Page 10 of Can't Always Get What You Want

And. I’ll choose the least date-like bar to meet him at.

Me: Meet me at the bar—Rainforest Café, downtown. 8:00.

I smirk to myself. Nothing is less sexy than screaming children at the mall, fake thunder, fake lightning, and loud music.

Luca: OMFG I LOVE THAT PLACE.

The smile is instantly wiped off my face as I glare at his reply; he’s screwing with me.

He must be!

No self-respecting man should love the Rainforest Café. It’s messy, chaotic, and comes with a side of screaming toddlers and overpriced mozzarella sticks. The animatronic gorillas alone should be enough to scare him off.

At seven thirty, I throw on my least flattering hoodie, leggings that have definitely seen better days, and my oldest sneakers. And if my hair in a messy bun at the top of my head doesn’t scream friend-zone, I don’t know what does.

He loves the Rainforest Café?

Fine.

Let’s see how much he really loves it when we’re stuck in a booth next to a malfunctioning elephant and a three-year-old named Brayden throwing fries.

I text back.

Me: Hope you like jungle sounds and overpriced chicken tenders

Luca: I always order the ones shaped like dinosaurs.

Oh my God. Why is he so…chipper? And agreeable? And adorable?

I wonder if he’s always so amendable as I give myself a once-over in the full-length mirror in the hallway, nodding in approval.

Perfect.

I look like shit—and I mean that in the most intentional way possible…

Now, all I have to do is keep reminding myself why dating my brother’s teammate is a terrible, terrible idea.

So no. I will not be getting attached.

This will not be classified as a date.

This is not the beginning of something special.

This is a one-drink experiment. A flirtation detox. A very public, very casualsituationthat will burn out as quickly as it started.

I’ll have one drink.Maybe two. I’ll laugh at a few of his dumb jokes, keep my hoodie on, and go home.

And then I’ll delete him from the app.

2

luca

The Rainforest Café?

I mean—it’s a choice.

Not a great one. Not a sexy one.Not the kind of place I’d normally take a girl I’ve been dying to get my hands on. But Nova?

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