figure sauntering into the bar from out of the corner of my eye. My breath catches in my chest and I have to fight back an ear-to-ear smile.
Ryan stands by the door for a few seconds until he spots me. His eyes lock on mine and he flashes me that sexy grin that makes me feel like a cavewoman. He’s wearing worn-in jeans, a plain white T-shirt and a Carolina Hurricanes baseball cap. Needless to say, Momma likes.
“Crap,” I mumble under my breath.
“What?” Maggie asks, following my gaze to the door. She stares at Ryan for a solid amount of time until she looks back at me. “Stop. Is that Ryan? Is that him?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
Maggie gasps and turns back. “I honestly don’t know what I was expecting but he looks like a modern American version of the prince from Beauty and the Beast.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“He fully does.”
I manage to put a lid on my escalating giddiness as he makes his way towards us through the minor crowd. Maggie, on the other hand, does not.
“Sweet lord, he’s walking over. What should I do? Should I sing?”
“Please don’t sing.”
“Whenever two people are about to admit their love for each other in a musical, they always sing. I should set the mood for you guys.”
“Don’t you dare.”
Ryan is then at my side, resting his hands down against the table.
“Hello,” Maggie sings. We both look at her and she starts nervously laughing. Uncomfortable situations were never her strong suit. “Hello,” she says again, normally this time. “I’m Maggie. Sorry about the weird hello. I have a background in music.”
“I can tell. You have a great voice. I’m Ryan.”
And Maggie is back nervously laughing. “Yes, I know who you are.”
“Oh, yeah? Has this one been trash-talking me?” he asks, nudging his head in my direction. A waiter appears and Ryan orders a beer on tap.
“What? No, not at all.” Maggie’s trying to recover. Bless her heart. “I mean yes, Kara has mentioned you in passing but nothing out of the ordinary. You guys went to summer camp together, right?”
“College.”
“Really? My mistake, I must have been thinking about her summer-camp boyfriend that we often discuss at great length. You, not so much.”
Ryan smiles in a confused sort of way and looks to me for clarification. All I can do is shrug.
“Hey, Sullivan,” he says softly.
“Hi.” We hold eye contact for longer than we should and Maggie starts humming the opening notes to “Tale as Old as Time.” I give her a warning look and she cuts it short, appearing guilty but satisfied as she glances back towards the jukebox.
“Yeah,” she says, “maybe this isn’t the best time for me to mention this, but our current suitors are now on their way back. Should I clear the area?”
“No, don’t do anything,” I tell her.
Kyle and Adam return to the table and Maggie immediately picks up her purse. “Hey, Kyle!” she says, a thousand times louder and peppier than she needs to. “You know what? I’m starving and I love dinner. Would you like to get dinner?”
“Sure,” he says, giving a quick look over to Adam. “Are we all going?”
“Nope, just the two of us. We should go now, though, because I want to hear more about your parakeets.”
“Parakeets?” he asks, confused, as Maggie grips his arm and drags him towards the door.
I’m now left standing inconveniently alone with Ryan and Adam. I’m trying to think of what to say when I feel Adam’s hand on the small of my back. Ryan notices and squares his shoulders.
Awkward.
“Can I get you another drink?” Adam asks, leaning in close to my ear even though the bar isn’t that loud or crowded.
I’m about to tell him I’m good when Ryan clears his throat.
“Right. Sorry, I should introduce you guys. Adam, this is Ryan.”
Adam stretches his arm out around me. “Nice to meet you.”
Ryan shakes his hand, saying, “Likewise.”
After a nice painful silence, I
