“I get anxious when I order at a burger joint, let alone a place like this,” she says, looking down at the wine list and scanning it. “I don’t even know what wine is good.”
“Not much of a drinker?”
She shakes her head. “Not really. I’ll have a cocktail every once in a while, but I like to keep a clear head. I don’t want to do something in life I might regret.”
Like, have sex with me. I hate that the insecure thought leaps into my head.
“I don’t drink much either. My dad was an alcoholic, so it kinda freaks me out.”
She nods as if she understands and asks me what I’d been about to say before the waiter came over--just as the waiter returns.
We laugh and I tell him water’s fine. “We’ll just have two of the specials,” I tell him, ordering for both of us.
When he walks away, Ava leans in and whispers. “Do you know what the specials were?”
I laugh. “Not a clue.”
Her shoulders shake as she covers her mouth to hide her laugh. It’s a fucking beautiful sound.
“So, I was just saying that playing football is kinda weird. I never thought I’d go pro. It was fun to play in high school, and I’m so grateful the scholarships paid for my college because I wouldn’t be here otherwise, but--”
“What? You don’t love it?” Her eyes are wide like she’s seeing me for the first time. In a way, she is because I’m giving her a glimpse of me I hide from everyone else.
I shake my head. “It’s not that.” I run my palm over my jaw. “I do love it. It’s just a lot of pressure. I don’t want to let my mom and brothers and sisters down.”
Ava reaches across the white tablecloth and takes my hand. “I guess there was a lot about you I didn’t realize, Andy Stafford.”
“I know, I know, you think I’m a dumb jock.”
She shakes her head. “No, I don’t. You have Tolstoy collection in your bedroom. Obviously, you are more than big muscles.”
I look up at her, so out of my comfort zone with a girl like Ava. A girl with so much depth that I’m scared I might drown in it. “So you think I have big muscles?”
She laughs loudly, and the guests at the tables around us look up, surprised.
We bite back our smiles trying to keep it together as the waiter brings out the dinner specials.
“Escargot, radish salad, squash puree.”
He walks away and Ava and I can’t keep it together anymore.
“Andy, I appreciate the thought in taking me here, but you have me pegged all wrong.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not this girl,” she says, motioning to her plate.
“You saying you don’t eat snails on a first date?”
She laughs loudly again, this time not caring who gives dirty looks.
I pull out some bills and set them on the table, then I take Ava’s hand. “Let’s get out of here, Ava McIntyre.AvaOnce we’re in the car, free of over-priced French food, I suggest we go to the corn maze on the outskirts of town.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Andy asks.
“Corey went there last week and said they have chili and cornbread in the gift shop. These shoes aren’t exactly made for a muddy field, but maybe we could swing by Mi Alpha Alpha first?” When he doesn’t answer right away, I wonder if I suggested something dumb. “Or is it is a lame idea?”
“No, it’s great. We’ll have fun.” He squeezes my knee and I feel like he might be holding something back, but instead of pressing him, I ask if there is a particular place he’d like to move after school.
“Well, it depends on the draft.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. I forgot.”
That makes him laugh. “God, I actually like the fact you aren’t obsessed with football. Sometimes it feels like the only thing I’m on this planet for.”
“Weird isn’t it, how we kind of get stuck in certain roles?”
“Is that how it is for you, Ava?” There’s a slight tease in his eyes, as he asks playfully, “Are you more than a bookworm?”
I chuckle, feeling more at ease with him than anyone in a long time. “Totally, I mean, I’m a maid too, remember?”
He gives a deep belly laugh as we drive back to the sorority, his face lighting up. I’m once again struck by how gorgeous he is. But not only that, he’s easy to be around. I want to know more about him. Want to know everything about him. And I have a feeling that the more time I spend with him, the harder the inevitable fall will be.Later, after we have chili and share a slice of cornbread, we head out to the maze. I admit to loving it when he slides his hand in the back pocket of my jeans.
“You look cute in those boots,” he says, looking down at my old Ariat Ramblers.