Third Date (22 page)

That’s just the way I am. I’m afraid to take risks. Afraid to listen to my heart. I’m a scientist. I think rationally. I do what my head tells me to do. I do what makes sense. And being with someone like Grant makes sense. I don’t belong with the popular football jock. I belong with the guy from the debate team.

The problem is, I don’t feel that strong connection with Grant that I feel with Brad. And after a month of dating, I feel like I should.

I think about all this as I lie in bed. And before I fall asleep I decide I need to stay away from Brad and spend more time with Grant and see if our relationship is worth continuing or if I should just end it.

But the next morning, fate steps in once again and seems to have something else in mind. I get an email from HR to attend a meeting upstairs. I start to panic thinking I did something wrong but I can’t imagine what that would be. I’m always on time. I rarely call in sick. I get my work done.

I go upstairs to HR, and Elaine, one of the women who works there, motions me into her office. “Morgan, have a seat and we’ll begin.”

I walk in and see Brad sitting there. Why is
he
here? This makes no sense. Now I’m even more nervous, but Brad doesn’t seem nervous at all. He smiles at me as I sit down next to him.

“What’s this about?” I ask, feeling like I’ve just been called into the principal’s office.
 

“You two are going to plan the company’s summer picnic!” Elaine acts like we won the lottery when in reality it’s a ton of work outside regular office hours.

“Oh. Okay.” I’m relieved I’m not in trouble. But the news means I’ll be spending a lot more time with Brad, the exact opposite of the plan I made last night.

“In here you’ll find all the information you need.” Elaine hands us each a three-ring binder. “But if you have questions, feel free to call me anytime. Morgan, you’ll be the expert here since you’ve attended this event in the past. And Brad, since you’re in marketing, I’m counting on you to come up with ideas to get people sold on attending the event. We want a big turnout this year. I think you two will make an excellent team since you both grew up here and know the area.”

I flip through the binder. “Is there a theme or anything else you want us to consider?”
 

“The theme is nature. Since we’re a natural foods company, we want to get our employees back to nature and remind them why they come here every day. We try to be as close to nature as possible with our foods and how we make them, but it’s easy to forget that when you get bogged down in work all day.” She smiles. “Anyway, it’s a very open theme but I was thinking of maybe a nature scavenger hunt, some nature-themed crafts, and of course you’ll need to find an outdoor venue. Any questions?”

I shut my binder. “No, I don’t have any.”

“Brad?”

He smiles at her. “I think I’ve got it.”

“Do you two even know each other?” Elaine asks. “I’m sorry. I should have introduced you.”
 

“We’ve met already,” I tell her.

“Good. Well, if you have questions, feel free to ask.”

Brad and I leave her office and go into an open conference room down the hall to talk about our assignment.

“So the summer picnic committee,” Brad says, sitting down at the long table. “How did we end up on that? Do they draw names out of a hat or something?”

“I have no idea.” I take a seat across from him. “When do you want to start planning this thing? It’s in June. It’s not that far away.”

“We should get the location reserved in the next week or so. I was thinking maybe a state park that has kitchen facilities and bathrooms. Do you want to look at some places this weekend?”

“Yeah, we could do that. In the meantime, I’ll go through this binder and see what we need to work on next.”

He leans across the table, lowering his voice. “When Elaine sent me an email saying I was picked to help plan an event, I have to be honest, I wasn’t thrilled about it. But then you walked in and I was so relieved. I thought I’d be stuck with some old lady from accounting.”

“Well, I may not be the best partner. I’ve never planned anything like this before.”

“What are you guys doing in here?” Grant smiles as he walks into the conference room.

“We got assigned to plan the summer picnic,” I say.

“That should be fun, right?” He comes over and picks up the binder, looking through it. “Maybe not. This looks like a lot of work. Guess you two will be spending some time together.”

I take the binder from him and set it on the table. “Brad and I have to look at locations this weekend. You could come with us if you want.”

“I can’t. I signed up for volunteer training at the art museum on Saturday.” He stands behind me, rubbing my shoulders. “You inspired me, Morgan.”

