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I shot him my patented death stare. “What were you guys
going to talk about, sports?”
“Well, we’re clearly manly.”
“Seriously? You want me to get in this with you right now
in front of Carrie.” I raised my eyebrow, daring him.
He turned back around. “I knew this was a bad idea.”
While I was pretty sure he was saying it in a joking manner, I agreed with him one hundred percent.
I tried to adjust my attitude as we sat down at Curran’s
Tavern. We made small talk before the waiter came over and
took our orders.
Levi gave me a crooked smile. “Shall I order or do you
want to?”
“We always get the same thing,” I explained to our confused companions. “Yes, I’ll have the fried cod with baked
potato, but can I please have extra sour cream with that?
And blue cheese dressing on the salad. Thanks.”
“I’ll have what she’s having,” Levi announced. “Although
you forgot one thing.”
“Oh! Cheese curds!” I practically screamed. “Um, can we
start with an order of fried cheese curds as well? Thanks.”
The waiter nodded and turned toward Carrie, who asked
for a grilled chicken Caesar salad.
“And I’ll have the cheeseburger, medium rare,” Ian ordered.
I didn’t have to say anything, because I knew Levi would.
“Seriously? Who goes to a fish fry and doesn’t get fish?” He
shook his head. “First of all, I will not be sharing my corn
fritters with either of you, and I know for a fact that Macallan won’t, either.”
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“Preach it,” I encouraged.
Levi leaned in, his face so serious it was almost solemn.
“Listen, guys, I never heard of a Friday night fish fry
until Macallan’s family took my family. You have no idea
how spoiled you are in Wisconsin: fried fish, corn fritters
with honey butter, baked beans, bread and butter, coleslaw,
potatoes — you get your choice of potato! And did I mention
the butter? So much butter! I mean, what more could you
want on a Friday night? Ordering something else . . . It’s
madness, madness, I say!”
While Carrie and Ian didn’t look as amused as I was, a
strange sense of pride overwhelmed me. If only seventh-grade
Levi could see himself now. He was even starting to get a
little Midwestern accent.
“What are you smiling at?” Levi inquired.
“Nothing,” I responded a little too quickly.
“Like I would ever fall for that.” He leaned forward and
gazed in my eyes as if he was trying to read my mind. I looked
away. At that point, I wouldn’t have doubted that he could.
“Ah, see, I know you’re up to something.”
“Who, me?” I said in my most innocent voice.
“Please.” He leaned back and put his arm around the back
of Carrie’s chair. “Let me tell you a little something about
this one, Carrie. Do not fall for the good-girl, straight-A—
student fa?ade. Beneath her sweet exterior is a snarky center
with quick wit and even quicker rebounds.”
“Which is exactly why you’re best friends with me.”
“Obviously,” Levi agreed.
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Ian cleared his voice loudly. “So, Carrie, I think we need to
intervene before the Levi and Macallan Show takes over.
Once they get started, they don’t stop. Ever.”
Carrie maneuvered uncomfortably in her chair and played
with her straw wrapper.
I mouthed sorry to Ian. This wasn’t the first time, nor did I think it would be the last, he’d had to intervene when Levi
and I got into one of our epic conversations.
I ended up playing twenty get-to-know-you questions with
Carrie until our food arrived. Besides being really sweet, she
was running for student council and volunteering at the animal shelter on the weekends. I felt like a total slacker in
comparison.
Although I was having a good time, I had to fight every
instinct I had to talk to Levi whenever a thought came up
that I knew he’d enjoy or have a comeback for. I needed to be
on my best behavior. We had our dates to consider. After all,
it was a pretty big miracle we could find members of the
opposite sex who’d enjoyed our company as much as we did.
We arrived at Keith’s house when the party was in full swing.
Everybody from the football team, cheerleading squad, and
marching band was there.
“Hey, California!” Keith came over and did that guy hand—
slap/chest-bump combination that must be taught in some
dude class. “Welcome, welcome, all!” He looked me up and
down, and I gave him a stare that made it clear I wasn’t the
least bit interested in anything he was looking for.
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“Hey, man,” Ian said, coming between us. “Thanks for the
invite.”
“Oh, right, you two are together. See, I keep forgetting
that, since she’s always with him.” He pointed to a clearly
annoyed Levi.
“Keith, this is Carrie.” Levi gestured in her direction.