He shrugs. “True.”
“You know, if you ever genuinely like one girl, you’ll have to treat her differently than every other girl or she won’t take you seriously.”
“I know, but it’s scary. What if I decide she ain’t right for me, or she decides I’m too much for her. What if she’s a friend who’s used to dudes flirtin’ with her all the time, and she doesn’t realizeI’mserious?” He raises one eyebrow at me and pokes myside. “It could happen. Either way, somebody gets rejected and somebody gets hurt. I ain’t ready for all that,” he says, taking an introspective turn I never see coming.
“But you’re the one who said all thetake the jacket offstuff!”
“And I mean it, but it still sucks. Nobody wants to be the bad guy.”
“This is why you’re my favorite. You get it. And you’re going to be the best thing to ever happen to some very lucky girl one day. I’ll probably hate her a little.”
“I’ll tell her you’re my sister and make itsoweird.” He grins.
“You better.”
“Love you, Squirrel.”
“Love you back, Moose.”
“Kiss right here?” He points to his cheek.
“Get out.”
Chapter 22
To Be With You
Ilock up and go to Liza’s room to change clothes. She’s still awake reading. I feel bad I didn’t shoot hoops with Jamie or read and have snacks with the girls, but they seemed to enjoy Sam. Who doesn’t?
“He’s so cute,” she gushes, which is new. She’s just started to admit she likes boys.
“He knows, and he’s a big ol’ mess too.” I agree with her.
“I can’t believe how many songs he can play, and he flirts with you constantly! You should dump Nathan,” she announces, leaning upside down over the top bunk.
“Right,” I say without any emotion. “But not to date Sam.”
“How can you not love him?” Liza coos.
“I do love him.” I laugh. “The same way you love a giant clingy puppy that steals food off your plate and follows you into the bathroom if you let him.”
“Okay, eww. That was weird.” She looks mortified.
“Hang out with us for a week and you’ll find out how disturbingly accurate that is.”
She laughs and flops back on her pillow, returning to her book.
My phone buzzes as I pull on an oversize T-shirt to sleep in. I take a minute to acknowledge a few messages from Annie and our group, but the one I just heard is from Jude.
Jude Daniel (Take a Sad Song and Make it Sexy) Crawford:Call me
A mild terror whooshes over me.
Why do I always imagine the worst? I tap his name and shut myself in Liza’s closet, like I did when I was fourteen venting to Joey about my dad.
“Are you okay?” My words come out in a rush when he answers on the second ring.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Areyouokay?” he asks, calm and relaxed as always.
