Page 38 of The Disasters of Dating
“Normally my only days off are Mondays and Fridays. But I’m on break before the semester starts. So I’m only working Friday and Saturday this week.” I feel like it’s in my favor if she’s telling me her schedule.
I glance at her. “And Sunday?”
She smiles. “Yeah. I work most Sundays.”
I nod as though she has just explained Newton’s Theory of Relativity, and I’m internalizing it. “Maybe we can grab some lunch or dinner on one of your days off?” I swallow. I’m sounding a little pushy. She’s on break, so she probably has all of her evenings planned. I clear my throat. “Or maybe breakfast on Thursday?” What am I saying? Could I sound more desperate? I may as well start crying and beg her to go out with me.Please, please go on a date with me.I don’t think it’s possible to sound more lame.
She straightens the shelf next to the mint selection. “Well, I do still owe you an apology meal.” Is that the only reason she’s open to the idea? She still feels guilty? She’s the one who still has faint coloring around her eye and on her forehead. I think I’m the one who should have the complex still.
“I’m pretty flexible. My mom and I usually do something on my first night off. But you probably have a tougher schedule to work around than I do.” She glances at me from the corner of her eye. “So I can reschedule with my mom if I need to.”
I’m going to choose to believe that she thinks I’m special? Cool? Interesting enough for her to break her rule. “How about if I text you tomorrow? I’ll have a better idea of my schedule while I’m here.”
“When do you fly out?”
“Friday morning,” I lie. I’m actually scheduled to fly out on Thursday night. But if Thursday is the only day we can go out, I’ll change my flight. I’m sure Evan won’t object. I’ll work late on Friday night to make up the time.
I pause for a second. When was the last time I bent over backwards for a date with a girl? I blink in thought. Never. I can honestly say I have never gone to these lengths before.
I watch Poppy as she takes a rumpled blanket off the shelf and carefully refolds it to look like the others. What is it about her? I guess maybe that’s the key? I don’t know. But I want to.
I grab a pack of Altoids and a pack of Ice Breakers and place them on the checkout counter.
Poppy moves behind the register. She eyes my selections and then picks up the Altoids. “Cinnamon. Bold choice.” Is that admiration I see in her eyes?
I examine the mints. I’ve never had the cinnamon ones before. Am I going to regret that choice?
She picks up the wintergreen Ice Breakers. “I’m more of a cool mint kind of gal, but I can respect the wintergreen.”
I stare at her for a second. Is she critiquing my mint choices? “I bet you say that to all your mint buying customers.” I tip my head slightly to the side.
She grins. “Actually, I do. Not everyone appreciates it, though.”
My head shakes. “I don’t know why not. It seems like valuable information to have.”
She nods. “I know, right? Like I’d want to know if the cinnamon was super strong before I crack it open on a plane and then choke and cough for the next thirty minutes.”
My brows dip. “Is the cinnamon that strong?”
She grimaces and nods. “I think it is. It burns my tongue. Granted, I’m not a huge fan of spicy foods, so it may not bother you.”
I’m second guessing my Altoid choice. Maybe I should get the regular peppermint flavor. But then she might think I’m a completemarshmallow. I stick with the cinnamon to save face. I’m sure I can take it.
“You look like you can handle it,” she says with far more confidence than I’m feeling.
She rings them up, and I hand her a ten.
She holds it up to the light before sliding it into her drawer and counting out my change. I hold my hand out, and our hands brush as she puts the cash in my palm.
I feel sparks—no joke, actual sparks. If it were darker, I’m positive I would have seen them.
She jerks her hand back, and I wonder if she felt it too. “Enjoy your mints,” she says with a smile, and I want to kiss her again. But a real kiss this time.
Woah. I put on the brakes.Hold on there, Keat. Get to know her better. For all I know, she’s super clingy once she gets you into a relationship. Although I don’t get that vibe from her.
I lift them up like I’m toasting. I’m so lame when I’m around her. I hurry and tuck them into my backpack. “I’ll text you tomorrow, then?”
She nods. “I’ll wait with bated breath.”
