“This looks amazing,” I said as I wrapped my hands around the chill plastic cup. “How did you know what I wanted?”
Dan shrugged. “You look like a girl who likes her desserts.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What does that mean?”
“Hey, I didn’t mean anything bad by it,” Dan said. “Really, it’s cool. I have a sweet tooth, too.”
I flushed.
“Molly, if I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t, okay?”
I nodded. “Okay,” I said.
Dan led the way to a table and I followed behind. Now that my initial anxiety had worn off, I was starting to wonder just why I’d asked him out in the first place. Because Rebecca had told me to? Or because I’d actually wanted to?
I felt like a jerk thinking of the truth, but I didn’t really want to date Dan. And now, if things went well, would I be stuck in some kind of awkward relationship that lasted way too long?
Or what? Would we break up, and I wouldn’t even be able to go to class without thinking of him and how dumb I’d been?
“What’s wrong? You’re frowning,” Dan said. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Um, I’m sorry. This is the first time I’ve done this,” I said.
“Done what? Had coffee with a friend?”
A friend? What?
I cocked my head to the side. “Um, I’m sorry – I don’t know what you mean.”
Dan laughed, but it wasn’t entirely a happy sound. He sounded a little embarrassed, actually.
“Molly, you’re a nice girl,” Dan said. “You really are, but I’m not interested.”
“What?” I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping. “Then why did you agree to go out with me?!”
Dan flushed and took a sip of his latte, looking truly uncomfortable. “Molly, I’m gay,” he said.
“What?”
Dan gave me a look. “Don’t make me repeat that,” he said. “I know you understood.”
“I did…it’s just…you’re gay? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Dan laughed nervously. “I didn’t mention it because I thought you knew,” he said, shaking his head. “I thought you wanted to make a friend in your program. So you’re a little shy and awkward – that’s nothing to worry about. Plenty of people are shy and awkward, Molly.”
I sank down low in my seat. “You’re gay,” I muttered. “I can’t believe it.”
Dan gave me an awkward smile and shrugged. I hated to admit it, but the more I looked at him, the more I realized he was right. His hair was too perfectly tied with an Indian leather band, and his skin was flawless – even better than Rebecca’s, and she’s a total Sephora addict.
“Oh my god,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m so embarrassed!”
Dan laughed. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’m just sorry you thought this was a date.”
My cheeks flamed bright red. “Now you probably get why I was so nervous,” I said softly.
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Dan said. He smirked. “You should’ve seen me in high school – I had more girls flocking around me than the football players.”
“I can believe it,” I said, although I really couldn’t. At least, not compared with Alex.