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Eighteen

With Callum’s advice and Rosalie backing him up, I decide yes to the red lipstick and no to leaving my shoe next to his car. It was a little childish, but how else am I supposed to live out my Cinderella dreams?

I’m home after a very long dinner. Callum’s on a FaceTime call, and Rosalie is on the couch. They’re waiting for my report.

“You look tired. Doesn’t she look tired?” Rosalie says, her eyes dropping to my cell propped up on the TV stand.

“I’m not tired. It was just a long dinner—usually there’s an activity or something involved. But we just ate. That’s it. Do you have any idea how many times I had to reapply my red lipstick?”

“Fran,” Rosalie moans.

“How many? I’m curious,” Callum says.

“Four! You can’t eat chicken parmesan and keep your lipstick looking like perfection.” When I get no reply, I add, “Red lipstick was my only romcom reference tonight, guys. I needed it to represent. ”

“Of course you did,” Callum says with a nod. “I’m sure reapplying did the job.”

“Ugh. Just tell us about the date.” Rose reaches out and shakes my arm.

“It was fine.” I shrug. “Maybe a little… slow.”

“What does that mean?” Callum asks.

“Well”—I clamp down on my freshly glossed lip—“he talked a lot . Which is…great. I got to know all about him. That’s the point of a date, right? At least this kind of date.”

“How much is a lot?” Rosalie asks.

“Ahh, most of the time, I guess. Paul has a lot to say about his life… his job… his talents.”

“His talents?” Callum says through my cell. “Did he ask about you?”

I scrunch my nose. “Not really. But I still spoke up. Though he was checking his phone when I told him about my college experience. Afterward, he informed me that our reel is up to three million views. Then he told me about all the other times he’s been a literal lifesaver to someone.

It was… a long story.” I yawn—because listening to Paul all night wore me out.

We really should have attempted recreating that When Harry Met Sally lunch scene.

I am certain I could have pulled it off.

Rosalie huffs, her arms sinking into a fold. “That sounds like a red flag.”

“I agree,” Callum says from my phone. “A date isn’t a job interview. He’s not there to give you a list of his qualifications and prior successes. He should want to learn about you.”

“I mean, it’s kind of a job interview. An interview applying to be my future boyfriend, possibly my mate.”

Rosalie gags. “Fran, do not say mate. ”

“That’s somewhat true,” Callum says. “But he should be listening as much as he’s talking. I think we should be moving on.”

“Says Mr. I Don’t Need Love In My Life. How am I supposed to trust anything you say?” But then, I’m not sure if Callum doesn’t want love or if he simply wants Simone.

“I think so too.” Rosalie points to my cell. “I’m with Cal. We’re done with Paul. He’s clearly not the one.”

“Guys,” I moan. “He complimented my lipstick, and he asked me out again.” I shrug. That doesn’t happen every date. How can I turn my back on it when it does? “I’m going.”

“Franny, nooo,” Callum moans, reverting to the nickname I can’t get his teammates to stop using. I suppose it’s better than Frances.

“Actually, Callie ,” I say, my tone mocking. “ Yes . I already agreed to another date.”

Cal doesn’t seem bothered that I’ve given him a nickname. “You can always break it.”

“I don’t break dates,” I say.

“Fine,” he says. “Then Rosalie and I will go with you. Double date.”