24. Reckoning
CHAPTER 24
RECKONING
BAY
F reshman year
Rush week party, Gamma House
“I think you’re an excellent fit for Zeta Theta Beta, Bay,” Rachelle, the Zeta president beams. “Are you going to pledge?”
I try my best to play it cool. “Hmm, I’m seriously thinking about it.”
Rachelle hugs me. “Yay! If you do, I’ll be your big sister. Which means you’re practically in, unless you fail your initiation. But it takes one look at you to know that you’ll be fine. You’re definitely Zeta material.”
That’s what I was hoping to hear. I spent hours on my hair and makeup and I agonized over my outfit for a whole week. Image is everything in these situations.
“Yes, I think I’ll love being a Zeta,” I smile back, trying to contain at least some of my excitement. “All the sisters I spoke to earlier at the Rush Fair and tonight are lovely.”
“And not just the sisters,” Rachelle leans in to whisper in my ear. “We’re affiliated with the hottest fraternity on campus. Most of the Gamma Delta Tau brothers are either on the hockey team or on the football team. We’re invited to all their parties, like tonight. We have exclusive mixers. A lot of Zetas end up dating a Gamma during their college careers and a very high percentage of those relationships end in marriage.”
I know all that. When I decided that I wanted to pledge a sorority, I did my research. “I dated our school quarterback for most of my high school years,” I admit. “I’ve never been to a hockey game, but I’m curious.”
Rachelle giggles. “I know, your high school boyfriend was hot. I saw your senior prom photos on your social media. We have to do our research on our pledges after all. Whether you go for a brother who plays football or hockey, Gamma men are the best. And I already saw a couple of guys who have been staring at you since you arrived. A few are rushing too, just make sure to see who gets accepted before you agree to a date. Hookups are fine and encouraged, but I have to warn you. Don’t get too attached because while technically you can date whoever you want, dating someone who was rejected by Gamma would be social suicide.”
There’s a tall blond guy, with piercing blue eyes who’s caught my eye. He’s absolute physical perfection. He’s been looking at me too, even though he’s trying to be cool about it. He doesn’t have a Gamma Delta Tau pin on the lapel of his blazer, so he must be a pledge.
“Ooh,” Rachelle chuckles, following my gaze. “That’s a hottie. I approve.”
“What if he isn’t invited to pledge?” I ask.
Rachelle’s tone is conspiratorial. “He will be. Travis—the Gamma president—and I always get together after the Rush Fair and discuss the people who indicated that they’re interested in rushing. That guy is a recruit to the hockey team, so he’s pretty much a shoo-in. There’s also another guy who’s been staring at you all night.”
I don’t even have to look at the guy Rachelle is talking about. I know who she’s talking about because I caught him looking at me. He’s not as tall and muscular as the blond guy, but he still looks pretty fit. He’s been following the Gamma president pretty closely all night.
“Hmm,” my lips twist as I give the dark-haired stranger an evaluating look. “He’s kinda cute, but I don’t know if I’m into him. I’m not sure I like the lackey types.”
Rachelle pulls me closer, lowering her tone even more. “Oh babe, you got it wrong. That’s Topher Mumford, he’s a fourth generation Gamma legacy. He isn’t trying to ingratiate Travis. If anything, it’s the other way around. Guys like Topher are definitely Gamma material and he plays center forward on the hockey team. One day he’ll be Gamma president like every man in his family before him. They’re as old money as it gets. Their family tree is full of senators and high-profile lawyers and judges.”
I must have been looking at Topher while I listened to Rachelle, because our eyes meet suddenly through the fairly crowded room.
Topher’s dark eyes skim from my face down the length of my body. He smiles when his eyes return to mine.
The fact that a popular guy like him is showing interest in me is flattering, but the tall, blond hockey player is more my type.
However men aren’t at the forefront of my mind right now. I’m here to make sure I get accepted into Zeta Theta Beta, and I hope I can get Lakyn to pledge too. That requires a double effort on both sides; I need to convince Rachelle that Lakyn is Zeta material. But I also have to convince my twin sister to give Greek life a chance.
It would be nice if I actually could find Lakyn. We got separated after we arrived and I introduced her to Rachelle, and she’s nowhere to be seen.
“Will you excuse me?” The Zeta president says. “I need to make sure I talk to all the potential pledges. You’ll receive an official invitation to pledge tomorrow, but consider yourself invited. We’re the only sorority who’s worth your time on campus, Bay.”
