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‘How did you get close to the track team by the way?’ Aiden asked finally, breaking our awkward silence.

‘I was roommates with Nina during our freshman year when we were living in the dorms. When we lived off-campus during my first semester of sophomore year, my classes on Wednesday ended almost at the same time as her training, so I just stayed back and waited for her instead of going home first. Then, they decided to invite me to dinner with them whenever they went out, and the rest is history.’

‘So, you’re like the honorary member of the track team?’ Aiden said, taking a sip of his root beer.

‘I guess you could say that,’ I shrugged. ‘What about you? How did you end up living with the track team?’

‘My brother attended the same college as us. We were living in an apartment together until he graduated last year. I was just going to stay in our apartment and find a new roommate, but then Lucy said they had a room available at the house. So I thought, why not.’

‘How did you know Lucy?’

‘We had a class together and we ended up being in the same group for one of the assignments. She had invited me to one of the house parties and that was how I got to know the rest of the team,’ he continued.

‘And when I told them I was looking for a new roommate, Lucy offered me a room in the house, since a senior was moving out.’

‘Oh right, Josh was living with them,’ I said, remembering the senior he was talking about. ‘And how has living with them been so far?’

‘Pretty good. Apart from the occasional parties that they throw, they’re pretty good roommates.’

‘Well, I’m glad to hear that.’

Tracy finally arrived with our food. Two plates filled up both of her hands before she set them down on the table. ‘Here you go, darlings. Enjoy your meal! Let me know if you need anything else.’

We thanked her and started on our food.

The spaghetti was pretty good. Of course, I still preferred the one at the Italian restaurant on my street, but this was enough to satisfy my cravings.

‘Do you want to try?’ I asked Aiden, offering my plate to him.

‘It’s okay. I don’t really like spaghetti.’

I instantly stopped chewing my food.

Each to their own food preference, but how am I supposed to be with someone who doesn’t like spaghetti?

I decided to try again. ‘Are you sure? It’s pretty good.’

‘I’m sure. You can try my chicken tenders if you want,’ he said instead.

And that was strike three.

I couldn’t help but internally let out a sigh.

I like to think of myself as being open to the idea of love by going on dates, but sadly my luck with them had always been poor.

It wasn’t that the date was bad or anything, I would even go on to say that I never really had a bad date before.

The bad luck stemmed from me not hitting it off with the person I was on the date with.

I knew that going on dates—specifically the first date—was to get to know someone, but I always had this list of strikes going off in the back of my mind, whenever I found something we were incompatible about.

My personal rule was this: I wouldn’t go on a second date if there had been three strikes on the first date, which meant I had only gone on first dates all my life.

Unfortunately, Aiden would also be added to my list of guys I went out with, who only made it as far as the first date.

We continued eating our meal, occasionally bringing up random questions to ask the other person.

‘Sooo,’ Aiden trailed off, once he finished his mashed potatoes.

‘Soo,’ I repeated.

‘This was fun.’

‘It was.’ I nodded.

‘Though I’m sensing a but in there somewhere.’

I gave him a forced smile. ‘I had a great time but —’

Aiden let out a slight wince once he heard that forsaken word.

‘I did have a great time and you’re a nice guy, but I don’t think things are going to work out between us,’ I finally said.

He just gave me a forced nod, his lips sealed tight.

‘But thank you for taking me out tonight. I appreciate it after the week that we had.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Aiden said, a small smile on his face. ‘We’re still friends though, right?’

‘Definitely.’ I gave him a smile in return.

‘I guess that’s pretty much the end of our date for tonight. Let me just get the check and then I’ll drive you home.’ He got out of his seat and went to the cashier to pay for the meal.

While he was gone, I couldn’t help but glance at the bar across the street.

There was an urge in me that seemed like it wanted me to go and check it out, and I was just not ready for the night to be over.

I wasn’t twenty-one yet, so I wasn’t sure if I would be allowed inside if they decided to ask for my ID at the entrance.

Aiden came back minutes later. ‘Let’s go.’

‘I think I’ll just stay here for a bit,’ I blurted out, unsure of why I said it.

His eyebrows narrowed in confusion. ‘Are you sure?’

‘I’m sure,’ I confirmed, finally making up my mind. I thought about telling him the truth about wanting to check out the bar across the street, but I didn’t want him to feel like he had to agree because of me, especially since he said karaoke bars weren’t really his thing.

‘I think Nina might want to come and check this place out.’ I mean I was technically telling the truth. I was pretty sure Nina would have loved to see this diner, but it just won’t be tonight.

From the look on his face, Aiden still looked unsure about leaving me behind.

‘I’ll be fine,’ I reassured him. ‘I’ll see you when I see you.’

Seeming satisfied with my reply, he gave me a hug and waved me goodbye before he went his way.

I let out a sigh as I watched him head for his car.

‘Date didn’t go so well?’ I heard someone say. I looked to see who it was and found it was Tracy, the waitress.

Not seeing the harm in venting to her, I said, ‘It was okay. He’s a nice guy but I just didn’t think he was for me.’

Tracy just nodded. ‘Hang in there, honey. The right one will come along eventually.’ She started picking up our empty plates. ‘And who knows? Maybe the right guy will be the next person entering the diner.’

I let out a small laugh. ‘I wish I had your optimism, Tracy.’

She joined me with a laugh of her own. ‘Well, there’s no harm in seeing the brighter side of things, is there?’

I shook my head. ‘I guess not.’

She just smiled at me in return, as she picked up the plates. ‘Anyway, can I get you anything—’

The ringing of the bell at the door cut her off, signalling a new customer entering the diner.

Out of curiosity, I glanced over to see who it was.

I couldn’t really see his face, since he was looking the other way, though something about the jacket he was wearing seemed very familiar to me. I squinted my eyes to get a better look, but before I could, the person turned his head, and I could clearly see his face.

My eyes widened in surprise as my mind registered who it was.

It was Colton.