Brad looks confused so I explain. “When Grant and I first met, I told him I volunteered there because I knew he liked art. It was a total lie. I hadn’t been there since I was a kid.”

“I need to go, but call me later.” Grant leans down and kisses my cheek. “Let’s figure out what we want to do Friday night.”

He leaves and heads down the hall.
 

“Do you guys only see each other on the weekends?” Brad asks.

“I haven’t really thought about it, but yeah, I guess we do. He works late during the week.”

“Hey, I almost forgot. I’m going to your apartment building tonight to sign the lease agreement. I’m moving in on Sunday. We’ll be neighbors. Well, I’ll be one floor down.”

“Really? I didn’t think you were seriously considering living there. I thought you’d want to look around some more.”

“Like you said, it’s a good location, quiet, inexpensive.”

“You should stop by when you’re done with the paperwork.” I don’t why I said that. Actually, I do know why. I like hanging out with him. As a friend. That’s it. The problem is that I’m attracted to my extremely hot friend.
 

“Sure, I can stop by.” He gets up to leave. “I have a meeting in a few minutes but I’ll see you tonight.”

In the afternoon, Grant and I go out for coffee. I mention Brad moving into my building and he has no problem with it. He doesn’t see Brad as a threat at all. I must be really good at hiding my attraction to him. Either that or Grant thinks I have no chance with a guy like Brad.

That night after dinner, Brad shows up, as promised. When I answer the door, he dangles his new keys in the air. “I am now officially renting here for the next year.”

“Congratulations. I don’t have any champagne or anything, but I have iced tea, soda, or wine.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need anything. I just stopped by to say hi.”

“You’re not staying?”
 

“I probably shouldn’t be over here, Morgan. You have a boyfriend.”

“We can still hang out. Grant doesn’t care. I told him you were stopping over tonight. He’s not the jealous type. And I like having you here. My dad’s in Texas now and Grant’s always at work, so it can get kind of lonely.”

He smiles. “Well, I don’t want you to be lonely. You want to go somewhere?”

“Maybe. Do you have a place in mind?”

He thinks for a moment. “Let’s go get dessert. You like milkshakes? Because I know this place that has the best milkshakes.”

“You don’t mean Maxine’s Diner, do you?”

“You’ve already been there?” He looks disappointed. “I was trying to take you someplace new.”

“That’s okay. I love that place. Let’s go.” I grab my coat and we head to his car.
 

We spend an hour at the diner, talking about growing up in Bloomington and listing out our favorite hangouts. Then we go back to my apartment and watch TV. After Brad leaves, I call Grant but he’s too tired from work to talk, so I just go to bed.

***
 

I let Grant plan Friday night’s date because it’s not fair that we always do what I want to do. He picks a foreign film. It ends up being two hours of subtitles and by the end of it my eyes hurt from having to read the screen all night.

After the movie we go to a new restaurant downtown. It’s another one of those trendy places that’s packed with people and very loud, reminiscent of the sushi bar experience.
 

“We can leave,” Grant says as we’re waiting for a table.

“We just got here. Why would we leave?”

“Because I can tell you’re not enjoying this. We’ll just go somewhere else.” He lets the hostess know and then we leave and go back to his car.

“Grant, we should’ve just stayed. I know you really wanted to eat there.”

We’re sitting in the car now but he hasn’t started the engine because we haven’t figured out where to go. Grant doesn’t say anything so I don’t either.

After a period of awkward silence, he finally speaks. “Sometimes I really struggle trying to find places to take you, Morgan. You don’t seem to want to do anything.”

“It’s not that. I just think we need to find something we both like. Do you like Mexican food? I know a place not far from here that—”

“I got really sick from Mexican food a year ago and haven’t been able to eat it since.” He starts the car. “I’ll just make something. We’ll go back to my place.”
 

On the drive back, we’re both quiet. I know he’s mad at me and I’m kind of mad at him, too. I never said we had to leave the restaurant. He just assumed we did and now he’s blaming me for us having to leave and giving me the silent treatment. I think this is our first official fight.
 

