The Romantics(18)

Not to mention his dad was driving him nuts. Gael had apologized to both his mom and dad independently (another fun thing about split households, you had to say everything twice!) and his dad had not only forgiven him, but he seemed intent on finding a way for them to bond. He made attempt after attempt at family fun times (including cooking brunch together, going to the farmers’ market, and even indulging in a post-dinner family walk), which only served to make Gael more suspicious that his dad truly did have a reason to feel guilty.

Long story short—Gael had to get out of the house. He told Cara he needed something frivolous like wool socks, and he asked if she wanted to offer her expert hiking opinion. She didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Ladies and gentleman, it was time to put Phase One of Mission: Directing Gael Away from the Wrong Girl into action. I have a whole treasure trove of proven ways to nip romance in the bud, and with Gael, I was prepared to use any and all within my reach.

Without further ado, behold my handiwork:





First Defense: Annoyance


“Hey!” Cara said eagerly, as she hopped into Gael’s car. He’d been idling in front of her dorm for ten minutes past their agreed-upon pick-up time, but she didn’t apologize. She buckled her seat belt as Gael pulled away from UNC’s South Campus and back toward Highway 54.

“I’m glad you were down to come,” Gael said, opting to forgive her lateness. “I remembered you saying you needed hiking boots.”

Cara smiled, pulled her long hair into a ponytail, and leaned back in her seat. “Indeed, I do.”

She put her feet up on the dash, something Gael always hated, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned up the volume as his new favorite song came on.

After a few seconds, Cara switched to a country station without even asking.

But she did ask if they could stop at Starbucks because she really wanted a pumpkin spice latte.

(Look, I wasn’t using mind control, I promise. Free will, yada yada yada. But Cara had censored herself in past relationships, and it was totally fair of me to remind her of that fact. To urge her, ever so slightly, to not hold back, to listen to the music she wanted, embrace her love of Starbucks, literally kick her feet up. Of course, I also happened to know that these very behaviors would annoy Gael to no end.)





Second Defense: Incompatibility


The parking lot in front of REI was for some reason blocked off so Gael and Cara had to park by the movie theater (it’s amazing what people will believe when you put up a few official-looking cones). Once out of the car, Gael took in Cara’s full outfit. Birkenstocks, ripped jeans, and a Willie Nelson T-shirt. Anika wouldn’t have been caught dead looking that laid-back and casual. And yet, he thought, Cara looked great.

“Ready to spend way more money than we should on outdoor gear?” Cara asked eagerly. “And use it for a year and then take advantage of the store’s amazing return policy?” She winked and tightened her ponytail. Gael laughed.

As they walked through the parking lot, the autumn sun cast a hard-to-miss glint across the COMING SOON poster. Gael could hardly contain his excitement. “You stoked for the new Wes Anderson movie?”

Cara shrugged.

“What?” he asked. “You think he’s overhyped?”

She hopped from the curb to the road and back up again, then grabbed onto the pole of a NO PARKING sign and used her hand to swing around it. In the distance, a fountain trickled happily. “I don’t know,” Cara said. “To tell you the truth, I don’t have much of an opinion. I’m not really that into movies. Except for James Cameron ones. He’s pretty much the best director ever.”





Third Defense: Jealousy


In REI, Gael and Cara headed past hydration packs and kayaks to the women’s shoe area, where Cara grabbed a few pairs of boots to try on. In minutes, a brawny guy who looked like a cross between Mason and Bradley Cooper rushed to help them.

The guy brought out a stack of boxes, and Cara sat down. She slid her feet into the first pair.

“Too tight?” the dude asked as he obnoxiously pinched her toes with his too-big hands.

She shook her head. “Just right,” she said with a smirk. Was she flirting with him? Gael wondered.

Cara hopped up, did a couple of paces around the room. She sat back down. “Let me try on the next pair.”

The two of them went back and forth like that, and Gael couldn’t help but notice that every time Cara walked around, the guy’s eyes followed her—and he had a feeling it wasn’t because he was hoping she’d buy a co-op membership.

Finally, Cara asked to try on the first pair again. After biting her lip and doing yet another lap, she sat down. “I’ll take ’em,” she said matter-of-factly.





The Not-so-Fortunate Results


Cara turned to Gael and gave him a toothy smile. She wiggled her feet back and forth, and she looked so carefree and enchanting that he found it hard to be turned off by her love of Titanic or her penchant for Starbucks specialty drinks.

“Thanks for putting up with me,” she said.

“Anytime,” Gael said.

But what he thought was—I’d put up with a lot more to spend time with you.

Ugh. It was time to step it up with Phase Two.