I couldn’t agree more with her. My course load is going to be demanding with two majors and I decided cheerleading isn’t where I want to focus my attention in college. I want to build connections that will go beyond my college years and the Zetas are the place to do it.
Lakyn is probably hiding in a corner and I could bet all my social media endorsements that she isn’t mingling and meeting people.
As predicted she is hiding in a corner and she isn’t paying attention to the party. Her face is down, her entire focus on her phone.
“Please tell me you aren’t spending our first real college party texting Dipshit?” I ask her when I finally reach her.
“God!” She jumps, startled. “You should wear a bell around your neck or something. You scared the shit out of me, you almost made me drop my phone.”
It’s impossible to stifle an eye roll. “If only. At least then you’d give the Zetas a chance. Your boyfriend will still be there tomorrow.”
My twin sister frowns, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “You don’t understand. Jon and I miss each other. It’s not my fault if you and your boyfriend decided to break up rather than try to make it work long distance.”
I don’t have a problem with long-distance relationships. My problem is with her boyfriend. Jonathan is a little selfish, manipulative prick who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. They barely even kissed anyway, so I don’t get why Lakyn cares so much. He does nothing but tell Lake that what she wants and everything she does is wrong.
Love should never be controlling, I wish my sister understood that. I guess I should count my blessings and just be glad he didn’t manage to convince her to abandon her dream to come to school in California and to follow him at Princeton.
“Long distance?” I shake my head. “That would imply some distance . But Dipshit doesn’t even leave you alone long enough to hang out with me at a party.”
It’s Lakyn’s turn to roll her eyes. “Bay, I came here tonight because you begged me. And there’s no circumstance in which I wouldn’t show up to support you. But you know better than me that this isn’t my scene. I belong in a sorority just as much as I belonged on a cheerleading squad.”
I know all that. “I’m sorry, Lake. I was just trying to find something we could do together.”
Her expression softens. “I know. Look, you and I might look identical, but we’re very different people. And that’s ok.”
I pull Lakyn into my arms. “You’re right. Thank you for coming here with me tonight, even if it’s not your scene.”
She squeezes me tight. “Are you kidding? I’m the one who should thank you. You came to Star Cove because coming here was my dream. You’re paying my tuition and living expenses with your social media business. You know there’s no way Mom and Dad could have afforded to send even one of us here, let alone both. So I owe you.”
I know all that, but it’s not the point. “Lakey-Lake, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You’re my twin. You owe me nothing.”
Lakyn shakes her head. She’s so stubborn. “I’ll pay you back every cent.”
“Don’t you dare,” I scowl. “If you really feel like you owe me, why don’t you give the Zetas a real chance?”
I know that was pushy of me and I’m not surprised when she sighs.
“I would do it for you, but you don’t really need me, Bay. We’ve done our own thing before in high school. It’s ok to be different; but going to school at the same place means that we get to see each other all the time. Think about it. We get the best of both worlds.”
I hate it when she’s right.
“When did you become so wise?” I chuckle. “I’m the oldest sister, I should be the one dropping nuggets of wisdom left and right.”
Lakyn laughs. “God, you’ll never let me live it down that I was born seven minutes after you.”
It’s our inside joke, she knows I’m just being a brat. “Seriously though,” I tell her. “Even if you don’t want to pledge, you’re here now. Can’t you at least try to have fun tonight?”
“I really want to go back to my room, Bay. There was a guy earlier staring at my boobs rather than my eyes while he was talking to me. He was cute, but he was such a douche. Do you know what he said when he asked me to dance and I told him I have a boyfriend? He answered ‘I’m not jealous.’”
I snicker. “Ok, yeah. That’s the lamest line I’ve heard in a while. But I’m sure the guy’s harmless.”
Lakyn’s eyes drift to her phone again. “He might be harmless, but Jon would freak out if I told him, and you know I don’t like lying to him. Besides, no offense but this party is full of popular girls and douche bag jocks. You’re the only person I care about talking to in here.”
I can’t blame her. I tried to bring Lakyn out of her shell, but this was a long shot. It really isn’t her scene. “Ok then, let’s go home.”
She takes my hand, squeezing it. “You should stay, Bay. You came here to get a pledge invitation, these are your people.”
