Tag’s? Do I need a ride?
“We can pick up your date on the way to pick up mine if you want.”
The air in my big fantasy balloon is violently deflated as the crushing weight of reality hits me. “Date?” I ask in a hoarse voice that forces me to clear my throat.
“Yeah. Tag set me up this time. He swears it’s better than Ash’s choices. He said she got you a date, too.”
I’m so stupid. I was just in his room planning this night all wrong. I can’t believe I really thought I had a chance with him.
“Um. No thanks. I’m good. I should go, though,” I say while turning away.
“That’s cool. Let me know if you change your mind,” he says dismissively.
He turns his back on me and starts unloading his pockets, so I take that as my cue to leave. I don’t even bother saying bye.
With quick, angry strides, I reach my house in no time and the door slams behind me. Maggie comes running out of her room, clutching her chest as though I just scared the hell out of her. But one quick look at my face, and her fear is replaced by worry.
“What happened?”
I roll my eyes while heading to my room, barely holding back a scream. “He has a date tonight.”
“What?” she asks in as much disbelief as I am in.
At least I’m not the only idiot under this roof. Maybe there’s too much iron in the water and it’s making us delusional.
“Yep. Oh, and he wanted to know if my date and I wanted to ride with them.”
I turn to see the pure shock on her face, and she drops to my sad, pathetic bed. I’m paying him for my damn car. Definitely paying him.
“I so did not see that coming. And what date do you have? I thought he was your date for the night.”
So did I.
“Ash offered to set me up with someone at their party tonight. I told her no. He told Tag yes when he offered to set him up. I can’t believe I was such an idiot.”
I shouldn’t cry. It’d be pathetic, and dramatic, and... embarrassing to cry over a guy that I was merely friends with. Fortunately, no tears come out, though I’m really not surprised. I stopped crying when I was a kid.
Rye can kiss my ass. I’m done being his friend.
“Call Ash and tell her to make the date happen,” Maggie says, bringing me back to the hell I’m in.
I look at her like she’s lost her mind, and then I drop to the bed beside her.
“I don’t want to go over there. I don’t want a date. And I sure as hell don’t want to see him on a date. I didn’t want to like him. In fact, I wanted to hate him. But he’s so frigging sweet, funny, smart, and comfortable. I slept like a rock last night, and I honestly thought I’d sleep even harder tonight—if you know what I mean.”
She snickers quietly while reaching over and grabbing my phone. “Set the date up. If you don’t, it’ll make you look bad. You’re too amazing to look like you’re pining over him. Go have fun. Or at least look like you’re having fun. Otherwise he’ll ask questions you don’t want to answer.”
Why did I ever let myself go to this place? I would be fine right now had I kept my mind in the friend-zone.
Maggie is right. I’ll look pathetic if I stay here after that. I guess I’ll have to text Ash.
***
RYE
“You came,” Tag says with a frown.
What the hell?
“Yeah, and I picked up Leah. You’re right; she knows all her shit about cars. She went to grab us some drinks.”
Please don’t ask me what color her dress is.
I know she has red hair, a slim body, and a vast amount of knowledge about anything with wheels, but I can’t seem to remember what color dress she has on.
His frown only deepens, and his eyes trail over to the back gate to his patio as it opens. In walks the girl who pissed me off, and she doesn’t have anyone with her. What dick couldn’t go pick her up?
Wren didn’t go get her either, but it was planned for them to meet here so that neither of them felt compelled to get along. It put them on neutral, easy grounds. This dick Ash has for her isn’t affiliated with our group, so he should have gone to pick her up.
I try not to breathe differently when I see how fucking perfect she looks. The light blue sundress is flowing at the bottom instead of tight like the other girls are wearing. She looks so damn sweet and tempting. I can almost see her blue eyes from here, like they are glistening as she searches the party.
“So you really went and picked up Leah?” Tag asks, his eyes going from me to Brin.
“It sounded like you wanted me to, so I did. Brin’s date here yet? I think she’s looking for him.”
He mutters something about stubbornness and pride, but I have no idea what. Nor do I care.