Curious?

CHAPTER SEVEN

      Okay. I can't believe Shawn Mendes asked me out. Well, no, scratch that. I can't believe I asked out Shawn Mendes. And he said yes. I'm going on a date with Shawn Mendes. The guy I rolled my eyes at on the street, the guy I thought was a narcissist, basking in his fame, is actually a normal, sweet guy even, and he sees something in me. How do I get ready for that?

"Hi Shawn. Just checking, we're still on for tonight?"
      I send the risky text, giving him one last chance to back down.
"Absolutely! I can pick you up around 6?"
"Oh, no need to pick me up, I can meet you if it's easier!"
"Well, I was thinking we could go grab some take out and eat it at my place? It's a bit more private."
      I understand that dating a guy is new for him, on top of having to deal with everyone's camera phone... Luckily for him, I love a cozy first date, so this should be great.
"No problem! What are you in the mood to eat?"
"Anything, really. I'm not picky."
"In that case, how about making our own pizza and having it delivered?"
"Sounds great! I didn't know we could do that."
"Yeah, I'll show you! I'll be at your place around 6, then!"
"Really don't want me to pick you up, do you?"
"What? No, Shawn, it's not that! I'm just making it easier for you, that's all."
"That's very thoughtful of you, Adam. But I love driving, so I really wouldn't mind picking you up."
      Well, I guess I don't have a choice! He loves driving...
"Okay then! Here's my address, tell me when you leave."
"See you soon."

      For someone who was joking about making Shawn nervous, I feel the butterflies flutter in my stomach as I wait for him to get here. I don't think it's very polite to make people wait, so I'm ready with my shoes on, just waiting to lock the door behind me. My phone buzzes again.
"I'm here."
      I make my way downstairs and see Shawn behind the wheel of a black SUV. I open the door, and the butterflies go crazy when he flashes that damn smile.
"Hi," he says behind his shades.
"Hey, did you find it okay?"
"Yeah, no problem! Did you want to pick up anything before we headed back to my place?" Shawn asks.
"I'm not really a beer drinker, if I'm honest, but if you have everything to make vodka sodas, I should be fine!" I laugh.
"Yeah, I got you covered, don't worry," he replies with a smirk as he pulls out of the driveway.

      We get to his condo in only a few minutes, so we didn't talk much in the car. We recapped our day and that is pretty much it. As we walk in, I see Shawn walk towards the security desk rather than the elevator, so I follow him.
"Hey Norman, this is Adam. He might come around from now on, so I just wanted to let you know it's okay to let him into the building!"
      I smile at the security guard taking a better look at me, and look away. We haven't had our first date and he's already saying I'll be coming back? Confident or cocky? To be determined.
"No problem Mr. Mendes. Have a good evening," Norman says.

      We make our way into the elevator, and I shoot Shawn a side look.
"Good to know I can come in whenever I want!"
"Yeah?" he teases me, "I hope you do."
      I look straight ahead as I try to hold back a shy smile. We ride the elevator in silence and Shawn leads the way to his apartment. We both walk in, and I know the way now, but I still don't feel like this is my home, plus we're on a date, so this is much different than when we hung out yesterday.
"So Adam! What's that pizza place where we can make our own pizza?" Shawn says from the kitchen.
"Oh yeah!" I say, still walking in, not too sure if I should follow him. "It's in UberEats, so you just have to choose the place..."
      I meet him in the kitchen where he is already mixing up two vodka sodas, and I take out my phone as I speak.
"And here. You can choose your sauce, your toppings, oh I'm getting so much cheese."
      I tap away on my phone, and hand it over to Shawn so he can make his own pizza. I take a sip of my vodka soda and watch him concentrate on the choices in front of him. After a few minutes, Shawn is done and he hands me back my phone, so I confirm the order.
"Okay! It should be here in about a half hour!"
"Awesome, how much is it?" he asks, reaching for his wallet to get the cash out for the delivery guy.
"Oh, don't worry about it," I reply, "it's UberEats, so it's all taken care of."
      I thought this would be the end of it, it's not really a big deal, but I see Shawn furrow his eyebrows.
"What? No! I can't let you pay for dinner! Please, let me pay you back. How much was it?"
"Shawn, drop it. It was two pizzas, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Adam, I'm not kidding. I won't have you pay for a thing. I can't, it's..."
"What? Emasculating?" I challenge him.
      His eyes open wide as I say that and he stops to think.
"No, it's not that," Shawn tries to defend himself.
"Yeah, it's different now that it's two guys, eh?" I laugh.
      Shawn also chuckles with me, but I can see he's still a bit shy. He takes a sip of his drink, and another, and finally puts it down.
"You know, I was kidding. It's really not that different," I try to reassure him.
"What do you mean?" he feigns not to know what I was referring to.
"Dating a guy. It's not that different from dating a girl. You spend time together, you joke around, eat some food, kiss good night. It's not that different."
      His cheeks flush as I mention the kiss good night, and I have to admit I'm a bit proud of myself for making him blush.
"Yeah, I guess it's just a bit of getting used to," he says, looking down at his glass.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, have you always known you were also into guys, or is this totally new?"
"Uhm, I guess on a level I may have always known. But I'm really into girls, and I never really found a guy I wanted to be more than friends with, if that makes sense? So, it was quite easy to ignore. And then I met you at that party!"
      He laughs at that last sentence, and so do I.
"Honestly, I didn't know what I was feeling," he continues. "It was very new. I didn't know if I could be honest with you about it, either. So when you accepted to give me your number, I was relieved. And I was excited to see where this would go."
      He smiles at me and looks directly into my eyes as he says that last part, and I feel the butterflies awaken again.

      We're interrupted by the UberEats guy texting me that he's here, so Shawn makes sure he can get in the building and answers the door. He tips him in cash — he can't help it, can he! — and comes back to the kitchen with the two pizzas.
"So, do you want to eat them here or in the living room?" he asks me.
"Tomato sauce? White couch? Let's eat in here, I'd hate myself if I ruined your fancy furniture!" I tease him.

⁂