I really want to stay, but my loyalty is to Lakyn. “Yeah, but the Zeta president already told me the invitation is mine. This is our first weekend at our new school, I don’t want you to be alone.”
“I’m not going to be alone.” Lakyn reassures me. “My roommate Tash is really nice. She has dance team tryouts on Monday, so she’s getting up early to train all weekend. She invited me to watch movies with her and I’d rather do that.”
I’m glad Lakyn gets along with her roommate and is making friends. That’s why we decided not to room together; we wanted to make sure that we would meet new people. “Ok then,” I relent. “But let me come with you, so I’m sure you made it back to the dorms. I can come back later, the party just started.”
Lakyn is the quieter twin, but she’s fiercely independent. “That doesn’t make sense. I can book a ride back to the dorms. I got the app, it won’t take a minute.”
I feel a little guilty, but I don’t really want to leave. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Go, have fun. If you hook up with anyone, just make sure he’s eye candy.”
The blond hockey player just comes to mind and I smile. “Ok. There’s a super hot guy I saw earlier. I wouldn’t mind getting to know him.”
With Lakyn gone, I scan the room for the tall, blond guy.
I notice a flash of blond hair in the kitchen, by the island where all the booze is lined up and I make my way there through the adjacent living room.
Luck isn’t on my side, however. By the time I make it into the kitchen, there’s no sign of the blond hottie.
“Hey,” a deep voice calls from behind me.
I turn around, hoping to get to look into the blue eyes of my hot stranger. It’s that other guy though, the one Rachelle was talking about earlier.
“My name’s Topher. What’s your name? I noticed you earlier, and I had to come to say hello. You’re the hottest girl at this party.”
That’s very direct, but I guess there’s nothing wrong with that. “Bay Woods, nice to meet you.” I smile. “Are you pledging Gamma?”
Topher nods. “I sure am. One day I’ll be Gamma president and captain of the hockey team, if I can have my way.”
Topher sounds very ambitious, and that’s something I admire.
We begin talking about our studies and our families.
“Bay, would you like a drink?” Topher points to a tray of solo cups. “One of the Zeta girls made that right before you got here.”
I think about it. “I don’t know. I had a glass of Champagne earlier. I’m here to make a good impression, I don’t want to overdo it.”
Topher smiles. “Just one drink. We can split one and add some lemonade and ice, so it doesn’t go to your head. I can fix it.”
I watch as Topher grabs an empty cup and pours half of one margarita into it.
“Oh hey,” I turn around when I hear Rachelle’s voice. “I see you two already met. I wanted to make sure you did.” The Zeta president smiles.
Topher greets her with a hug, after offering me one of the two solo cups in his hands. “Hey Rach, long time no see. How are your parents?”
“Toph and I went to the same prep school,” Rachelle explains, as I take a sip of my drink. “I was a senior when he was a freshman. I guess history repeats itself here. Anyway kids. I just wanted to check on my two favorite pledges. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“That should leave us a ton of options,” Topher chuckles. “Rachelle was wild back in the day.”
I get the distinctive feeling that he’s staring at the Zeta president’s ass as she walks away. “Oh. Did you two ever…?”
“What? No.” He laughs. “Not that I didn’t think she was pretty enough. But she’s almost four years older than me and in high school that seemed like a lot. Hanging out with a freshman would cramp her style.”
Topher isn’t wrong. “Hmm, that’s true. I had this hopeless crush on a senior freshman year. Peter Fisher. He didn’t even know I existed.”
His fingers skim the inside of my wrists. The touch is gentle and fleeting. “I don’t believe it. He must have been blind not to notice you.”
I feel heat rise to my face. I’m not sure if it’s the compliment or the drink. I’ve only had a couple of sips and Topher watered it down, but it’s starting to go to my head. “Thank you. But what I meant is that if you like her, maybe now Rachelle will notice you. She had really nice things to say about you.”
Topher’s lips curl up into a smile. “Nah, she has a boyfriend. And besides, Rachelle isn’t my type. There’s someone else I have my eye on.”
I walk straight into it. “Really? Who?”
Lame, I know. I blame it on the effect of the Champagne mixed with the margarita. I should have listened to my Nana. She swears by one rule when partying. Pick your poison and stick to it.
“The prettiest blonde I’ve seen in a long time.” His smile widens. “I’m talking to her right now.”
