PLAY IT COOL

Mm, there you go.

There goes my evening.

Had my jacket on, keys in my hand

You walked in, now I’m changing plans

Told the boys, “Just a minute, I’m good”

Twenty went by, still where I stood

Black hair falls with a flash of pink

You catch me looking before I can blink

Ask what I’m smiling at, I say, “Nothing”

You lift one brow like you know I’m bluffing

Normally words come easy to me

Now I’m choosing where to put my knees

Chair too close? I move it an inch

You move yours closer. I forget my drink.

I can keep my voice low

I can lean back in my seat

But you say my name slow

And that calm slips out of reach

I play it cool

Till you look at me

Then I forget

Who I’m trying to be

I play it cool

You don’t make it easy

Stay a little longer

Keep that seat beside me

You don’t fill the quiet just to keep it alive

Let a whole song pass, then you speak your mind

Everybody calls you cold from a distance

They don’t hear you laugh when nobody’s listening

You ask about home, I tell you the truth

Not the little version I give in a room

Names of the people I miss when I’m gone

You put your phone down, let me go on

Bghit nbqa m3ak, but I swallow that line

Say, “You need a ride?” like that’s all on my mind

Could’ve sent a car, could’ve called it a night

Instead I’m checking if the passenger side’s right

You say, “You do this for everyone?”

I look at the road, let a second run

“No.” One word, and you turn my way

Now there’s a little less room to play safe

I can keep my voice low

I can lean back in my seat

But you say my name slow

And that calm slips out of reach

I play it cool

Till you look at me

Then I forget

Who I’m trying to be

I play it cool

You don’t make it easy

Stay a little longer

Keep that seat beside me

Took the straight road, wished it had more turns

Missed your last sentence, caught the first word

“Nadir.” Yeah, now you’ve got me

Pull up outside, but you don’t reach for your keys

Got an excuse for every minute I stay

Traffic was clear, can’t blame that today

You say, “You’re quiet.” I say, “Just thinking.”

Your hand finds mine. There goes pretending.

I won’t read a promise

Into one good night

But if you want to know me

I’ll leave the door open wide

No perfect little speech

Just something I can mean

I liked my evenings quiet

Now I like you here with me

I played it cool

Till you looked at me

Now I don’t mind

If you know what I mean

I played it cool

You saw right through me

Stay a little longer

Keep that seat beside me

Mm, there you go.

You knew, didn’t you?