Lou walked into the mess hall with a basket full of travel-sized sunscreens and plastic neon sunglasses. She had just finished a fun in the sun safety seminar. She placed the basket on a table near the entrance doors and sighed. She hadn't expected to answer so many questions about sunburns or for so many fights over cheap lime-green sunglasses to break out. From the corner of her eye, she saw a red and black pattern near the pool table. She turned her gaze fully in the direction of the pattern. Her eyebrows shot up. Leaving the box behind, she walked over to her friends hanging out by the pool table.
"Wow," Lou said, tilting her head to the side and checking him out. She nodded. "Looking good, Ravi."
"Oh! This old thing," Ravi replied with feigned surprise as he leaned against the pool table. He stretched his arms out in front of him to show off the flannel shirt he was wearing. "I wear it all the time."
"No, you don't," Zuri snorted. She was sitting at the bench behind the pool table waiting for her turn at the game. "I saw you order that shirt online last week."
Lou smirked. She knew her boyfriend had never worn that pattern. Suddenly she realized that his new look may have something to do with the comment she had made last week about guys looking hot in flannel. She had been talking to Emma, but Ravi had walked into the camp library and overheard that part of the conversation.
Ravi gave his sister an annoyed look and said, "You are mistaken, Zuri. I have had this rugged fashion staple for years." He casually crossed his ankles as he continued to lean. He was wearing cowboy boots. He said nonchalantly, "I got this when I was in Nashville, enjoying a country music concert."
Lou bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. She had known Ravi for years before they started dating this summer, and not once did he show an interest in country music. She remembered that part of her conversation with Emma had also been about how she had always wanted to go on a concert date.
"I never knew you liked country music, honey bunny," Lou grinned.
"He doesn't," Zuri said in disbelief. She gave her brother a look that matched her tone. "And you hate Nashville. Every time we go you…"
"Thank you, Zuri! You can go now," Ravi interrupted his sister. He jabbed his thumb in the direction of the front door.
Zuri gave him a light glare that her brother returned. Lou loosely crossed her arms. She couldn't help but let out a light chuckle. Zuri looked from Lou and then to Ravi. She stood up from the bench and walked over to lean against the other side of the pool table.
"Oh, I see," Zuri said, nodding in understanding. She pointed at her brother. "Ravi's lying and walking around in cowboy boots like a poser to impress you, Lou."
"What! That's…" Ravi failed to argue. He straightened from his casual pose and stood tensely, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking anywhere but at Lou.
"True," Zuri said teasingly.
Lou saw the embarrassed look on her boyfriend's face. She knew he was being ridiculous, but honestly it was pretty great. It made her feel special that even though she was perfectly happy with him the way he was, he still wanted to impress her.
"Aww! Impress me," she cooed. She leaned forward and held her boyfriend's chin. She said flirtatiously, "It's working."
"Eck! Gross!" Zuri gagged and held her stomach as if she were sick.
Lou chuckled and let go of Ravi's face. He smiled at his girlfriend as if he had won a grand prize or some prestigious honor.
Zuri stopped gagging and straightened her posture. She said, "That was eww, but what I'm hearing is that a Nashville trip is in our future. I get to pick the concert!"
"Good, cause I have no idea what to pick," Ravi said honestly. Lou chuckled, rolling her eyes and stepping up to her boyfriend for him to hug her.