I take another sip of my drink, just to have something to do with my mouth other than talking. I’m not used to these kinds of compliments from a total stranger, so I don’t know what to say.
“Let’s finish these drinks,” Topher says. “And then I’d love to dance with you, if you’d do me the honor.”
I scan the room, silently searching for the blond hair of my tall, hot stranger. Since he’s nowhere to be seen, I guess one dance with Topher isn’t going to hurt.
“Hey Mumford!” Someone yells from the living room. “Your roommate is passed out outside. Come and get him before someone throws him into the pool.”
He closes his eyes, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. “I can’t wait to be Gamma president. Then I’ll live just upstairs and won’t have to worry about a dumbass passing out at the wrong time. Bay,” his tone softens. “I really want that dance. Can you wait for me? I should be just a few minutes. There’s a couch covered in tarp in the basement, it’s the drunk couch. All I have to do is take that idiot downstairs where he can sleep it off and not make a raging mess if he pukes.”
I open my mouth to say that we can dance another time, but Topher is already halfway into the crowded living room.
I set down my drink. The red solo cup is empty. How much tequila did they put into that margarita? Topher added a fair amount of lemonade, but the drink has gone straight to my head.
It must be the combination of it with the Champagne I had earlier, there’s no other explanation.
“Shit,” I grab the edge of the kitchen island to steady myself. The entire room is spinning.
My legs feel like wet noodles and a wave of nausea hits me, sudden and violent. I stumble out of the kitchen. I’ve seen people in line for a bathroom on this floor. Hopefully the line isn’t too long, because I think I’m about to be sick and I don’t think my legs will take me up the stairs.
By some miracle, everyone has gone into the living room to watch some kind of loud drinking game and the large bathroom is deserted.
There are three sinks lined up against one wall and I make a beeline for them. My mouth feels drier than a desert and my face is on fire.
I just wish I could open the faucet. Is it actually moving out of my reach every time I try to grab the knob or is my head spinning so fast that I can’t steady my hand enough?
“Whoops,” I giggle. “Missed it.”
The room is now spinning so fast that I can’t focus on anything. I can’t see the walls, the sinks or the toilet. Everything is a blur, as if I was on a crazy fast merry-go-round.
“Stop spinning.” I wail.
Wait. Is that my voice? Why do I sound so weird? My tongue feels huge in my own mouth and I think I tried to say “stop,” but what came out of my mouth sounded more like “sh-to-psh.”
“Ooh. Ouch.”
I think I just lost my balance and my face hit the ceramic tiles of the bathroom floor.
“Hmm.” It’s a surprised moan, half pain, half pleasure.
Pain because, fuck. I hit the floor pretty hard.
But damn, the tiles are cold against my cheek and it feels so good. So, so good.
I attempt to close my eyes. If the room stopped spinning so fast, I think I’d feel better.
Trouble is that now that my eyes are closed, I doubt I’ll be able to reopen them any time soon.
The room has no intention to stop spinning and fuck me, I can’t feel my legs. Like, I can’t move them. The only reason I know they’re still there is because they feel so heavy.
A warm gust lands on my cheek. No, no. I like the cold tiles, what is this?
My brain tells my hand to swat this warmth away, but I doubt I have any control on any of my limbs.
All of a sudden I can’t even feel the floor anymore. Am I dead? Is it possible to die with just two drinks?
No, I can’t be dead. If I was, I think the nausea would have passed at least.
Maybe I’m on a boat? It’s the only explanation. It feels like I’m floating and I’m sea sick.
“Hey, everything ok?” A voice asks.
No, I’m not ok. The words don’t come out.
Someone else answers. “Yeah, she’s fine. Pounding too many margaritas.”
Another voice chuckles. “Or maybe your charming personality made your hookup fall asleep.”
What are they talking about? I’m not hooking up. Unless it’s the blond hottie, then sign me up.
“Fuck off,” the voice closest to me chuckles. It’s so close, it’s reverberating against my rib cage. “I should have kept her away from the booze. We were about to seal the deal.”
One of the other voices objects. “Ok, but if she passed out, where are you taking her? I hope you aren’t planning on trying anything. She doesn’t look in any shape to consent.”
The close voice sounds tense. “Worry about your own hookups, asshole. I’ll worry about mine.”
