Page 56 of Meet Cute Reboot
“Can I get you both more drinks?”
Cassie and I nod.
Riveting entertainment, I tell you. But we have over six hundred people watching now. Should I break out in a song and dance?
“I have an idea,” Cassie says. “Why don’t you guys choose the location of our next date?”
My ears perk up at the word “next.” Date number four? I didn’t even have to weasel my way into it.
“Please, someone say the My Little Pony Convention,” I say.
Cassie tilts her head back and laughs. I expect her laughter to die down, but it ramps up, a little squeak sounding from her throat and then a snort, which makes her laugh harder.
“She doesn’t take my collection seriously,” I say. “It’s worth seven thousand dollars.”
Cassie squeezes her eyes shut and covers her mouth with her hand as her shoulders bounce. Moments later she calms down and concludes her laughing fit with a long sigh.
“It has to be in Charleston,” she says.
How does she go from laughing hysterically to a businesswoman in less than a second? I need to learn that trick.
“Those are the rules?” I ask.
“Yes. I’ll put a comment on this stream. You guys can pick any location in Charleston, and I’ll do a random comment picker.”
“Works for me.” I stuff fried green tomato in my mouth, and then I try to wash it down with my nonexistent water. As if sensing my need, Sonja approaches with a tray and two refills.
I refocus on my crab legs, expecting to enjoy a buttery bite when I hear a scuff and then a squeal. Sloshing. A second later, I have a face full of double Fs. Time slows as my nose carves a straight line through Sonja’s cleavage. I can’t help but notice her flowery perfume, its citrus notes, and its pairing with sweat.
I search frantically in the dark for a pair of shoulders. When I can’t find them, I palm Sonja’s chest and shove.
That’s when I realize I’m wet. So is Cassie.
Sonja quickly resituates her shirt. Did they fall out? I’m not sure if I palmed T-shirt or flesh. I don’t want to know. Both Sonja and Cassie look as mortified as I feel. No, I’m the most mortified of the bunch.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Sonja repeats. She takes a pathetic little napkin and tries to wipe me down. I push her hands away. I don’t want her body parts anywhere near me.
“I’ll go get towels,” she says, and then she darts away.
Cassie picks several ice cubes off her lap and dumps them into the empty glass she just picked off the seat. Her shock has passed, and I see the beginnings of laugh lines around her eyes.She leans into her phone. “Hey guys, if you didn’t notice, we had a...uh...an incident. We need to clean up. We’ll catch you in the next Live. Don’t forget to put in your vote for our next date. Okay. Signing off. Peace.” She flashes the peace sign and turns off her phone.
After she stuffs her phone in her purse, she looks at me, the corners of her lips twitching. “I thought you weren’t a boob man.”
“Don’t even start.”
Her lips crack into a grin. “Oh, trust me, I’m just getting started,” she says, then she raises her knee and gives me a tap on the thigh with her foot. “Scoot. I’m going to see if they have hand dryers in the bathroom.”
“Great. Leave me alone here withthem.”
Cassie breaks into a laugh. “You should have seen your face.”
“Shh. Here she comes.”
“Let me out!”
I stand and let Cassie slide out of the booth. She grabs a towel from Sonja on her way to the bathroom, sashaying the entire way there because she knows I’m watching.
Cassie