Page 16 of Bad Habit
“Usually they’re called games. I think tennis has matches? Maybe soccer?”
“Oh, thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, Sister Henry is worried about my lack of life experience, how little I know about the real world and what I’ll be giving up to become a nun.”
I nodded, not even allowing myself to guess where this was going.
“She suggested I try out a few things. Like an experiment. To better understand how the real world works.”
“I see…”
Her eyes opened wide, as if she’d just realized something. “Do you have a girlfriend—or a wife?”
A short, hard laugh burst out of my chest. “Sorry. No. I’m single. Why?”
Exhaling hard, she glanced up at me, expectantly. But I still had zero idea what she was getting at.
“You can ask me, if you like,” she said softly. “It’s okay. I want you to.”
“Ask you what?” My voice came out unexpectedly hoarse—all the blood in my body had rushed to my package. I adjusted my stance, hoping she couldn’t tell I was such a creep.
She laughed, like she was laughing at me, laughing at herself.
“What’s so funny?” I’d never felt so left-footed, so off-kilter. The only question I could think of was,Can I fuck you? Fuck you hard? Fuck you right now against the chain-link fence?
That was my package talking, but right now it had stolen my ability to think with any other part of my body. And given how sweet Faith was, not to mention what she had planned for her life, that thought was wrong, so goddamned wrong.
“I’m not sure how this works.” She straightened her shoulders. “I suppose I could do the asking.” Her head tipped to the side. “Or askyouto do the asking?”
“Sounds like that would work.” I’d never been so confused. “I could use a hint.”
“Mac, will you ask me out on a date?”
“What?” I swallowed so hard it hurt, then blinked in what felt like slow-mo. “Yes. Sure,” I stuttered. “Of course. Really?” She had to be kidding.
She nodded.
“Okay.” A date? Did people still go on dates? “How about Friday night? Seven? I’ll pick you up… where?”
She looked perplexed for a second, as if this was a detail she hadn’t thought through. “I’ll meet you at the door of the gymnasium.”
My mind was reeling, and I pinched my leg through the pocket of my shorts to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Maybe I was on some kind of prank video that would show up on YouTube? I glanced around but didn’t see any cameras. But cameras could be small…
“I guess that’s set, then,” she said brightly. “We’re going on a date. Thank you for asking.” She looked very pleased with herself. Or with me?
“Where would you like to go on our—our date?” I’d been to clubs, even to dinner with some of the women I’d slept with, but wasn’t sure whether or not I’d ever exactly called any of these outings “dates.” Dates seemed like something characters in old movies did.
“I’m not sure. I was hoping you’d suggest something. But…” She looked down at the court, embarrassed. “This will probably be the one and only date I ever go on—”
“Say no more,” I interjected. “We’ll go somewhere special. You should dress up.” I winked, wondering whether she had any clothes other than those she was wearing.
“That sounds lovely,” she said. “I can’t wait. I’m so flattered you asked.”
* * *
Faith
“Are you serious?” Sister Henry literally sneered as I emerged from behind the flimsy changing room curtain. “That dress is at least three sizes too big.”
“It’s the best I could do.” I’d scoured every rack at the thrift shop, and the dark navy dress was the only one suitably modest.
