Page 39 of Kidnapping of a Myth

Deep breath. It’s going to be okay. He’s a decent guy, right?

Yes.

Then try not to worry—Dallas likes you, and now you just need to know if he LIKES you likes you.

What are we, five?

Well how else do you want me to put it??? Now you just wanna know if he wants to maybe marry you someday?

WINNIE that is not helping!

You wanna know if he wants to bang you and only you and go steady.

That’s a little better…

Why not just tell him THAT? Use those words—dudes understand words like bang and screw and bone.

I’d rather not make this about sex…

Oh right, you want to make this about feelers.

Yes

Well the good news is he showed up without you telling him you wanted him over, right?

Also yes.

So. Hmmm…

She has nothing to say for a solid two minutes, those three dots in the messenger app seemingly frozen on the screen, bubbling and bubbling with no message popping up.

It’s torture.

Sorry, Kyle overcooked someone’s burger and I had to take them the new one.

…

Okay so what I would say if I were in your position…

Yes, yes. Hanging on your every word…

Dallas, I thought when we agreed to hanging out for the sake of your career that I could do it without getting invested—but the truth is, that’s not what happened.

Is there more?

I’m thinking! Plus Ben just got here for his shift and he’s on my case. I swear that dude is useless.

WINNIE FOCUS. I can’t sit in the bathroom forever!!!

She doesn’t reply.

WINNIE

WINNIE

Nothing.

Shit.