“Fuck you.”
“Be safe. Condoms are important.”
“Stop talking.”
“No means no.”
“Shut the fuck up, Max.” But I can’t help but laugh. God, he’s a bastard.
“Be a gentleman. Open doors, pull out her chair, and all that happy horseshit. Oh! Do you need money for dinner?” He reaches for his wallet. “She shouldn’t pay for dinner.”
“I’m going to deck you.”
Max is laughing in earnest now, almost doubled over at my expense.
Asshole.
I turn away and walk to the door, not looking back at him.
“Compliment her shoes!” he calls out behind me. “Girls like that!”
I flip him off, then jog to the house to quickly shower and change clothes, and just as I pull out of my driveway, my phone rings.
“Keller.”
“Hey, handsome.”
Christina.
“Did Max call you and tell you to give me shit about my date tonight?”
“I don’t know what any of those words meant,” she replies. “I haven’t talked to Max.”
Well shit.
“But now I want to know everything.”
“Of course you do. Why are you calling?”
“Oh no,” she says with a laugh. “You’re not changing the subject. Spill it.”
I take a deep breath and merge onto the freeway. “I have a date with Addie tonight. And before you start,” I say, interrupting her, “Max already gave me a bunch of shit.”
“I like her.”
“You do?”
“Sure. What’s not to like. Hold on.” She doesn’t bother pulling the phone away from her face as she talks to her husband. “Jake’s going out with Addie tonight. Yes, on a real date. I know, I like her too. I told him that. Oh, you think she’s pretty?”
“Chris, do you want me to let you go so you guys can talk about Addie, or was there a point to this call?”
“Sorry. We both approve.”
“Thank goodness,” I reply sarcastically. “Otherwise, I’d have to call and cancel.”
“So, now that you have a girlfriend, does this mean I won’t see you as often?”
My hands tighten on the steering wheel. I knew she’d tease me. “No, you won’t see me anymore because you annoy the shit out of me.”
“Aww, you’re so sweet,” she says with a smile in her voice. “If you talk to Addie like that tonight, you’ll get laid for sure.”
“Why is everyone so damn worried about me getting laid?”
“Well, everyone should get laid,” she says, as though I’m a slow child.
“Getting laid isn’t my objective tonight,” I mutter.
“What is the objective?” Christina asks.
“To have dinner. To spend time with her. To get to know her.”
“You’re seriously going out on a date.” Her voice is heavy with surprise, and that just pisses me off.
“I’ve gone out on dates before.”
“Okay, all joking aside,” she says, her voice excited, but sincere. “I really like her, Jake. She’s smart and funny, and she runs her business brilliantly.”
Hell yes she does.
“You look good together,” she adds.
“Is that part of the criteria?” I ask with a laugh.
“Of course. And you make a beautiful couple.”
“It’s all her,” I reply softly. “Anyone would look good standing next to her.”
“Wow,” she whispers. “That might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard you say about a woman.”
“I like her.”
“I’m glad. Have fun tonight, friend. Call me tomorrow and fill me in, after you get home of course.”
“I’ll be home tonight.”
“Jake, if you’re taking her out on a date, you really should stay the night after you have sex with her. It’s the right thing to do.”
“I’m not having sex with her tonight.”
Christina is quiet on the other end so long I think I’ve dropped the call.
“Chris?”
“This one is different,” she says.
“Are you crying?”
“No.” She sniffles and I roll my eyes. “I’m just so happy for you.”
“Oh my God, C. Stop crying. It’s a date, not a wedding.”
“You deserve to find someone like Addie who’s smart and pretty and likes you.”
“I’m not so sure she likes me,” I reply honestly. “Or if she does, she doesn’t want to.”
“Trust me, J, if she didn’t like you, she wouldn’t be going out with you tonight.”
I nod, then remember she can’t see me. “Good point.”
“I have to go.”
“Why did you call in the first place?”
“Oh! I almost forgot. I have news.”
“Okay.”
She sniffles again, and my stomach drops. “What’s wrong, C?”
“I’m not going to have a baby. It didn’t take this month.”
My own eyes get misty. “Wow.” My voice is gruff with emotion. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“I know.”
“Are you okay?”
“I think so. Kev and I are a little sad, but we’ll try again next month,” she says, trying to sound better than I know she feels. “I wanted to tell you. Because you’re my person.”