I lift my butt off the stool and lean over, not wanting anyone else to hear us. “Dean’s kind of stiff.”

“Sounds promising,” Brandon says, lifting an eyebrow as he prepares my drink. “I fail to see the problem.”

Rolling my eyes, I push him away. “Around me, I mean. It’s like there’s an outline in his head for everything, and if you don’t fit into the right section, he doesn’t know what to do with you. We came here to practice being a couple in public.” I spread my arms and bend at the waist as if I’m taking a bow. “A bit of Method acting, if you will.”

Brandon sighs. “That’s a common misconception about the Method—that actors stay in character throughout the time they’re filming a movie or something, but really it’s about using your own life experiences to better understand your character’s situation. The Strasberg approach—”

“Brandon.”

“Yeah?”

“You’ve gone over this many, many times before.”

“Right,” he says, shaking his head, then looking around and finally acknowledging the patrons clamoring for his attention. “Well, practicing makes sense.” He fills a glass with water and sets it next to my cocktail. “Duty calls.”

I swivel my stool around and survey the crowd. I’m searching for a couple. Preferably one that isn’t averse to public displays of affection. It doesn’t take me long to find one sitting at a prime table in the corner. They’re both white and dressed for a night out on the town. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Late twenties, maybe early thirties. Very Vampire Diaries. The guy’s arm is loosely draped over the woman’s shoulder, and she’s tucked against him as she nuzzles his jaw. Several empty cocktail glasses are scattered in front of them.

“I’m back,” Dean says as he slides onto his stool and swings around so that we’re facing in the same direction. Water glass in hand, he asks, “What’d I miss?”

I lift my chin. “Those two snuggling. At three o’clock.”

“Yeah. What about ’em?”

“Let’s go over there and introduce ourselves.”

“As a couple?”

“Exactly. They seem totally into each other and don’t mind who knows it. Should be easy enough to strike up a conversation. I’ll take the lead.”

I’m already out of my stool and grabbing my drink when Dean says, “Why am I not surprised?”

“Heard that.”

“I assumed you would,” he says, his voice laced with amusement.