Page 21 of Party Favors

Cute? The man was retina-melting hot. If I actually were a superhero, he would be like what my archnemesis would construct in her lab to distract me while she conquered the world.

And her evil plan would work.

“Trouble?” he asked, probably due to my annoyed expression.

“No, my roommate is checking up on me,” I said. “She forced me to come out tonight so that I could meet someone.”

“I’m supposing that means you’re single.”

Was that a hopeful note in his voice or was I projecting? “To quote my meemaw, I am only single because none of mankind’s champions have yet proven worthy.” That sounded so much better than “Yes, I am desperately alone and have been for a very long time, thank you.”

“What’s a meemaw?” he asked, appearing confused. “Did you grow up in a Dr. Seuss book?”

I laughed and said, “No, ‘meemaw’ is a nickname for ‘grandma’ where I’m from.”

“Ah. So you were saying that your roommate is trying to get you to meet someone—I’m assuming there’s a reason for it.”

“There is. I’ve had a crush on my boss for the last four years and he told me today that he’s marrying his longtime girlfriend. She’s worried that I’m only interested in unavailable men.”

While I knew there was a rule that you shouldn’t talk about this kind of thing when you were meeting someone you might date, my brain could logically accept that there was zero chance of that happening. It was kind of freeing, knowing I could just say whatever I wanted and it wouldn’t change the outcome of this night.

I didn’t have to play any games.

“Ouch. I’m sorry,” he said.

He might have said it out of politeness, but I detected a real sincerity there that touched me. “Thank you. I don’t think I’m ready to meet anyone, though. I feel ... a bit emotionally unavailable myself.”

Although if Max made me an offer, I would seriously consider it.

I added, “She wants me to get someone’s phone number.”

“I have a phone number. I can give you mine.”

“That’s ...” I trailed off, not sure how to respond. Was this like, a pity thing? His good deed for the day? I didn’t want to be his charity case. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Last time I checked, phone numbers were meant to be shared.” He put his hand out for my cell and I unlocked it and then handed it to him, a little thrill going through me. He sent himself a text, and I heard when it buzzed.

“There,” he said, giving the phone back to me. “Now you can tell your roommate you fulfilled all of her demands.”

“Thanks.” It had been a kind gesture on his part.

“You know, I get the pushy-loved-one thing. My relationship ended a few months ago, and ever since then, my cousin has been nagging me to go out and have fun. I keep telling her I’m fine. I’m not depressed, I’ve just moved to a new city. She doesn’t listen, though. She was particularly relentless tonight, and I thought it would be fun to come out and watch the Reali game.”

“Reali?” I echoed.

He pointed at the television screens. “The Monterran Reali football team. ‘Reali’ means ‘royals.’”

Another reminder of how little I knew about Monterra. “Is your cousin here babysitting you, too?” I asked.

“No, but she did make me send her a picture of myself at the bar to prove I’d left the house.”

“So we’re both here under duress.”

“It doesn’t feel quite like that now,” he said with what could only be called a shy smile, but I was pretty sure this man had never been shy or unsure of himself a day in his entire life.

Heaven save me from a kind man who was just being nice, because I was fully misreading everything he was saying and doing as if he were hitting on me.

It really had been too long since I’d been in a relationship. Or even had an actual date. And this was the result—attributing all kinds of flirtatious meaning to regular conversation.

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