Chessly bared her teeth at her friend while I deliberately took a long drink from my coffee.
When they finally moved off, we exchanged a glance before she broke the silence. “Well, that was awkward.”
“Is it going to be awkward for you to go out with me?” With the uncomfortable way she’d acted after her friend arrived, I worried she might change her mind about our date.
“And miss the epic date to end all epic dates? Um, no.” The mischief in her smile warmed my chest.
With a nod I said, “Good because we’re going to have a great time.” After a beat, I winked. “An epic time.”
Chapter Seventeen
Chessly
“You’re really goingout with Finn this weekend, huh?” Piper asked as we met for our Wednesday afternoon coffee date in the Union. “I thought with all the attention he pays to jersey chasers that you’d written him off.” The concern on her face forced a confession.
“He’s different than I thought.”
My friend raised a skeptical brow.
“He’s sweet, a funny combination of cocky and awkward.” I sipped my café au lait. “And he likes my brain. We actually talk about science when we study together. When you saw us here the other day, he’d invited me to coffee so I could help him with some physics problems.”
She sipped thoughtfully from her cup. “Huh. A pair of science nerds together. It does kind of make sense.”
I wrinkled my nose at my friend. “Ha, ha. You’re hilarious.”
“I have to admit, you two are pretty cute together.” Her eyes danced. “When we returned to school last fall, you, Jamaica, and I would have laughed our asses off if someone had told us we’d be dating Wildcats players right now.”
“It’s one date, Piper. We’re a long way from you and Bax. Even longer from Callahan and Jamaica.”
“With everything you put me through after my one-night stand with Wyatt, you think I’m going to let go of this thing growing between you and Finn?” She shook her head. “Nuh-uh-uh. It’s your turn now.” Her expression turned positively wicked. “Next week, I’m inviting Saylor and Jamaica to coffee with us so you can give up all the deets about your date.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I almost pulled a muscle. “You’ll get as much as you gave us about you and Bax.”
A tiny secret grin spread over her lips. “We’ll see.”
Though I looked for him in Hillman a few times, I didn’t see Finn at all during the week. Finally on Friday afternoon, I gave in and texted him. It felt weird, like I was being pushy or something, but I didn’t want to greet him in jeans and a hoodie if he was taking me somewhere special like Copper with its cocktail dress and suit requirements.
Me: What is the dress code for this epic date?
It took him about half an hour to respond—time in which I wondered if maybe after all the hype, he’d panicked and decided to call off the date. I hated how disappointed the thought left me. After all, it was only one date.
Except I couldn’t stop thinking about that night on his couch and the way his kisses had lit me up, how his big body pushing me into the cushions had heated my core, how conflicted I still was about those jersey chasers’ interruption. What would have happened if they hadn’t showed up when they did?
Finn: Casual. Probably a sweater would be good. And shoes you can play in.
Me: Shoes I can play in?
Finn: No heels. Tennies or something.
Thinking about Jamaica and Piper’s descriptions of their Valentine’s Day fun on the sledding hill, I asked:Do I need snow pantstoo?
Finn: We’ll beinside.
Three little dots followed, so I waited.
Finn: Now stop fishing. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six.
He followed that with a heart-eyes emoji, which dragged a smile from me.
