AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I groaned.
“What?”
“I’m being stupid, right? I should just tell Austin how I feel and see what happens.” That wasn’t quite the same as asking him out. In fact, it was just having a long overdue conversation. Right? “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
Megan met my gaze, eyebrows raised. “Are we playing worst case scenario?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. No. I did not actually want to do that. Because there were a ton of terrible things that could happen. It was already awkward at school because I’d been avoiding him all week. I wasn’t going to have the strength to continue avoiding him. I knew that. Accepted it, even. But that didn’t mean I had to like it.
So what happened if I poured my heart out at Austin’s feet and then he stomped it like a shallow puddle on a rainy day?
Talk about awkward.
I’d have to change schools. Maybe even move out of the area—because even though our county was pretty big, all the teachers knew each other. And math and computer science were too closely related for comfort.
“I don’t want to move.”
Megan snickered. “I don’t know if it’s a good thing or super pathetic that I can follow the train of thought that got you there.”
“I’m going with good. It’s got to be a good thing to have someone who gets me.” I blew out a breath. “I can’t do it. I can’t just tell him how I feel and see what happens.”
“So ask him out. That’s less pressure than you slugging him in the stomach and telling him you love him.”
I could actually picture it going down somewhat like that. Probably with me yelling and calling him an idiot on top of it. “What about Luke? What if I just wait and see how things go there? Wouldn’t that be the easiest solution of all of them?”
“Sure. I guess. If you’re interested in marrying Luke.”
I bit my lip.
“Are you? Can you picture that?” Megan saw too much.
I turned and looked out the window at the handful of people walking past. “It’s a little soon to talk marriage when it comes to Luke.”
“All right. That’s fair. Kissing. Can you imagine kissing Luke?”
I tried. Usually, I had a pretty decent imagination. I pictured Luke, standing close, leaning in…my stomach twisted. I pushed through. Luke’s face got blurry before morphing into Austin’s.
“That’s a long pause.” Megan narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. “I’m going to go with no.”
“We’ve only been out once. To lunch. And he doesn’t actually like Mexican food, so that taints the whole experience. Maybe I should give it another shot at a place where he would enjoy the food.”
Megan nodded. “That’s very logical. Has he asked you out again?”
“No.” I looked back at my friend. “That’s bad, right? It means he knows the date was a disaster?”
“He could be busy?” Megan lifted her shoulders. “There are other possibilities.”
“But you don’t think they’re the reason.”
She held up her hands. “I’m not in Luke’s head. I don’t know how he thinks. I do know, if I asked you out, I wouldn’t let the evening end without firming up plans to get together again.”
“Aww.” I blew her a kiss. “Best friend ever.”
“Don’t you forget it.” She pointed a finger at me.
The bell on the door interrupted my reply, and Megan bounced off her seat and hurried to the front of the store.
I dug my phone out of my pocket. I should be at home grading programs. There were always programs to grade. Ada and Charles had made it clear what they thought of me heading to the bookstore. No one could convey disdain for someone’s choices like a cat. But they’d still be happy to see me when I got home. I was onto them.
