10 Blind Dates, page 4
I weave my way around bodies and toys and pray my face isn’t as red as it feels. Aunt Lisa squeezes my hand when I pass her.
Once we’re on the back porch, Nonna pulls me in for a hug.
“We don’t get to see you that often, and I hate you’re so sad and broken. I just thought this could be fun…like an adventure. It will give you something to look forward to each day. And even if the dates are a disaster, it will give us something to laugh about when they’re over.”
I pull away and look at her. “I feel pathetic. And I’m not ready to date anyone right now.”
Nonna chuckles. “I’m not trying to find your next boyfriend. This is just for fun. Trust me.”
Fun.
The thing Griffin said he wished he was having. The thing that was missing between us, apparently. The thing the Sophie Olivia used to know was full of. Am I not fun anymore?
“If I do this, I have a stipulation of my own,” I say.
“What is it?”
“I get one free pass. If for whatever reason, I don’t want to go on one of the dates, I don’t have to. No questions asked.”
Nonna frowns, considering this. “Done. So what do you say?”
I finally nod, and Nonna beams.
“Perfect! Let the games begin!”
She pulls me back into the kitchen, and all conversation stops.
“She’s agreed!” Nonna says. My family literally cheers. “Now, let’s see if we can fill the board. I’ll start.” Nonna walks to the white paper and writes her name under December 31st.
“Uh…Nonna? Do you even know a boy my age that isn’t related to me?” I ask. I know she can hear the nervousness in my voice.
She bobs her head around. “Sure I do. I don’t know who I’m going to pick yet, but I’ll find someone!”
Great. I get to spend New Year’s Eve with…someone.
This is definitely going to be a disaster.
Papa shuffles over to the paper and stares at the dates. “How about I pick the thirtieth, since that’s the night of your grandmother’s birthday party? I’ll pick somebody nice.” He scribbles his name.
Ten dates and two of them set up by my grandparents. Awesome.
After Papa moves away, the floodgates open. Everyone stampedes to sign up. I stand in the back of the room, watching in horror. The only other person in the room who isn’t trying to claim a day is Wes.
He slides down the table closer to me. I can tell he’s as embarrassed for me as I feel for myself.
“This can’t be happening,” I say.
He turns to look at me. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How you been?”
I nod toward the board. “That pretty much says it all.”
He laughs. “Yeah, I guess it does.”
“How are you? Are you still with…” Oh God, I heard he was dating someone, but I forgot her name.
“Laurel?”
“Yeah, Laurel.”
He nods, then shrugs. I’m not sure what kind of answer that is.
“She was a grade ahead of us, right?” I ask.
“Yeah, she’s at LSU now.”
I run my hand through my hair, antsy to see the board once everyone is done. “So y’all are doing the whole long-distance thing?”
He nods but doesn’t elaborate. We’re both too busy staring at the board. Actually, we’re staring at Mom’s oldest brother, Sal, and the pushing war he seems to be having with Uncle Michael over the final date slot.
Nonna stands beside them with what looks like pure joy on her face.
Uncle Michael wedges his body in front of Uncle Sal’s and sticks his butt out, effectively pushing him away, then scribbles his name on the blank space.
Uncle Michael turns away, his expression victorious. Uncle Sal steps up and scratches Michael’s name out, then writes his next to it. Uncle Michael is too busy smiling to notice.
What a disaster.
Olivia stops next to me. “Charlie and I covered two of the dates. There are only a few you’ll need to be worried about.”
I let out a deep breath. “Thanks.”
Unable to stand it any longer, I walk toward the chart.
Charlie stops and whispers, “At least the Evil Joes have to share a day.”
“Yeah, but Aunt Maggie Mae has one, so that’s not much better,” I whisper back. Olivia and Charlie will be fine, and Papa and Nonna will probably pick someone from their shop. I’m mostly worried about Aunt Patrice.
She’s weird.
“Okay, now that the excitement is over, let’s eat!” Nonna calls out.
