“No, I was just being funny and testing you, really.”
“Testing me?”
“Yeah, you’re not a pervert, are you, Matt?” Alex’s lips turn up in a genuine smile.
“No, generally not.” I chuckle. “I mean, I can be kinky when needed, but a pervert… no.”
A subtle smile catches in the corner of her lips, and I know we’re both thinking of the other night. Our eyes lock, but neither of us says anything—we just keep staring at each other. I inhale sharply, my heart pounding in my chest as I begin to inch closer, and it’s like something snaps inside Alex. She clears her throat, pulling back from me, getting comfortable back on the sofa, effectively ending whatever the hell that was. “Okay, what’s our next question?” she states matter-of-factly.
I rub my chin, trying to make sense of whatever the hell is going on between us while pretending I’ve got it together.
“All right… what if we go with something chill? Like, I don’t know… dogs or cats? Let’s tame it down a little.”
Alex groans and throws her head back. “Ugh, you’re such a coward. Full-on chicken mode.”
“I wear that badge with honor,” I say, already typing.
Me:So are you more of a dogs or cats person?
I hit send as Alex types it into her cell as well, and we sit back waiting.
“You’re a dog guy, right, Matt?”
“Yeah, you?”
“Yeah, I like the weird ones, like French bulldogs or those naked dogs—”
“Chinese Crested! Yes, I love that breed,” I say, and we both chuckle as the messages come in.
Logan:Dog man all the way. The bigger, the better.
Alex nods, and we look at my cell to see Jaci’s reply.
Jacqueline:Oh, I just love cats. They’re so agile and calm, unlike dogs that are so chaotic and crazy.
“Logan and Jaci seem like total opposites, huh?” I say.
Alex snorts. “Yeah, well, you’re the one who wanted someone all polite and put-together. Looks like she’s checking every box on your little good-girl wishlist, Matt.”
I give her a weak smile as I move my arm out, wrapping it around Alex’s shoulders and pull her to me.
We’ve been going for a few hours when a random message from Jaci makes me sit up taller and let out an audible gasp.
Jacqueline:So, I was wondering if maybe you would like to catch up on the weekend for a date?
I glance over at Alex as she reads the message, and her whole expression shifts. Her smile fades, eyes blinking a little too fast, breath catching like she’s trying to process. Then, BAM, she puts on a bright smile like nothing’s wrong. “Go for it!” she says, voice a little too upbeat. “You guys vibe, right? Might as well meet up.”
I let out a slow breath, then get an idea. “What if you asked Logan out too? We could both go… same place, same night. You know, moral support.”
She squints at me. “You mean like… a double date?”
“Not with each other,” I say quickly. “Separate tables. Separate dates. Just… knowing you’re there might make it less weird.”
She hesitates, chewing on her lip. “I don’t know. What if Logan says no?”
I shrug. “Only one way to find out.”
Alex winces but sends the message asking if Logan would like to go out for dinner on Saturday night, while I agree to meet up with Jaci.