The third voice is angry. “Seriously, you can’t fuck an unconscious girl. You should go find Rachelle and let her deal with her future pledges.”
“I said I got it. Rachelle is probably upstairs with Travis. I know where this girl lives, I’m just taking her home. Nothing will happen to her. Get off my fucking case, will you?”
I hate arguing, it’s exhausting. I’ll let these people argue and just take a nap.
“Hmm.”
It takes me a second to realize that the pained moan is coming from me and not from a wounded animal.
“Ooh.” My mouth feels drier than ever and my eyes open after several failed attempts.
At first, everything is blurry. Then I realize that I’m in my dorm room.
How did I get here? The last thing I remember is that I was at the Rush Week mixer at the Gamma house and everything was going so well.
Did I get drunk? I recall cool tiles against my face, but it’s impossible. I’m pretty sure I had two drinks. I’m not someone who drinks a lot, but even I can take one glass of Champagne and half a watered down margarita.
I was determined to keep my wits about me last night. I didn’t go to the rush mixer to have fun. I was there on a mission. I needed to impress the Zeta president enough to get an invitation to pledge the most prestigious sorority on campus. This is why I turned down every offer of shots that came my way. For what I can remember, Rachelle promised me an invitation, so I achieved what I set out to do.
I close my eyes as a wave of nausea hits me like a freight train and I roll on my side just in case I’m going to be sick.
That’s when I see him.
There’s a man asleep on the floor a couple of feet away from my bed. Who is that? He has his back to me and all I can see is his dark hair, wide shoulders and a slender build.
Terror washes over me. I’m alone in my dorm room with a stranger. Where’s Tami? Right, fuck. My roommate is dating a sophomore and her boyfriend is renting an apartment off campus with his swim team teammates. Tami and I went to the rush mixer together, as she’s also rushing Zeta Theta Beta; but my roommate told me that she was going to spend the night at her boyfriend’s place.
So I’ve been alone with whoever that is on my floor for hours.
A terrifying thought hits me and I check my body. Thank God, I’m still in last night’s dress. Last night’s dress and a dark blue blazer. I touch the garment as if the expensive Italian wool could tell me who it belongs to.
Reassured by the knowledge that whoever brought me home didn’t try to undress me or do anything to me while I was unconscious, I clear my throat. “Hello?”
My voice comes out raspy. I really need some water.
The stranger moves, and I pull my comforter tighter to my body on instinct.
“Hey sleepy head,” he smiles. “How are you feeling?”
“Topher… right?” I ask.
His smile widens as he stands up, brushing some nonexistent dust off his dark blue slacks. “Glad you remember my name. Are you feeling ok? Do you need anything?”
I blink a couple of times in the futile attempt to stop my head from pounding. “I—How did I get here? What happened last night? Did I do shots or something? The last thing I remember is you asking me to dance and then I woke up here.”
Topher closes the distance between us, but he stops a few steps away from my bed. “May I?” he indicates that he would like to sit down by my side on the mattress.
I hesitate, but eventually I nod. If he wanted to do anything wrong, he could have done it while I was passed out and he wouldn’t have been here when I woke up.
“I’m not sure what you did, Bay,” he frowns. “One minute we were sharing a margarita, and I asked you to dance. One minute you were gone and I found you passed out cold on the bathroom floor.”
I massage my temples. I have only a very vague recollection of talking to Topher. “Did we dance?”
He shakes his head. “We never got to. I came to the party with my roommate and the dumb ass got blackout drunk. So Travis asked me to help them move him to the ‘drunk couch’ in the basement. I walked away to do that right before we could have that dance. When I came back, a few minutes later, you were nowhere to be seen.”
I consider his words and some memories start coming back. “I think I went to the bathroom. I felt like I was going to be sick.”
Topher’s tone is kind as his eyes search mine. “You’re a bit of a lightweight when it comes to partying, huh? Unless you managed to down a few shots while I was gone.”
His implication rubs me the wrong way.
“I’m not a lightweight and I’m not a drunk. I didn’t do any shots or had anything to drink. That margarita we shared was my second drink of the night. All I had before was one glass of Champagne.”
Topher scoots a couple of inches away from me, his tone apologetic. “Whoa, I’m not saying you got drunk, Bay. I’m just trying to understand what happened, because you didn’t look or sound drunk when we were talking.”
