Page 6 of Last Night Was Fun

Honestly, I’m not the best at connecting with people. I obviously misread the situation.

It was not the answer she expected. She blinked a few times at his surprisingly vulnerable response. The fact he’d been so open rather than passing her question off with a joke softened something already well on its way to melting in her chest.

Well, your faux pas worked in my interest because now you’re connected to me.?

Happy to be here. It was also the first time I’d gone out in ages.

Oh? Why so?

Mostly super busy with work.

She quietly snorted to herself. A kindred spirit.

Relatable.

What do you do for work?

She hesitated because the reaction she got from men was reliably one of two things: intimidation or an uninvited download ofmansplained baseball stats and facts because they automatically assumed they knew more than she did. Both options reliably killed the conversation because they either backed away in fear or she wiped the floor with them with knowledge.

She couldn’t say why, but she wasn’t ready to lose Axe Murderer for any reason, and especially not over her job, so she decided to be vague.

I’m a data analyst downtown.

It was the truth. The ballpark sat squarely among the skyscrapers and a stone’s throw from the waterfront. A downtown office could have meant any number of things. Maybe she worked in pharma or at a bank or at one of the zillion microbreweries dotting San Diego like constellations. He didn’t need to know she was an analyst for the Tide.

Who takes care of your chihuahuas while you’re away?

She frowned at the message, not following, until she remembered she’d joked about being an old lady with three dogs and a parrot.

Cawly Rae, of course.

Ah, a singer and a dog sitter. Truly a jackdaw of all trades.

A small chuckle snuck from Emmy’s lips.

I would ask what you do for work, but I’m pretty sure you’re an ornithologist with all these bird-band puns.

Speaking of. *Clears throat* Mötley Crow, New Kids on the Flock, Bawk the Moon.

A full laugh burst out of her mouth.

Why are you so good at this?

I may have been preparing.

Oh, so there’s a list?

Perhaps.

Does that mean you were expecting this conversation to continue?

I hoped it would.?

The little smiley face drew a mirroring one from her in real life. The warm, soft thing in her chest fully spilled open.

Me too.

Chapter3