And there goes my appetite.
Olivia ended up in the bed in the guest room with me sometime around midnight. I opted out of going to Wes’s, mainly because I needed yesterday to be over. I thought Charlie and Olivia would give me a hard time when I told them I was going to bed instead of going next door, but they didn’t seem surprised. I had tried not to feel annoyed.
“Thank God the shop is closed today. I never thought I’d be sick of Christmas, but I’m officially there,” Olivia says as she stretches around in the bed. “Do you want me to tell you who you’re going out with tonight? I won’t tell Nonna we cheated.”
I throw a pillow at her. “Is it anyone I know?”
Olivia stares at the ceiling. “I don’t think so.”
“Well, then it wouldn’t matter. I’ll just wait.” I pause before adding, “You’ll be there, too, right?” Olivia and I are in such a weird place right now and I have no idea what to expect.
Olivia sits up and throws the pillow back. “I’ll be with you every step, no matter who you have to go out with,” she says. I can’t help the warm feeling that rushes through me.
I grab my phone and the charger, since my battery is probably dead, and head to the bathroom. While I’m waiting for my phone to charge enough to turn back on, I brush my teeth and pace. I know I’ll have missed texts from Margot, along with pictures of God-knows-what part of her swollen anatomy. I’m sure Addie’s called and texted, too.
But what about Griffin?
When my phone lights up and the messages start pouring in, my stomach begins whirling.
Talking to him should be the last thing I do.
Too bad my heart isn’t listening.
I open my messages. The majority of the texts are from Addie and Griffin, although Margot isn’t far behind. Addie’s texts start out with: Where are you? and Call me! then graduate to: WHERE ARE YOU?!? and CALL ME!!!!
I tackle Margot’s messages first. There are three pictures: I can’t even tell what the first one is; the second might be an ankle; and the third looks like her…hand?
MARGOT: DO YOU SEE HOW SWOLLEN MY HANDS ARE NOW??? I’m going to need bedazzled gloves to match the shoes.
MARGOT: Okay not gloves since I can’t separate my fingers. I guess mittens. Will you bedazzle me some mittens?
Okay, so that was her hand.
MARGOT: Are you getting these? I look like a beast
MARGOT: Oh Soph, Mom just told me about Griffin. That asshole. Are you okay?
MARGOT: Seriously where are you??? I know you ALWAYS have your phone!!
MARGOT: Soooooppppphhhhiiiiiieeee????
Good grief, Margot. Dramatic much?
ME: Yes your hands are hideous. And no I will not bedazzle you any mittens.
It only takes a few seconds for her to respond.
MARGOT: Oh Soph are you ok? Tell me what happened
ME: Short version—overheard Griffin telling his friend he wanted to break up with me then he chased me down the driveway and there was drama in the street when I tried to leave then Addie screamed at him after I left
MARGOT: Oh. My. God.
ME: Yeah, we like to keep it classy.
MARGOT: Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?
ME: You’ve got enough to worry about. Have your toes fused together into one big nasty foot yet??
MARGOT: Ha, ha. You’re not going to brush this off that easily. If I can share hideous body parts, then you can cough up details about hideous boyfriends.
ME: Well, that’s not even the worst thing that’s happened to me. Nonna made a chart…
I tell Margot about the dates and the rules and the complete ridiculousness of the entire thing. Not surprisingly, she thinks it’s the best idea ever.
MARGOT: Okay I want details. And pictures. And live texting from the actual date. This is going to be better than the Dateline: Real Life Mysteries marathon.
ME: Whatever. I’ll text you later. My stomach is growling and I’m sure Nonna has fresh cinnamon rolls, and coffee and bacon and all that other stuff you can’t eat right now.
MARGOT: YOU SUCK!!!
I close out the conversation with Margot and take a deep breath before I open the messages from Griffin.
