12. Austin

12

AUSTIN

Thursday night, my cell pings just as I'm shutting down my laptop after finishing a grueling English assignment.

"Dex again?" Kael asks from across the room. He's been working on his own assignment for a psychology class.

I glance at my screen. "Uh-huh."

"He's really hamming it up."

"That's Dex for you."

"I think it's cute."

"It is." I sigh like it's exasperating when I'm fully playing along with his getting-acquainted texts—even looking forward to them. Too bad our date is tomorrow. Did I really just think that?

I place my hand against my unsteady stomach. "You sure you and Angelica don't want to go to the bonfire with us?"

He holds back a smirk, likely knowing that my nerves are getting the best of me. "I think we'll sit this one out."

"Fine," I huff, then lift my cell. I find I want to keep the conversation going with Dex even if I think I already know everything about him. Believe it or not, he still keeps me on my toes.

What made you interested in public service besides your natural charisma? I tease.

I can see the dots moving as he types, and I wonder how much he'll give away.

After my dad left, my mom dated a lot of shitty guys who made promises they didn't keep. When we were short on rent, Mom would try all these quick-buck sales schemes to make extra money, and I would help her deliver the pitch in front of groups of mostly unwilling people. It was awful, but it made me figure out how to communicate better—and turn on the charm.

I already know that, but it's been years since we discussed it. I feel in awe all over again. I grew up in a middle-class family, and we never wanted for much. I thought Dex was one of the most interesting human beings I'd ever met, and sometimes I still do.

Thanks for sharing that. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you also enjoy all the community work involved, so you can give back.

You're right, of course. Wow, it's almost like we've known each other for longer.

I grin. It does feel like that.

After we go back and forth about how Dex is hoping to score an internship for a political candidate, he steers us toward the topic at hand.

Anyway, back to our date night. Should we get food first?

I can always eat.

Another thing I like about you.

My fingers absently find my fluffy belly. He might be the only one. That thought deflates my buoyant mood. But fuck that. Plenty of guys don't work out and are soft in the middle. That was evident on the hookup apps.

Gonna sign off. I need my beauty sleep.

You mean you need to get back to your book.

My lips tilt upward. Guilty.

Night.

But I don't pull up the book I've been reading. Instead, I bask in the glow of that conversation and pretend it was real.

Oh God, I'm nervous. Why am I so nervous? This is Dex I'm going out with, not a stranger.

But he's treating tonight like a real date, and I don't know if I can pull it off with him. We know each other too well.

It might be fun, though, if only I could relax. The whole texting thing this week has added to the tension, as if we truly are getting to know each other for the first time.

Stop obsessing about it.

As I fix my hair, pushing it back from my forehead since both Dex and Kael mentioned they like it that way, Kael asks from his perch on his bed, "What are you wearing?"

I head to the closet and pull out a hanger. "One of the new shirts I bought with my mom."

When I hold it in front of me in the mirror, he says, "Good idea."

I do a double-take at his expression. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because I think you're gonna have a good time regardless. You'll be with your best friend, and I know how much you care about him."

"I do care about him." I catch his gaze in the reflection. "But this is no different from when we normally hang out together."

He arches a brow. "You sure it's not different? You've been glued to your cell every night."

"Not more than usual." I busy myself with the buttons. "Guess Dex continues to surprise me."

"He made it fun, and that's a good thing."

"Yeah." I blow out a breath. "It doesn't help explain why I'm wound so tight."

He grins deviously. "It just means his plan is working."

"That makes no sense."

"It will."