Page 68 of Party Favors

“I’ll be fine. And it’s not his name. I just like how Cowboy Troy sounds. I’ll text you with his actual information. Just in case,” she said in an exaggerated way, as if I worried too much.

Which I probably did, but I didn’t want anything to happen to her.

“I know you don’t like to take my advice, but at least consider this one thing. Max is interested, but you’re the one shutting it down. With your body language, the things you’re saying. I’ve seen you around him twice now, and please believe me when I tell you that if you want something to happen, which deep down I know you do, you have to be more open.”

“I don’t do that!”

“You do and I don’t understand it. You’re finally getting your magical fairy tale you’ve always wanted and you’re pushing it away with both hands. Enjoy your time with Max. Try to be more open.” A stall opened up and she headed into it.

Was I doing that? All of my interactions with Max had this slightly unbelievable feel to them, as if they should have been happening to someone else. Or like I was watching a movie starring me.

Here I’d thought Vella was the one broadcasting do-not-disturb vibes, but if she was right,Ihad been the one doing that. I was scaring people off.

How long had I been doing it for? Was I so afraid of any kind of intimacy, of being publicly humiliated or secretly heartbroken, that I’d pushed away every possible chance at romance?

I used the bathroom, washed my hands, and checked my phone. Vella had texted me a note to tell me that she’d already left, and I was feeling subdued over what she’d said to me in line.

Max was at the bar and my spirits lifted at seeing him again, but that discouraged feeling didn’t completely disappear.

“There you are,” he said. “I was starting to get worried about you.”

“Vella left,” I told him.

He nodded. “She said goodbye. Are you ready to try this dancing thing again?”

I didn’t feel like dancing anymore. I was worried that I was going to get caught up in this negativity that my best friend had accidentally planted in my head. I opened my mouth, intending to tell him that we should call it a night.

Instead I said, “Can we get out of here?”

He nodded. “Where do you want me to take you? Are you hungry?”

I was. I’d been so nervous about tonight that I hadn’t eaten in a while. “Yes.”

“Is there anywhere special you’d like to go?”

Mustering up my courage, I reached out and took his hand. I saw the momentary shock on his face and I half expected him to pull away, but he didn’t. He gently squeezed my hand in return.

Then I told him, “I don’t care where we go so long as I’m with you.”

He gave me the sexiest smile I’d ever seen. “Then let’s go.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

When we got outside, Max asked, “Do you know of any good places to eat?”

Did I ... “Are you ready for this conversation?”

He laughed.

“I’m going to need some parameters so that I can narrow it down,” I said as we started walking along the sidewalk. I glanced down at where our hands were joined and was thrilled that I was doing something so ... typical. Something other people did all the time without thinking. It shouldn’t have been a big deal and Vella would have teased me mercilessly if I waxed poetic about it in front of her, but it was a big step for me.

And it was exciting.

“Okay, how about something good, American, and open?”

“And no waiting,” I told him. Ever since he’d brought up food, my stomach hadn’t stopped rumbling. There were a lot of different restaurants I could have taken him to, but they would have had long lines.

“I don’t want to wait, either.”

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