“Bye,” I offered, and I waved to Steven on my way out. Like I’d suspected, my shift would be from five to nine on Mondays and Wednesdays, and three to closing, which was ten-thirty, on Saturdays, as well as any special events the observatory hosted. Professor Callander had promised if I thought I could handle more hours after school started, he could always add me into the schedule. The pay was decent, and I’d be making more than plenty to live on. Plus I’d have enough to send some home to Mom and Jilly.
I treated myself to a loaded burger from an on-campus fast food joint on the way back to my dorm, and overall I thought the day was ending up pretty decent. Noah and Steven both were nice enough, and neither felt threatening. It irritated me sometimes, the unconscious measuring of people—mostly guys—that I couldn’t seem to help measuring. I was powerless to stop it. Ever since Kelsy Evans, it’s what I did. My conscience always on guard. My intuitions constantly tuned into anything, any one trait a person might have that made me feel trapped. It was as solid in my character now as a handshake. Yet Brax Jenkins had slammed me to the ground, kissed me, and I’d allowed him right into my dorm room. I’d lost my damn marbles for sure.
Tessa was still gone by the time I got back. I had kicked off my boots and was sitting on my bed, eating my messy but delicious bacon cheeseburger when my phone beeped, signaling a text. Probably Mom, wondering why I hadn’t called back yet.
I glanced at the small screen on my phone. The name SOUTHIE popped up in all capital letters. Butterflies immediately swarmed inside of me, at the same time my guard shot straight up. What did he want now?
Surprised for only a few seconds, not only at the text but at how my heart leaped at seeing it, I shook my head. Brax had apparently sent himself a text from my phone and hi-jacked my number, before bringing it back to me. Then entered his number into my phone. I glanced at the text:
Brax: Hey Gracie, how’d the i-view go?
Wrestling with the decision whether to answer or ignore, I just stared at the screen and Brax’s words. So taken off guard by his persistence, I couldn’t do anything else. I set the phone back down, stared at it. Picked it back up. Set it back down, closed my eyes.
The phone chirped again, and my eyes flashed open. Grabbing the phone, I looked at the screen.
Brax: I know you’re there, Gracie, probably staring at the screen. I-view?
I pushed out a frustrated breath.
Me: It wasn’t an i-view. I already had the job. I didn’t drop my phone. You pick-pocketed it.
Brax: You dropped it. Opportunity arose. The job?
Me: Swell. I work Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Brax: That’s a lot of damn work, Gracie. I think we should meet to go over our schedule. ☺ And did you say the word swell? I think I heard that once on an old fuckin PopEye cartoon. How old are you, anyway?
Cahtoon. Since no one could see me, I smiled. It was just too hard not to.
Me: I’m old-fashioned. My grandpa says swell all the time. One of my favorite words. We have no schedule, Southie. We’ve known each other less than twenty-four hours.
Brax: Old-fashioned? What, do you make jelly and pies, too? And that’s why we need to meet. So we’ll have a schedule. See?
Me: Jelly and pies—yes. Every season. And I’d think the infamous Brax Jenkins would already have a loaded schedule. Why me?
Brax: Infamous, huh? You been hearin rumors about me, Gracie? And why not you?
Me: Rumors? Plenty of them. Why not me? Because I don’t play with players. And I definitely don’t play your game.
Brax: Now I’m a player? An infamous player, even. With my very own game. You’re a lot braver on text, Ms. Beaumont.
I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. Maybe he was right? Would I really be standing in front of him, boldly having such a conversation? Probably not. I sighed.
Me: No, I’m not. I feared you'd shank me earlier. But I had time to think about it today.
Brax: Shanking you didn't even cross my mind, Gracie. A few other things, def, but not that. So you’ve been thinking about me today? Swell. It must’ve been that kiss.
I sucked in a breath as my heart sped up. Why was he so blunt with me?
Me: You just hi-jacked my word. What kiss?
Brax: Haha, good one Gracie. You know as well as I do you can’t get that kiss off your mind. I haven’t thought about anything else all day. I’m infamous for hi-jacking many things. A word is a first for me though. I know a seafood joint. It ain’t Boston, that’s for damn sure, but it’ll do. Tomorrow night, after I get back from our out of towner? Seven? I’ll pick you up.
Holy God, he’d just asked me out. On a date. The two of us alone. My heart thumped heavy against my ribs, and my palms grew sweaty. Why oh why was he asking me out? And what was I supposed to say? I didn’t know him, at all, and the thought of a date made me so jittery. I couldn’t do it. Brax would be able to tell I was a bundle of nerves. He’d eventually figure things out. Figure me out. No, the less he knew of me, the better. I moved my fingers over the keyboard of my cell, and noticed that they’d become clammy.