“So she could explain the game to you,” Beth said, “and then maybe you could go watch her play. You would know the rules and what to expect then. Instant second date.”
I was surprised at how much sense that actually made.
“All you have to do is figure out a couple of other things she likes,” Beth said, “and then you would have dinner conversation, too.”
“I’m not any good at conversation.”
“You are better than you realize,” Beth countered. “We are having a conversation now, and you are barely hesitating to answer. Besides, when you are out with a girl, it’s important to listen more than you talk.”
“It is?”
“Yes, but you also have to really listen. You have to stay focused on her and what she is saying.”
“How do I do that?”
“Lean toward her,” Bethany said. “Make sure you look at her when she’s talking. Listen to her words, and ask her questions.”
“I’m not sure I can do that,” I said honestly. The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t think I could.
“You can,” Bethany said quietly. “If you really want to, Matthew, you can. Do you want to get to know her better?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Do you want to have a chance at something like this? A relationship with a girl?”
I nodded.
“Then you can do it.”
“I don’t want to see a movie in the theatre,” I reminded her.
“Then don’t,” Beth said. “Just dinner.”
A dark, crawling feeling slid over my skin.
“I can’t date her,” I said quietly.
“Why not?”
“Because I would have to ask her to go out with me,” I explained. “I really don’t think I can do that.”
“Do you remember when you couldn’t order pizza over the phone?”
“Yes.”
“Can you do that now?”
“Yes,” I said, “but I have to work up to it a little.”
“So we’ll work on getting you ready to ask Mayra out the same way we worked on ordering pizza. I’ll be Mayra, and you ask me. We’ll keep doing it until you think you got it.”
“But…” I hesitated.
“What is it?”
“But the pizza place never says no.” I closed my eyes, and my heart started to pound. My head started getting foggy, and my vision blurred as I thought about asking Mayra out and having her say no. The next thing I knew, Beth was on her knees in front of me and talking me through some deep breathing until I relaxed. When I had calmed, I glanced at her blue eyes.
“I’m proud of you,” she said softly. “You come back so much faster now.”