I nod. "Nor should you settle for that. But maybe in a month or two…"
"Why are you trying to set me up with Carter?"
I shrug. "You're both smart and funny, kind and genuine, and you're both my best friends. I can't imagine a better match for either of you."
Shea shrugs. "Maybe one day."
I smirk. "Yeah. One day." That's going to be the day I set them up. I know she's had a crush on him for a while—almost every girl in school does. He's that perfect. And he's made no secret of his admiration for Shea—so, why not? In a couple months it won't be as painful for either Carter or me. Then I'll put my matchmaking abilities to work and see if I can't make my best friends as happy together as Xander and I are going to be.
* * *
Ididn't letthings change too much too quickly. I wanted it to be a gradual transition. I think jumping in with both feet would be a mistake. I think Xan's thankful for that too. Can you imagine the pressure we'd both be under if we started sleeping together right away? We've been apart for quite awhile, so getting to know one another again on that level we had before is priority.
"You're taking her to prom?" Jesse questions Xander. I'm standing in the kitchen while they're out in the garage. I can't help it if I can hear them talking. They're the ones who left the door open.
I quietly pour my glass of iced tea then hop up on the counter. Mrs. M gives me a knowing look and winks.
"I think I should," Xander answers.
"Yeah. She deserves prom," Jesse tells him.
"Hell yeah," Ethan agrees. "You should do the limo. The whole nine yards."
"Chicks love that shit," Kennedy tells them. I can hear him strumming his guitar. It's so easy to tell him apart from the rest. Plus, he's always strumming his guitar. It's like an extension of him.
"Yeah? You think she'd like that? I should get her a really nice corsage, too. Calla lilies. They're her favorite." There's silence for a few minutes. "Wait. Wait, wait, wait. If we do prom, I have to wear a tux?" Xan asks.
"Itisa formal event, man," Linc chuckles.
"Fuck. Trussed up like a penguin."
Mrs. M snickers and I do too.
"More like a turkey," Ethan teases.
"Funny. Ha ha ha," Xander replies.
"I like it," Ben says. "Dude, you know you want to go with her. You know you want to put on that tux, buy her flowers, and get a limo. You want to romance her."
Xander grunts.
"Hell, man. If I had a girl I was in love with, I'd romance the shit out of her," Jesse admits.
"You don't do love or relationships," Linc reminds him.
"Yeah, that's true. But Xan does and that's cool. Go to prom and do it up right," Jesse says.
"Go, hurry," Mrs. M tells me and I run back into the living area where I'd been doing my homework. I quickly get situated, turning on my iPod, putting my earbuds in. I squeal on the inside.Prom!
I wasn't even hoping for it. I'd planned on going with Carter, but since we broke up I figured it wasn't an option. Oh my. If Xan takes me… that tells me everything. He'll be giving up his comfort to take me.
He doesn't show up, so I get into the music and my homework. Finally, I'm done. Chemistry. Ugh. I am so not good at science. I close my eyes and relax, listening to the music, grooving in my chair.
I know he's there, watching me. I can feel it. I can smell him.
I open my eyes and he's sitting on the ottoman in front of my chair. I'd started rocking the chair to the music or my feet would've been there. He smirks. I smirk back and turn the music off, taking out my earbuds as well.
"Hey," he says by way of greeting.
