“What’s next?” Serena laughs awkwardly, shifting in her seat, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her notebook.
I lean in to take another look at her notebook. “Any order you want to do it in?”
Serena looks to the side, thinking for a few seconds before shaking her head. “I don’t have a preference.”
I pull my phone out to snap a picture of her list for my own reference. Serena’s eyes widen when she hears the camera shutter go off. She grasps my hand, “What are you doing?”
“I need a copy for myself.”
Serena backs away and starts fiddling with her hair tie again. “Right, sorry.”
I glance at her wrist. “Why do you do that?”
Serena’s brown eyes narrow as she tries to understand what I just said. She clears her throat like she’s hesitant to answer.
“I’m sorry–”
“It helps with my anxiety.” Serena answers at the same time. “Or just whenever I’m nervous. I don’t know why.”
“No need to explain yourself,” I say, my hand naturally lifts before I catch myself, realizing it might be too forward. I quickly shift gears. “So, there’s going to be a party tomorrow night. You should come.”
Serena tilts her head slightly, thinking about my offer. She’s still wearing that confused expression from earlier.
“It’s number four on your list.”
“I’m aware.”
“What’s wrong?”
Serena shrugs. “I know it’s on my list, but… parties aren’t something I’m invited to all the time.”
I turn my body, grab both her hands in mine, and look straight into her coffee-colored eyes. “Well, I’m inviting you to come with me.”
“I,” Serena shakes her head, “I don’t know.”
“It’s on your list, don’t miss the chance,” I reply with a grin and a wink, prompting a soft chuckle from her.
“Well, I think I just wrote it because–”
“Because you want to go to one.” I finish her sentence with a raised brow.
“Tyler,” she begins, and I feel my throat tighten as she says my name. “I’m nervous.”
“And that’s okay. It’s okay to be nervous. You can lean on me. I’ll grab you a drink. I’ll wait outside the ridiculously long bathroom line. We can leave when you want to. Bottom line, you’re not alone.”
Serena holds my gaze the entire time. Her eyes are telling me she’s scared as fuck. Then it flashes. I can’t read the hidden meaning, but my gut is telling me she trusts me.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I say with a warm smile for her. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
“Are you coming to the game tonight?” Serena asks, her hands slipping away from mine. I ignore the feeling of her hands leaving mine.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“But?” She arches her brow. “Your friend is literally on the team.”
I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Jared has his own fan club if you haven’t noticed. He doesn’t need me.”