We get to his building and as we’re walking to his apartment, I say, “I think I should just go.”

He doesn’t disagree. We get back in his car and he drives me home.
 

“I’ll call you tomorrow, Morgan. Or you call me. We’ll figure out if we want to do something tomorrow night.”

His comment makes it sound like going out tomorrow is optional. Before it was assumed.

“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”

He doesn’t walk me to the door, but instead just drives away.

***
 

Saturday I wake up depressed about how badly things went with Grant. I should’ve acted more positive about his restaurant choice or talked him into staying there. But even if we’d eaten there, I have a feeling the night still wouldn’t have gone well.

The more I think about it, the more I realize this relationship doesn’t seem to be working for either of us. Grant would be happier with someone who shares his interests and I’d be happier going out with Brad.

I think I need to end things with Grant. I hate breaking up with people but it’s better to do it now than later. And honestly, I don’t think he’ll be all that upset about it.

My mood brightens when Brad appears at my door right at 9. “Ready to tour some parks?”

“Let me grab my coat.” I take it from the closet and follow him out the door.

When we get in his car, he hands me a map. “You’re the navigator. I circled all the ones I thought we should check out. Did you have any on your list?”

“Sorry. I didn’t work on it. But this is great. Thanks for doing this.”

“No problem. It didn’t take long.”
 

We spend the entire morning driving around. None of the park ranger stations are open but we can at least check out the facilities.

I like driving through the parks in the winter when nobody’s around. There’s nothing but snowy fields and giant fir trees. It’s quiet and peaceful and it takes my mind off my problems with Grant.

“Should we stop for lunch or keep going?” Brad asks around noon.

“Let’s stop for lunch. I’m starving.”

“How about Mexican? There’s a great place just down the street.”
 

Mexican. Of course. Brad just happens to suggest Mexican food reminding me of my fight with Grant.
 

“Sure. Mexican sounds good.”

Brad takes me to the exact same place I wanted to take Grant last night. It’s one of my favorite places. There are probably hundreds of Mexican restaurants in the metro area and Brad takes me to this one. It’s one of his favorites, too.

I feel like fate is intervening again, flashing a giant neon sign in front of my face confirming my decision to break up with Grant and telling me to start dating Brad.

As we’re eating lunch, I feel depressed again knowing I have to end things with Grant. I know it’s the right thing to do but it still makes me sad.

Brad, on the other hand, seems even happier than normal.

“What did you do last night?” I ask him.

“Went out for dinner and a movie.”

“By yourself?”

He laughs. “No, not by myself. It was Friday night. I had a date.”

My shoulders slump like they’re sighing in disappointment. Brad’s dating? I’m finally ready to break up with Grant and tell Brad how I feel about him, and now he’s dating someone else?
 

“Was it a first date?” I try to force out a smile and pretend to be happy for him.

“Actually, we’ve been out a couple times. We met Thursday for lunch and then went out last night. And we’re going out tonight, too.”

Three days in a row? He must really like this girl.

“Where did you meet her?”

“It’s the girl Paige set me up with.”

Damn Paige and her stupid matchmaking. Why can’t she leave Brad alone and find some other guy to match up with whoever this girl is?
 

“I’m glad you found someone.” My voice lacks enthusiasm and I’m sure my fake smile isn’t very convincing.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s just that I’m—” I stop before I tell him. He doesn’t need to know I’m breaking up with Grant. It wouldn’t matter now. Brad obviously likes this girl a lot if he’s already been out with her twice and asked her out again for tonight.

“Morgan.” He puts his hand on my arm. “What were you going to say?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” I force out another smile.

“You have a boyfriend, Morgan.” His face is serious, his eyes on mine. “What did you want me to do? Keep waiting?”

“No. Of course not.” I swirl my straw around my glass of soda, keeping my eyes on it instead of Brad.
 

He’s right. He had every right to find someone else. And technically, I’m still dating Grant.