GRIFFIN: I’m sorry
GRIFFIN: I didn’t want things to end like this
GRIFFIN: I want to talk about this
GRIFFIN: I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just talking to Parker
GRIFFIN: I’m sorry
I swipe it closed—a little irritated that every single one of his texts is about how he feels—and call Addie.
“Why did it take you this long to call me back?” she huffs.
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t deal. Please don’t be mad.” I sit on the edge of the bathtub. “I can’t take it if you’re mad at me.”
Addie lets out a deep breath. “Of course I’m not mad at you. Just worried. I had to hunt down Olivia’s number and text her to see if you were okay.”
I trace a finger along the grout pattern on the tile wall. “What happened after I left?”
She lets out a sharp laugh. “Griffin and I screamed at each other in the street until Matt’s neighbor threatened to call the cops. Then Griffin left. Danny and I didn’t stay much longer after that.”
I smile. “Thanks for taking up for me. It means more than you know.”
“Girl, I would do it again in a second. You’re better off without him.”
A wave of sadness rolls through me. Even though I want to believe she’s right, I’m not sure she is.
“Well, you won’t believe what Nonna’s done now.” I tell Addie about the calendar and the dates. She’s dying laughing on the other end.
“Soph, that is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of. What if some total psycho shows up? No telling who your aunt Patrice is going to send over.”
I slide off the edge of the tub onto the floor. “I know. This is going to be the worst week and a half of my life. And we had plans for New Year’s Eve! You know I’d rather be there than here.”
“I know. Let’s wait and see how it works out. But Nonna’s probably right. You’ll have your hands too full to have any time left to worry about Griffin.”
I hope so, because right now, I still feel pretty broken inside.
By the time I finish talking to Addie, shower, and dress, Olivia has left the bedroom. I tiptoe down the hall, praying the house is empty.
Papa is at the table by himself, reading the paper and sipping coffee. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“I did, Papa. Where is everyone?” The house is unusually quiet—not that I’m complaining.
“Your nonna has gone to church, and thankfully, no one else has showed yet. Olivia ran home for clothes. She told me to tell you she would be back soon.”
I glance at the whiteboard on the wall below the chart Nonna made. Olivia’s name is printed at the top, and then in her handwriting it says:
I grin at the last line. The temperature has dropped over the weekend, and thankfully, it’s actually starting to feel like Christmas.
I also notice that Uncle Sal’s name is scratched out on the chart, and Uncle Michael’s name is written in all caps beside it.
Papa notices me staring at the calendar. “Have you been to the festival before?” When I shake my head, his smile lights up his face. “You’ll love it. And Olivia will pick out a nice boy. You should have a nice day,” he says.
I fix myself a cup of coffee and refill his. “Don’t you think this whole blind date thing is weird? I mean, who does this?” I sit on the stool next to him.
He laughs. “This is exactly what I would expect from your grandmother. She is such a romantic. And she just wants everyone around her to be happy. Her heart was as broken as yours when she found you on the front steps.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and stare out the kitchen window.
“Have I ever told you how your grandmother and I met?” Papa asks.
He has. In fact, I’ve heard this story so many times I might tell it better than he does.
I smile and turn toward him. “No, sir.” He knows I know this, but he loves telling this story as much as I love hearing it.
He leans back and his eyes glaze over, like he’s gone back in time. “It was Valentine’s Day. I was supposed to take this girl to dinner and then out to the movies. Ocean’s 11 was playing…and I’m talking about the original one—not that one with the Clooney fellow. The girl…oh, what was her name…”
Louise.
He snaps his fingers a few times. “Louise!” He seems pleased to have remembered this detail. “Well, Louise came down with the flu just that morning. I wasn’t worried about missing the dinner—in fact, I was glad to save the money. But I had been waiting for that movie for weeks. So I decided to go by myself.”
I love this part.
“So I get my popcorn and find a quiet spot in the back. And then I hear it. A soft sniffling sound. It was dark in the theater, but I grew up with three sisters, so I knew that sound—it was a girl, and she was crying. She was close by, only a few seats away.”
Nonna.
