"What am I even supposed to say to him, Maya? I don't even know the guy," I say to my best friend Maya, who sits directly across from me at the small table in the center of the bar next to our other friend Isadora Smackle.

"That's the magic of not knowing him, Riles. You can say anything to him." She looks to her left, at the bar where said guy sits, and then looks back at me. "He looks around our age so that should lessen the chance of him being a creep."

I give her a smile, one that is supposed to tell her she didn't do anything to alleviate the anxiety I feel toward talking to a stranger.

"Thanks, that makes me feel so much better."

"I agree with Maya on this one." We both turn our attention to Smackle (she prefers to be called by her last name). "It's been a while since you've been out with anyone. It could be good for you."

I frown at her. I expected her to be on my side and tell Maya she is being crazy and it would be stupid that I talk to a stranger.

"Smackle, two years passed before you and Farkle gave each other a chance. How can you agree with me asking a stranger on a date?"

"While that is true, this is about you, not me. We date men differently."

"Go ask him. Now."

Maya's voice isn't as friendly and encouraging as it was the first time. This time her tone is more demanding.

"Fine," I mumble, a little annoyed I have to go through with this.

I give myself a minute before standing up, hoping that if I give them more time to take back their request, they will. But, unfortunately, they don't. I sigh in defeat and stand up from my chair. From where I stand, I can see how broad his shoulders are in the white cotton t-shirt he wears and his golden-blonde hair that rests on top of his head. As I head toward the bar, my gaze doesn't fall from him.

"You can do this, Riley," I mumble to myself on repeat as I get closer to him. I sit at the bar in the chair beside him, and glance at him, hoping he'll notice me, but that I'm not too obvious. "Hi."

Oh God, Riley, what are you doing, I think to myself.

He turns to look at me and that's when I notice how tan his complexion is, especially against his shirt. I see how green his eyes are when he makes eye contact with me.

"Hi," he says.

"Hey," I say, again, and I want to smack myself because of how dumb I sound.

I see the corner of his upper lip curve upward into a small smirk and he tries to hide it by bringing his glass to his lips and taking a sip. He sets it down on the small napkin.

"You said that already."

I give him a nervous smile. "Right. Well, are you here alone?"

"For now. I'm waiting for a buddy of mine to meet me here. What about you? You here alone?"

"No, I'm with some friends."

"Why you up here instead of with them?"

I immediately panic and try to come up with something believable.

"Um. . . I came to order a drink, but the bartender is all the way over there."

"I can call her over."

He goes to raise his hand, but I am quick to stop him.

"No," I say, a little louder than I meant. He lowers his hand and frowns at me. "I don't want to rush her. She's probably busy. I'll just wait."

"All right, but if I'm going to sit here and talk to you, I should know your name."

"Oh, I'm Riley. . . Riley Matthews."

"Lucas Friar."

"Nice to meet you, Lucas."

"Same to you. So, is this what you usually do on a Friday night after a long week of school-I assume you're in school, right?"

"Yeah, I'm a junior in college. And no, this is not usually what I do on my Friday night. Usually I'm already in my pajamas, watching t.v. on the couch." I immediately drop my face in my hands, hoping it will make me disappear. "God, I just made myself sound so lame, didn't I?"

"No, not at all. College is stressful and sometimes you don't always feel like going out."

"Exactly. I tell my best friend that and she just rolls her eyes at me and tells me I'm no fun. So are you in college, too, or are you working? Please don't tell me you're in high school. I'll have to leave this conversation right now."

"You're safe. I'm in college as well, and also a junior. I'm majoring to become a vet."

I smile. "You love animals?"

"Absolutely. I grew up on a farm and fell in love with the field when I was about six when I helped birth a cow. But that story is for another time."

"Is that an invitation for us to meet at another time? Because I'd love to hear about it."

"I'd love to tell you about it sometime."

"Here. Type in your number so we can arrange something." I pull out my phone from my back pocket and hand it over to him. I watch him type away at the screen, and when he is done, he hands it back. "Thank you. Well, I should probably get back to my friends, but I'll definitely text you." I give him a small smile before I go to stand up. I make it only one step before he's calling for me. I turn and look over my shoulder at him. "Yes?"

"Your drink?"

"Oh, right!" I stand beside him again and call over the bartender. As I wait, I pray she hurries as much as possible. Once I have my drink in hand I say a goodybe and hurry away. "Maya Hart, I am going to kill you!"