Page 59 of A Cup of Autumn
“If it means dessert and getting to know each other, then well. We know each other’s favorite colors, food, TV shows, books, and movies.”
“If we put everything that we discussed into a Venn diagram there wouldn’t be much overlap.”
“Except for food,” they said in unison.
“The practice date was a success. How did I do?” she asked.
“A-plus.”
Raine did a shuffle step as if dancing. “Yay!”
“You did great.” More than once he’d forgotten they weren’t on a real date. “When the door opens, you’ll be ready.”
“You made it easy.”
His chest puffed out. He couldn’t help it. “You’re a great date. I’ve gone out at times and wondered why my date said yes when all she did was stay on her phone the entire time.”
“That’s how Emmett and I had gotten toward the end, but the first few dates are the honeymoon time. A phone can’t compete with that.”
“Unless it’s not meant to be.”
She nodded. “It’s getting late.”
“You have to be at the coffee shop early.”
Raine nodded. “Thanks for dessert.”
“I had a great time.” Dates usually ended with a kiss, but this was just for practice. He doubted suggesting a practice kiss would go over well.
“Me, too.” She shifted her weight between her feet. “I’m glad you suggested doing this.”
“Me, too.”
Keaton wanted to ask her out again. That was how much he’d enjoyed himself. But she didn’t want to date, and he was leaving town—soon, he hoped.
“We might have to come for dessert again. To celebrate our work on the Boo Bash.”
“There’s going to be a lot of it.”
“Teamwork will get it done.”
“You sound more like a coach than a professor.”
“I assign group projects.”
“The bane of students everywhere. Timmy always got stuck with classmates who didn’t want to do any work.”
“That happens sometimes, but it’s a good lesson in adulting.”
“Recently experienced that with a former employee.”
She must be talking about the barista who got fired. “If this was a real date, I’d kiss you good night. But since this is only for practice…” He kissed her forehead. “Did you walk?”
“Drove. The hatchback right in front of us. You?”
“Walked.”
“Want a ride to Margot’s?”
