Page 166 of Lose You Twice

I notice when she leaves.

She leans over the worksheet, her shoulder touching mine. “One more?”

I should tell her to finish the page herself.

Instead, I move closer.

“Fine. But only one.”

She smiles down at the paper.

I start explaining the next equation, but I barely hear my own voice. All I can think about is her knee against mine, and the fact that I want to sit at this table long after her homework is finished.

I don’t know what this feeling I have for her is called.

I only know that when Wren looks at me and asks me to show her again, I’d explain the same equation a hundred times if it means she keeps leaning closer.

Someone clears their throat, pulling me back to the present.

I look up, and all three of them are staring at me again, not even trying to hide their grins this time.

“What?”

Asher says, “He froze.”

Weston nods solemnly. “Textual cardiac event.”

“I’m leaving.”

“You live here.”

“Then you’re leaving.”

Grayson’s mouth twitches again.

I ignore them and text Justin through Wren’s phone for the next few minutes. He sends a photo of the homework, terrible lighting with a shadow over half the page. I send back the steps. Wren replies a minute later.

Wrenley Mae: Thank you. I really appreciate you saving me from having to pretend that I knew what I was doing there.

I don’t have time to reply before Weston throws a balled-up napkin at me.

“Bro, come on,” he says. “Ask her on a real date before I die of second-hand yearning.”

“Shut up, asshole.” I catch the napkin and throw it back. “I already planned to.”

“No, you planned to overthink it for three to five business days and then ask her.”

Asher nods. “Coop’s right on that one.”

Grayson says nothing, which means he agrees.

I hate all of them.

I also unlock my phone.

Kai: let me take you out saturday after the game?

Wren answers almost immediately.