“Oh, this is for me,” he teased, yanking it closer. “You’re going to have to enjoy that surprise meat pizza they’re advertising.”

“Oh, um, you know what? I’m really not even hungry,” I said automatically.

Oakley laughed and said, “Calm down. I’m only kidding. What kind of a date do you think I am?” He pulled out a chair for me and motioned for me to sit. As I went to take a seat next to him, Oakley looked me over from head to toe. Slowly. His eyes lingered on my hips and then my breasts, which were high and perky thanks to a little help from Victoria.

“You look nice. Is all of that for me?” he asked with a devilish twinkle in his eye. He totally knew it was for him.

“No. Not that it matters, but I had an important meeting this morning. It was for him. I mean that. I mean I dressed up for that meeting.” I stumbled over my words. Great. That was super convincing. I should have just gone back and changed this morning.

“Whatever you say,” he said with a shrug, popping an entire boiled egg into his mouth. So. Gross. I stared at him in disgust as his cheeks puffed out, full of egg. How do you even eat that much boiled egg at once?

I was still puzzling over the egg when Oakley started waving. I looked over my shoulder to see who he was waving at. Oh great, Dale.

“Oh shit, now he’s coming over,” Oakley said, a little chunk of yolk escaping his mouth. Eew.

“If you didn’t want him coming over, why did you wave?” I asked with a smirk. Oakley looked mad to have our lunch date crashed, and I was thanking the sweet gods of mystery meat pizza that we had someone to distract from Oakley’s thoughtful lunch non-date.

“He saw me,” Oakley said, scrubbing his hand down his face. “I didn’t want to be rude... Our first date is ruined.”

“Good thing it’s not a date,” I replied with a wink, then turned to greet Dale.

“Hey, guys,” he said. “You look good, Ball. Get enough sleep after last night?” Dale pulled up a chair and sat down before grabbing a pita chip and loudly chomping on it.

If I was being honest, I didn’t sleep hardly at all, but I wasn’t going to answer truthfully. I evaded, instead. “I really hope this nickname doesn’t stick for the rest of the season, because I don’t like being called after something that shares a namesake with the two tiny marbles dangling between your thighs, Dale.”

It was sassier than I intended, but both guys started chuckling loudly. “Her name is totally Balls now,” Dale said loudly, slapping his knees. “I’m telling the group chat.”

Oakley laughed, and I cracked a smile good-naturedly. Nicknames were signs of endearment, right?