“Well, no,” I admit. “But there was no wedding dress before this.”
“Dude.” Chase puts his hand on top of mine, then must decide that’s too weird (which it is), and removes it quickly, shaking it off as if trying to erase the cooties he caught from me. “She wants your opinion. On herwedding dress.This is your chance.” He holds his hand out. “Give me your phone.”
“Absolutely not.” There’s no way I’m letting Chase take over. But he does have a point.
Why did she send me her wedding dress?
When she was in that dress, looking at her reflection, did she think of me? Did she wonder if I would like that dress?
Somewhere in the back of her mind, does she know that I’m the one who should be standing at the end of that aisle, waiting for her?
The thought fills me with confidence. Chase is right—this is crossing into new territory. And maybe I’m ready to take some kind of stand. Not explicitly, so she doesn’t feel like I’m making her choose between us, but at least by letting her see how much I care.
So, no, I won’t let Chase type out the message to her. If I’m going to win Claire, I’m going to do it myself. Not with Chase’s words, but with my own.
I type out a response and hit send before I can think twice. I set my phone down on the table and run my fingers through my hair.
“What did you say?” Chase asks.
“I said she looks perfect. And I asked her if she felt like she found ‘the one.’”
Chase raises his brows. “Not bad. A little double meaning for her to ponder.” He nods. “You’re catching on quickly.”
“Exactly.”
The waitress arrives with the entrees Amber and I ordered. She sets my plate in front of me, then looks at me with a question in her eyes about Chase’s place at the table.
“He can eat her food,” I say.
She sets the food in front of Chase, who looks down at the plate sadly.
I glance at my phone. Nothing yet from Claire. “Want to explain this whole Amber situation?” I ask him, needing a distraction.
“Not particularly. That’s another story for another day.” He sighs heavily and digs into his food.
I look down at my phone again and see three dots. My heart rate picks up at the thought of Claire responding. “She’s writing back.”
Chase and I sit, staring at my phone. I don’t know what Chase is thinking, but I’m willing her to write back faster.
But the dots disappear, and there’s no message.
I sigh, a little disappointed. We wait a moment, but the dots don’t return. Chase and I go back to eating, but a thought pops into my mind, and I grin. “It’s okay. I know what to do next.”
Chase quirks a brow at me. “Oh, yeah?”
I nod. “Monday is Pi Day.”
CHAPTER 22
Claire
Professor BFF
You look perfect. But do you think you found ‘the one’?
I’ve staredat Ryan’s message too many times this weekend. I typed out dozens of replies, but nothing ever seemed right. Because somewhere in the back of my mind, I’m almost certain he means more than just the dress.
And I’m not sure how to answer him truthfully.