I frown again, but the gesture sends a shot of throbbing pain to my head, so I exhale a slow, pained breath. “I didn’t have anything else, not even water.”
Topher considers my words. “Where did you get the Champagne from?”
I don’t have to think about it. “There was a Zeta at the entrance welcoming the rush class with a tray of Champagne glasses. Pretty much every girl who came to rush Zeta Theta Beta took one. The Gammas were offering a beer bottle to everyone. They had a guy at the entrance too.”
He nods. “Yeah, I took one of those beers. Did you put down your glass of Champagne or lost sight of it at any time before you finished that drink?”
“No, but…” it takes me a second to catch what he’s really asking. “Do you think someone could have put something in my drink?”
Topher’s expression is serious. “I hope not. Both Zeta Theta Beta and Gamma Delta Tau have a stellar reputation on campus for throwing safe parties. But I’m looking at the facts. You say that two drinks wouldn’t get you that drunk. And yet I found you unconscious on the bathroom floor. Could someone have put something in your drink?”
My knee jerk reaction is to say that’s impossible. But then I reconsider my answer. “Anything is possible. But who would do that?”
Topher’s eyes darken. “I don’t know, but I’ll talk to Travis about it. Stuff like that puts our organizations at risk of being shut down and gives Greek life a bad name.”
He sounds angry.
“I’m so sorry, Topher.”
His jaw falls.
My first impression of Topher was that of a cocky, rich douche bag, but his expression is now grief stricken.
“Why are you sorry? You did nothing wrong, Bay. I’m just furious on your behalf. What if you had a bad reaction to whatever some creep put in your drink? What if instead of me, the person who tried to drug you found you unconscious and unable to defend yourself? Or someone who decided to take advantage of you, anyway?”
He’s right.
He’s so fucking right.
The stress of the past week, moving across the country to a new school, has the best of me. I threw myself into the rush process and into my first classes, and I didn’t give myself the chance to take stock of my emotions.
I was so caught up in my objectives, in the effort of starting college like a boss, that I lowered my guard.
Tears come in hot and fast. I hate myself for crying in front of a stranger; but there’s a lump in my throat and I feel as if my heart and my head were about to explode. “I’m so sorry,” I sob.
Topher’s eyes are wide, his expression utterly terrified. He extends one hand toward me, but he stops just short of touching me. “No, Bay. Please don’t cry. You’re safe now. What can I—Can I hug you? I swear I’m not going to try anything. I just want to hold you, to make you feel better. Please?”
I nod, sobbing harder. I’ve just met Topher and yet he’s here to comfort me. To protect me.
He holds me tight, true to his word. His hands never stray from around my shoulders. He never tries to do anything other than murmuring soothing words, his breath brushing the top of my head.
I cry for what feels like an eternity. When I’m done, my eyes are stinging. I can only imagine how I must look in yesterday’s crumpled clothes and with makeup that was applied before I went to the party.
“Thank you. Thank you so much for looking out for me, Topher.” I say, putting some space between us. I avoid looking at him, slightly embarrassed by everything that’s happened.
“I’m just glad you’re ok,” Topher says softly, lifting my chin with gentle fingers. “Do you know what I think? You need some coffee and to put some food in your stomach. I would love to take you out for breakfast. I’m hungry too.”
My stomach growls and I flinch. “I—I guess. I can’t go out this way, though. I’m sure I look terrible.”
Topher tucks a lock of my tangled hair behind my ear. “Bay, there’s no way you could ever look anything but beautiful. Listen, I need to shower and to get out of last night’s clothes too. How about I come back to get you in about one hour? In the meantime, you can make up your mind if you want to go straight to breakfast, or if you want to go to the ER and get checked.”
I shake my head. I’m alive and a part of me doesn’t want to see a toxicology report. That would make this whole nightmare feel more real. Besides, if my parents saw the insurance statement, they would freak out.
“No. I’m ok. Breakfast sounds good. But you don’t have to take me if you don’t want to, or if you’re busy today.”
Topher takes my hand, squeezing it in a comforting gesture. “But I want to. I want to make sure you’re ok, Bay. Look, I want to be honest with you. Last night, I was planning to ask you out after we danced and maybe talked a little more. I never had the chance. Can we make this a trial date? We have breakfast and hopefully by the time I pay the check, I’ll have convinced you to let me take you out to dinner?”
I smile. “I would like that.”
The rest, like they say, is history.