Papa sits up straighter in his chair. “Well, I felt so bad for her. Why would a girl be crying in the movies on Valentine’s Day?”
He pauses, waiting for me to guess the answer.
I shrug, like I don’t know.
“So, I asked her. She had been stood up. I mean, who would do such a thing? And on Valentine’s Day! I offered to share my popcorn and we talked the entire movie, not once looking at the screen. We’ve been together ever since.” Papa pushes my hair out of my face. “If your nonna hadn’t been in the theater with her heart broken, we might never have met. Just have fun with this and things may surprise you.”
I don’t expect to meet the love of my life but maybe, just maybe, this will help heal the pieces Griffin broke.
“I’ll try, Papa.”
Olivia is touching up her lipstick in the mirror in the foyer while I pace. The guys should be in here in less than ten minutes and I’m super nervous.
Papa is in his chair in the front room watching the Saints game while Nonna rearranges a perfectly arranged vase of flowers that sits on the table by the front door. I know she’s just looking for an excuse to get to the door before anyone else has the chance.
The kitchen door opens. I jump at the sound. We hear a “Hello? Where is everyone?” then Aunt Lisa and Uncle Bruce stroll down the front hall. “There y’all are!” Aunt Lisa says. “We thought we’d come check on things.”
“Mom’s been trying to get me to tell her who I picked for you all day, but my lips are sealed.” Olivia smacks her freshly painted lips in the mirror.
“Okay, yes, we’re curious. And I told Eileen I’d be here, then call her with details. And Bill made Bruce promise he’d make sure Soph’s date was okay.”
I roll my eyes. I’m not surprised my parents sent spies to check things out.
And then we hear the door again. Charlie and Sara skid into the front hall, out of breath. “I told you we wouldn’t miss it,” Sara says, then punches Charlie in the arm. She turns to us. “He made us run here.”
“Oh, I’m glad I put that roast on earlier! After the girls are off, we’ll have dinner,” Nonna says.
“We really don’t need an audience for this,” I say, then look at Olivia, my eyes pleading with her.
“Yeah, y’all are going to scare him off if everyone is hovering by the door.”
The doorbell rings, and this time we all jump. There’s no way anyone is leaving the front hall now that the guys are on the other side of the door.
Just before Nonna opens the door, Uncle Michael stumbles down the stairs. “Wait! Let me get down there before you open the door.”
And of course, Nonna waits.
Thankfully, Olivia grabs my hand the second the door opens and we barrel through. The guys waiting outside jump back.
“Be back later,” Olivia shouts at the family. She pulls me to the car waiting at the curb. Luckily the guys catch on and are right behind us.
I’ve met Olivia’s boyfriend, Drew, a few times, but it’s not until I’m in the front passenger seat that I get a good look at my date. He is super cute. He’s wearing a football T-shirt from his high school and a worn pair of jeans. He looks good in a relaxed sort of way.
“Hey, I’m Seth Whitman.”
I smile. “Hey, I’m Sophie Patrick.”
Olivia and Drew climb in the backseat, and Seth cranks the car but doesn’t put it in drive. He looks back toward the house, where everyone is standing on the front porch. Waving.
He waves back while I lean my head against the seat and groan.
Seth turns in his seat wearing a firm expression. “I’m about to ask you to do something and I need you to take this very seriously.”
I can feel my eyes widen. What on earth?
“What is it?” I ask.
And then his top lip twitches. “You’re the DJ.” He hands me a long aux cord that’s plugged into the car stereo. “We’ve got almost an hour drive and the only good road trip is one with good music. Are you up for the challenge?”
“Yes!” I plug the cord into my phone and start scrolling through my playlist. Suddenly, I feel pressure. Even though he was teasing me, this first song needs to be a kickass one.
My finger hovers over “Perm” by Bruno Mars. I take a big breath and tap the screen. It only takes a few seconds before everyone in the car recognizes the song.
Seth looks away from the road and gives me a perfect smile. “That’s a good one.”
