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Kenzie turns to me with a thoughtful expression. “I don’t know about you but this actually sounds fun.”

“Yeah. I’ve never thought to try different places for a meal. Who’s your date of the night?” I ask, already irritated with the guy.

“Kurt. No, that was the last guy. This one is Sam. Loves hiking and trying different food.”

“Sounds fitting for this date. Mine is Liz and she likes to watch sports and play games.”

Kenzie frowns. “That sounds weird put together.”

I shrug. “I don’t write them.”

Minutes tick by and we meet our dates.

One of the camera crew comes over to the group and says, “Okay, we’ll start with the first four couples at the bar at this address. Everything will be within walking distance. The last four couples will go to this address,” he says, handing out pieces of paper to the daters.

“Looks like we’re in the second group,” I say, holding out a fist to Kenzie. She smiles and bumps her fist into mine.

“You two know each other?” Liz asks, pointing between me and Kenzie.

“Yeah, her roommate married one of my good friends. She’s also helping me organize my house. Probably the best one for the job,” I say, giving Kenzie a wide grin. Her cheeks flush and she looks away.

“Good to know,” Liz says. “I’m excited to get to know you, Trey. I got tickets for your last game this season and it was such a heartbreaker.”

All I can do is nod. I don’t want to keep reliving the moments of losing this year, which is why I’m kind of itching for the season to start again.

“Thanks for the support,” I say. We start walking away from the Common and down one of the side streets. One guy ahead is leading us with his phone map.

“What kind of food do you like?” Kenzie asks her date.

“I like to try stuff that most people cringe at,” Sam says. “I don’t always like it, but sometimes it surprises ya.”

“Cool.” Kenzie nods her head and then says, “Are you into any big franchises? Star Wars? Lord of the Rings?” It takes everything inside me to keep from laughing.

“Indiana Jones is more my style.”

Kenzie tilts her head, as if studying the guy. “Really? That’s one of my favorites.”

The two of them continue talking and I’m trying to keep up the conversation with Liz while pushing back the niggling feeling that Kenzie just found a match. Why didn’t I say anything yesterday? I could’ve pretended to not be at home and waited until Jack and Spencer left.

“You don’t like the food?” Liz asks, gesturing to my plate once we’ve made it to the entrée section of the date. “I’ve never been to Top Shelf and this is probably the best salmon I’ve ever tasted.”

“It is good, huh,” I say, taking a bite of my steak. I’ve been to the restaurant before because my teammate, Carson, owns it. But I’m only focused on the constant chatter between Sam and Kenzie.

“I need to just buy a pass to the paintball place,” Kenzie says. “I took my old roommate there to let off some steam after her fiancé broke up with her. Such a good time.”

Why is she never this free with words and stories when I’m the target of conversation?

“What are some of your other hobbies?” Sam asks. I’m holding my fork too tight and it starts to bend.

“Hockey is one of my main activities. I love skating out on the ice.”

“You’ll have to teach me how to skate,” Sam says. Over my dead body.

Kenzie shakes her head. “I’m not the best one to learn from. My dad is an excellent teacher. I’ll get the two of you in contact and you’ll be sailing across the ice in no time.”

I want to pull Kenzie into a hug for that move. And then I remember I’m still on a date. My mother would kill me for being such an airhead.

“Liz, what are some of your favorite things to do?” Why do I hate the small-talk, getting-to-know-the-person conversations that always come on a first date?