Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 104745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Clearing my throat, I hold down the tiny icon and say, “I was only kidding. I knew calling you bro and dude would get your panties in a twist.”
As soon as I lift my finger the damn message sends.
“I was going to redo that!” I shout at the stupid app. “I sound like an idiot saying panties!”
Three buttons appear.
Disappear.
Reappear.
Drew: Do you actually call them panties or was that for my benefit, too?
Me: I mean—yeah, that’s what I call them?
Drew: You sure about that?
Me: What do YOU call them?
Drew: Chick’s underwear? Thongs? How the hell should I know?
Me: Dude, you’re the one who brought it up.
Drew: Oh, here you go again, dude-ing me.
Me: Don’t take it personally.
Drew: Can’t help it.
Me: If it makes you feel any better, I’m not sure what I call panties either besides panties because I don’t usually wear them very often.
Drew: That did NOT make me feel better.
Me: LOL
I half expect him to message back and say SHOW ME the same way I guarantee another guy would, but Drew doesn’t.
Drew: Your little LOL didn’t make me feel better, either 😉
He gives me a little wink, which lets me know he’s teasing.
Nice.
My app buzzes to let me know I have another match.
Me: Did I say no panties? I meant GRANNY panties.
Drew: Yeah, that’s what I thought you meant…it feels more accurate.
Another wink.
I rack my brain to switch gears, thinking of another topic because even though this flirting is fun, I’m not sure how far to go with it or when to cut it off.
Guys like Drew Colter kind of scare me.
Big. Strong.
Sure of themselves in ways I will never be.
Of course I have girlfriends like this, with a confidence I can’t match. I don’t lack it completely, but it’s not like I’m strutting across campus like Beyoncé, wind fan blowing through my hair, all the world’s a stage.
Me: You’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover.
Drew: True.
Me: You don’t want me judging YOU by your cover, do you?
Drew: God no.
Drew: Have I already apologized for my behavior in Mass Comm? I was having an off day and didn’t want to be there. I’m not usually like that—normally, I’m chill and can sit a minute.
Somehow I doubt that.
Me: It’s not as if the class is riveting. I don’t know what that guy’s problem is, but it feels like he’s there to talk about himself, not teach us about how the marketing industry works.
Drew: And let’s not forget, pushing the latest version of his textbook.
Me: What a racket.
Drew: Okay, so besides all that—what are you into? Your bio said you like hot dogs and what else.
Me: LOL I thought that would be funny but also illustrates that I’m chill and low key?
Drew: Do you eat anything besides hot dogs, tho?
Me: Er. I will put anything in my mouth.
Drew: No comment.
Me: THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT
Drew: I know, but it had to be said. No one would have let that go. I’m a decent dude, but not THAT decent…
Me: Haha. I also like steak, seafood, veggies, ice cream, stadium food.
Drew: Same to all that.
Drew: Plus pizza and Chinese takeout.
Me: And you like to read?
Drew: Yeah—who doesn’t?
Me: Uh, MOST people?
Drew: That is so not true. Chicks all over campus have their noses buried in books these days.
Fair enough. He’s actually not wrong about that.
He changes the subject.
Drew: Do you have a job?
Me: I do freelance work; graphics and whatnot. I take it you don’t have a job?
Drew: No, not allowed to.
Me: Not ALLOWED to?!
Drew: Our jobs are to play football.
Me: But you don’t get paid to do that.
Drew: Not technically, no. I mean—I get a free education. Plus opportunities after I graduate or enter the draft.
I stare at the part of the sentence that reads “or enter the draft.”
I’ve never known a single person with these kinds of opportunities post-graduation, not even Stella, whose father owns a law firm in downtown New York.
Me: Guess I hadn’t thought of it that way. And when would you have time to have a job?
Drew: We wouldn’t. Even in the off-season, we still do shit like condition, training camps, and work out on a regular basis. Not ALL the guys do, but most of us try to stay in shape and not turn into slobs.
Drew: It’s so easy to do, man. Finally being able to eat whatever we want instead of chicken and vegetables nonstop. Train can leave the station pretty quickly if you let it.
Me: The train can leave the station? LOL
Drew: I love a good metaphor. It’s the Southern boy in me.
eleven
drake
I’ll never put a dating app on my phone. I’d rather meet someone the old-fashioned way: through alcohol and poor judgment.
Daisy: You’re Southern?
Uh. How does she not know this?
Me: Yeah. Couldn’t you tell in class when we were talking the other day?