When We Met

Travis, one of the busers, snagged my attention as I walked by. “Hey, Courtney.” He was busy clearing one of my previous tables.

“Hey, Trav. How’s the band?” Travis belonged to a kick-ass band, but they would constantly fight and break up because of their tempers.

He sighed before providing the inevitable answer. “We’re on a break again. I swear to God, I feel like I’m in some fucked-up relationship with a chick, as much as we fight.”

I clucked my tongue sympathetically, ru

“Slick thinks we should all wear spandex to our shows. Ripped spandex to be exact.”

“Um, eww.”

He sighed again in defeat. “I know, right? Marcus told him he was high as a kite. Needless to say, the conversation didn’t end well.”

“I’m sorry, Travis. They’ll work it out.” I patted him on the back as he set off with the tub of dirty dishes in hand. I used my rag to clean off the bench seat, brushing any crumbs to the floor.

“Hey,” Amanda said, sliding into the empty booth I had wiped down. I could tell she wanted something by the way she fiddled with the saltshaker. “So, you remember how grateful you were when I got you this job?”

“Yes,” I answered apprehensively, sensing I wouldn’t like where this was going.

“And how you claimed you would owe me big-time?”

“If I remember right, you said it was no big deal.”

“True, but then you insisted. As a matter of fact, I distinctly remember you saying I saved your life.”

I didn’t say anything this time. Judging by the way she was laying it on thick, this was going to be a doozy.

“The way I figure it, saving someone’s life is a pretty big deal. I’m guessing it would mean that person would do anything to repay the debt.”

“You mean like chauffeur that person around every other day so she doesn’t have to walk or wait for the bus in the frigid temperatures?”

She paused. Obviously she hadn’t considered that before approaching me with whatever this big request was going to be. “No, it needs to be something bigger.”

“Spit it out, then. What do you want?”

“Go on a double date with me.”

“Are you asking me out?” I teased, placing my hands on my hips.

“You wish, sugar lips.” She laughed and ducked her head when I swung the rag at her. “I want you to go with Collin’s friend.”

“Which friend?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Dalton! Can you believe that? He’s totally into you. I know you have that crazy ‘I don’t date basketball players’ thing, but this is Dalton Thompson. If I didn’t like Collin, I’d be totally jealous.”

I was already shaking my head before she could finish her statement. “Amanda, I can’t.”

“Why not?” She stood up from the booth, glaring at me with her hands on her hips.

“Because, Amanda. You just said it yourself. I don’t date basketball players.” In all honesty, I would have said yes if she had picked any other basketball player for me to go out with.

“Is this a short person thing?”

I swatted at her. “Don’t be an ass.”

“Well, unless it’s something legitimate, you don’t have a viable excuse. Don’t make me play the ‘you owe me’ card. Just think. If you go, we’ll be even.”

I was still shaking my head, but her pitiful expression was crumbling my resolve.

“Please, Courtney. I’ll be your BFF.”

“You’re already my BFF and we’re not in grade school.”

“Say you’ll go,” she pled. “Ple-e-ease.”

I had to say yes. I’d be a complete bitch otherwise. I nodded as Amanda squealed, dragging me in for an excited hug as she jumped up and down. I was screwed.

chapter six

Dalton

It was a complete stroke of genius to crash Collin’s date with Amanda. At first I’d been disappointed Courtney didn’t come back to our table, until I realized Amanda was a friend of hers. I seized the opportunity to pump her for information. When Collin and Amanda started making plans to go out, I shamelessly jumped onboard, suggesting we should double-date. This time it was Collin’s turn to kick me under the table, but I ignored him. He owed me.

The next night I swung by to pick up Collin on the way to get the girls at Amanda’s dorm. “I still can’t believe you latched on to my date. Why didn’t you just ask this chick out yourself?”

I shrugged. “Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, I volunteered to drive, didn’t I?”

“How the hell does that make up for cock-blocking me? What is it about this girl that’s making you act like such a pussy?” He adjusted the vents in the car so the heat was directed at him.

“It’s nothing. We were friends once and now she’s acting a little weird. I figured this way she wouldn’t be able to run off without talking to me.”

“You obviously can’t hear yourself. ‘Oh, I hope she talks to me.’” He batted his eyes, making his best attempt to sound like a girl.

I couldn’t help laughing even though he was making fun of me. That still didn’t mean he didn’t get sucker punched in the arm as we pulled into the parking lot of Amanda’s dorm.

“Hey, dick. Just be a man and admit you want to tap that. Own it.” He rubbed his arm, complaining.

“Don’t worry about what I want,” I warned as we trekked through the snow toward the building.

“Take a pill, Nancy. You should be kissing my ass anyway for letting you tag along.”

I would have answered, but I spotted Courtney and Amanda walking toward us from the common area inside the building. Amanda flashed a brilliant smile at Collin. Courtney, on the other hand, glared at me. One way or another I pla

“Hey,” she answered without looking up at me. I think the only reason she acknowledged me was because Amanda nudged her with her elbow. Things quickly became awkward as we stood facing each other with no one saying a word.

“So, everybody knows each other, right? Collin, Dalton—Amanda, Courtney,” Amanda said, pointing back and forth. “This ought to be fun, don’t you think?”

“You’re crazy, girl.” Collin laughed, throwing his arm around her shoulder. We fell into typical two-by-two double date formation with Courtney and me trailing behind as we all walked to the car. I had a ton of shit I wanted to say, but I felt tongue-tied. Collin was right. I was acting like a wuss. I never got tripped up around the ladies. Of course, I’d never had one treat me like such a dirtbag.

Amanda and Collin climbed into the backseat, leaving Courtney to ride shotgun. I could tell by her hesitation that she wasn’t happy about the arrangement, but she never spoke up.

Amanda kept the car ride from becoming uncomfortable by maintaining a ru

I waited until Collin and Amanda entered the bowling alley ahead of us before snagging Courtney’s hand to pull her to a stop.

She jerked her hand free, looking like she could have taken a swing at me. “What the hell?”

“Shouldn’t those be my words? What’s your deal?” I shoved my hands into my pockets in frustration. “Are you completely forgetting that we were friends once?”

“Me? You’re the one who forgot that.” She turned toward the building until I reached out and snagged her hand again.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Are you really that dense? I didn’t think basketball was a contact sport, but you must have taken some shots to the head.”

“What are you talking about? I mean yeah, we stopped hanging out, but we were kids. I don’t understand why we have to be enemies now.”