“Exactly my thoughts. But you really don’t like mini golf?”
“No. Especially not here. How many pirate-themed mini golf courses do you need?”
“We could always go to the dinosaur one.”
“Not much better. That T-rex looks like he could fall on top of you.”
“You don’t like dangerous things, do you?”
“Oh. The motorcycle thing? Yeah, blame my father for it.”
“Okay. If I ever meet him, I will.” He smiled. “So what do you like? Is there any chance of my salvaging this date?”
All I wanted to do was get in an actual car and go home, but I wasn’t that mean. His smile was sweet, and he was trying. “Ice cream. I like ice cream.”
“You mean you’re not lactose intolerant?”
“Seriously? He said that?”
Ralph laughed. “No, but I’m surprised he didn’t. Let’s get some ice cream then.”
The next ride on the bike wasn’t so bad. I relaxed enough, and we stopped for ice cream back in Corolla. I felt tons better knowing I wouldn’t have to get back on the bike, I could easily walk the short distance home.
I had just settled in to enjoy my cone of vanilla soft serve when I noticed an all-too-familiar face walking toward the register, and he wasn’t alone. So that’s why Colin hadn’t called back. The girl was pretty, with reddish-brown hair. She was of average height and wore ballet flats and a puffy skirt. I at least had to give it to the girl; she had a fun sense of style. I also now had an answer. I hadn’t read him wrong, I just hadn’t read her.
“Can we finish these outside?” Knowing my track record, I’d get caught staring at the couple if we stayed inside any longer.
“Sure. It’s a nice night for a walk.” Ralph grabbed a couple of napkins on the way to the door. Points for thinking ahead.
We walked along the boardwalk, finishing the last of our cones. The surf was rough, splashing up against the wood. “Thanks, this was fun.”
“Yeah? I’m glad. Hopefully you can forgive me for the first half of our date.”
“You’re forgiven.” I smiled. There was something fun about hanging out with Ralph. There were definitely no sparks, but he seemed like a sweet guy.
“You ready to go home?” He tossed out the napkins when we passed a trash bin.
“Yeah, but I think I’m going to walk.”
“Really? You hate bikes that much?”
“It’s a nice night. I’d like the fresh air.”
“Can I at least walk you home? I feel weird leaving you here.” His expression fell somewhere between “I care” and “you’re annoying.” I’m sure being misled by Macon wasn’t much fun for him either.
“It’s really not an issue. There are tons of people out.”
“But it’s dark.”
“And there are lights.” I gestured to a streetlight. Unfortunately, it was flickering, so it didn’t help my case.
“Are you always this difficult?”
“Usually.”
“Please. Is my company that awful?”
“No.” I finally realized how bad my insistence could be interpreted. “The company would be nice.”
“Great. Let’s go.”
The walk home was pleasant enough, and he kept the goodbye hug short. Macon wasn’t anywhere to be seen when I walked in, but he wasn’t getting away with anything.
***
Pouring a pitcher of water over Macon’s head while he slept was incredibly satisfying. As was watching his reaction when he woke up.
“What the f**k, Maddy!”
“What’s the matter? You don’t like water on your face? I must have forgotten. Kind of like how you forget that I hated motorcycles?”
He sat up, wiping water off his face. “I take it you didn’t enjoy your date last night.”
“What the hell was that? Am I blanking out on something mean I’ve done to you recently? Because usually friends don’t set each other up on horrible blind dates intentionally.”
“I was giving you perspective, and getting Ralph back.”
“Perspective? And what were you getting Ralph back for?”
“He cockblocked me twice last week.”
“Do you have to use that language?”
Macon laughed. “You say every curse word imaginable, yet you can’t handle the word ‘cock.’”
“I can handle it, I just don’t like it.”
“You can’t handle it. Your face scrunches up every time I say it.”
“That’s not true.” Although I wished living with boys didn’t mean listening to crude language.
“Can you even say it? Are you still such a prude you can’t?”
“I don’t need to use the term.” I crossed my arms.
“You don’t like ‘dick’ either.”
“Are you trying to distract me? I’m not going to forget about what you put me through last night.” I still couldn’t quite believe Macon had done that to me.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I forgot to turn my phone on.”
“You’re lucky you had it off.”
“I love your idle threats. It’s one of your best features. It ranks right up there with how much you hate the word ‘cock’—and ‘dick.’”
“You know what, this isn’t worth my energy.” I stormed out of his room.
He followed me. “Did it make you realize how great your date with Colin was? Maybe make you think it’s worth calling him?”
“Wait. You’re going to try to convince me that you put me through all that to try to talk me into calling Colin?” I stopped in my tracks.
He stood there looking at me.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I don’t get why you haven’t called yet.”
“If he wanted to see me, he’d have called.” I tried to keep the hurt out of my voice. His failure to call shouldn’t have bothered me nearly as much as it did.
“Or maybe he’s waiting for you to call him.”
“He’s not. I can promise you that.” I walked into my room and sat down on my twin bed. Luckily, the room came furnished. Otherwise, I’d have been sleeping on the floor.
“No, you can’t.” He leaned against the doorframe. My room felt small with him standing there, like he was boxing me into a tiny space.
“I saw him out on a date last night. On top of my disaster date, I saw him with another girl.”