What will I do then? How long will it take for me to get over him? How long before I can go back to Charles and my routine?
“You’re horny for an actual human,” Reese says, eyeing me over her latte. “This is a historic time.”
She asked me to meet up for a coffee, and I jumped at the opportunity to get out of the house. I need something—anything—to distract me from thinking about Dawson. We met at a different place this time. Just in case he decided to drop by unannounced again.
I cover my face in my arms, wanting to melt into the table and die. “Leave me alone!” I pout. Reese laughs back and pats me on the head like I’m a good dog or something.
“Don’t be embarrassed. This is a good thing. Maybe now you can have an actual boyfriend that isn’t made of plastic!”
“Silicon…” I mutter.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing.” I can’t take this any longer. IneedDawson, but I’m still too afraid. Of what? I couldn’t even put it into words. All I know is that I am. All I can hope is that he eventually loses interest.
My phone buzzes, shaking the table. Startled, I reach for it, but Reese grabs it first.
“Gimmie,” I snap. But she stares at the screen and her eyes go wide. “What? What is it?”
“Oh my God, Evie…”
My heart is pounding so fast I move like The Flash, snatching my phone back from her. There’s a text on the screen from Dawson. And when I read it, my entire body freezes.
Dinner with me tonight. Pick you up at seven. If you don’t open the door, I’ll wait outside until you do.
I blink rapidly as my mind basically stops working. I don’t even know what to say, so I quickly text back:
No. I can’t.
“Did you just say no to him?” Reese asks, her voice a mixture of annoyance and amusement. “Dawson is a total hottie, if you haven’t noticed.”
“You think I haven’t noticed!?” My voice explodes from my mouth, causing Reese to jump in her chair. I put a hand to my chest. “Sorry…I’m just…I don’t know what to do—”
Before I can finish, my phone buzzes in my hand. Another text.
I wasn’t asking.
He’s so assertive. So confident. It has my body aching all over. I thought I was desperate when I woke up this morning, but these texts…they’re taking things to a whole new level.
“You’re gonna go is what you’re gonna do,” Reese chimes in, raising an eyebrow. “If you don’t,Iwill.”
“Shut up.” I frown. “You will not.”
“I will.” She smirks. “I’ll take him dancing, I’ll back my ass up on him and then take him home and—”
“Okay!” I blurt out, grabbing my things as I stand. “I’ll go.”
She laughs. “Damn right you will.”
“Which means I have to get out of here and get ready.” I glance at the time. “He’s gonna be here in three hours. How in the world will I be ready by then!?”
“You’ll be fine,” Reese assures me.
But will I? All I can think about on the drive home is how I’m going to embarrass myself. I have zero experience with guys, and I’m sure Dawson has had gazillions of women. I mean, who would be stupid enough to turn him down?
Aside from me, of course…
I spend the rest of the afternoon in a full anxiety spiral, tearing my closet apart, searching for something acceptable to wear. I need something that makes me look cute but not like I’m trying too hard. Eventually, after showering and blow-drying myhair, I settle on a pair of faded blue jeans and a lime-green halter top.
