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He clears his throat and drums his fingers on the table. “Sooo… Would you like to grab dinner with me on Friday? I have to fly back to Oregon on the tenth, but there’s a new restaurant I wanted to try—” The words tumble out of his mouth so fast I almost can’t understand his German.
I frown. He sounds nervous. Is he asking me on a date? He can’t be. We’ve been friends forever, and he’s never stepped across that line—even though back in middle school I hoped he would. Why would he suddenly ask me out—and only a few days before he’s going back to Oregon?
The idea that Teo might actually be interested in me sends my heart soaring. The crush I’ve been telling myself doesn’t exist has been building instead of dying. My pulse races when I see him. My brain spins into neutral when he touches my arm or takes my hand. And just when I think he must feel it, too, he says or does something that bursts my bubble.
Is it possible Teo Feltz has feelings for me too? I must have misunderstood. My language skills are much better, but I’m far from fluent. He’s probably suggesting a group thing.
But I have plans for the weekend—plans his sister begged me not to mention. “Next Friday? I can’t. Lina and I are going to—a thing.”
“No problem.” He picks up his beer, then sets it down. “A thing? That’s suspiciously vague.” At least, I think that’s what he says.
I scramble for an excuse. “It’s a surprise. For Lina’s mom.” I chug what’s left in my glass, nearly choking, then jump off my stool. “I’m getting another round. Who’s in?”
Chapter Twenty
TEO
I sit on the steps in Hans’s dorm, waiting for him to come back from class. The girl at the front desk offered to let me into his room—royalty has perks—but I declined. For one thing, I’m pretty sure being royal doesn’t preclude being arrested for breaking and entering.
Is it really breaking and entering if someone with a key lets you in? It feels like it should be.
Footsteps clatter on the stone steps, and Hans’s bleached-blond hair comes into view as he rounds the last landing. He pauses when he sees me, then continues up the steps. “Hallo, Teo.”
“It’s about time. Your class got out twenty minutes ago.” I stand and follow him to his room.
“Lina was waiting for me. I had to fake a stomachache.” He unlocks the door and enters, dropping his backpack on the coffee table. He flips on the propane fireplace and drops into one of the chairs. “Did you bring food?”
I push his backpack to the floor and deposit my bag on the table. “Chicken curry and rice, as advertised.”
“Cool.” He opens the bag and pulls out the containers, spreading them across the small table. “Grab some plates, will you?” He nods at a cupboard by the door.
I find the small stack of dishes and grab some cutlery to go with them, then flip the switch on his tea kettle. “You said you have an idea. What’s the plan?”
He gives me a pitying look. “I don’t know why you can’t just ask her out like a normal human being. ‘Eva, you, me, dinner. Tonight.’ That’s what I’d do.”
“I tried that. She said she had plans and headed to the bar to buy another round. I’ve never seen a girl exit a conversation so quickly. Maybe this is a bad idea.”
“Please. She’s definitely into you.” At least I think that’s what he says—his mouth is full.
“But I’m going back to the States on Saturday. If I’m going to ask her out, I need to make it big. You’re the one who said American girls like royalty. Now that she knows, I need to sweep her off her feet.”
He chews. “You’re overthinking this.” The words are muffled. He holds up a hand as he chews some more, then swallows. “Just tell her how you feel.”
“I will.” Even thinking about telling her has my heart pounding in my chest. I’ve been in love with Eva since—well, most of my life, if I’m honest with myself. For years I told myself it was just a stupid crush, that I’d get over it. In college, I dated a bit, hoping to put Eva out of my mind. But those were mostly first dates—I rarely liked any of them enough to bother asking her out again.
Hans picks up another naan and scoops more curry onto it. “Why didn’t you ask her out ages ago? Back in high school, she was as nerdy as you were.”
I roll my eyes. “We were all nerdy.”
“Not me. I was the least nerdy accordion player you’ve ever met.”
“I cannot argue with that statement.” I grab the Chinese food-style container and dump the remaining curry on my plate before he can eat it all. “I didn’t ask her out because we were friends. I didn’t want to ruin it.”
“That is the stupidest concept ever. I mean, sure it might have been awkward for a while. But that’s the beauty of this whole cross-Atlantic thing you’ve got going on. You ask her out, she says no, you come home. By the time you get to Oregon again, the awkward has worn off.”
As I mull that over, I grab the kettle to pour hot water into our teacups. Could Hans be right? In that case, telling her now—right before I go back to the States—is perfect timing. She’ll head home in a few weeks—plenty of time for the awkward to dissipate. If that’s how it works.
Or for the heart to grow fonder.
