Then again, the guy doesn’t like people like me—anyone passionate about film and television. It’s apparent and has been since the day I met him at H-Mart. Every time he sees me, I swear he’s going through a mild PTSD episode.
“Yeah, he does. I saw you two talking at the bowling alley.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “And Vinny even told me how Crew was asking for you a while back. I wonder why.”
“Well, he definitely doesn’t want to ask me out.”
She scoffs. “For someone so happy and go-lucky, you talk badly about yourself a lot.”
“I’m just being realistic.” How Ali has not found out about Crew’s crush is far beyond me. She’s known Crew for longer than I have, and it only took me less than five seconds to notice.
“Who could hate you, Carl? You know you’re beautiful,” she continues, ignoring me. “And your personality is one that many celebrities would sacrifice their favorite tube of lip oil for.”
I rest my head on her shoulder. “Thanks for the encouragement, but if you manage to convince Crew to help out on a film set, out of everything, I will pay for your next shopping spree.”
Ali smiles confidently. “Then you better pay up right now.”
7
No
Crew
I’ve said no to a lot of things:
No, you can’t eat the last of my snacks.
No, I will not dive back into acting.
Lastly, and most importantly—no, I will not help with this project because I want nothing to do with the film industry.
Well, I repeat that last one in my head. Sadly, I don’t actually say that. Sometimes, I feel like screaming when shit like this happens.
After I drive back to the apartment from the aquarium today, I find Ali and Vinny cuddled up on the couch. Sure, it’s a little painful to watch them happy together, but I can’t be mad.
Vinny got there first.
Once they notice I’m here, Ali brings it up. Vinny seems okay with it, but he couldn’t get his answer out before I shut him down.
“I just came back,” I remind my best friend. “Did you not see me waltz in here ten minutes ago?”
“Yes, because I have eyes in the back of my head,” he nods sarcastically.
“Well, you should know to let a guy rest.”
“Crew, we’ll only be there for, like, an hour,” Ali insists. “You can spare an hour of your Friday with us, right?”
“The four of us?”
She shakes her head, reaching for her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. “I think it’ll be six. Including us.”
“That’s if,” Vinny quips. “You’re willing to join us.”
I raise a brow at the happy couple. “Do I have a choice?”
Ali smiles smugly. “Nope.”
Dammit, she got me there. I should have a choice, but when it comes to helping my friends—I still don’t know how to feel about Carly, to be honest—I’m helpless.
I sigh. “Alright, but we’re not leaving immediately.” Considering that I just got back from the aquarium, I need to clean up because I smell like chemicals, saltwater, and fish from feeding the dolphins today.
