I’m quiet for a long moment.
“For the record, from what I’ve seen, she seems into it,” Nick says, keeping his voice low so only I can hear. “She seems into you. She keeps looking at you like you’re her dream guy.”
“You think so?” I can’t help the eagerness in my tone.
He nods. “Go for it, man. Make a move tonight. Bust out of the friend zone.”
I take another quiet breath and another sip of water, wondering if I’ll have the nerve to do it.
Chapter 11
Briar
“So? How is flirting with your best friend going?” Anna asks, her tone teasing.
I smile at my reflection in the bathroom mirror in the ladies’ room. I finish putting on more lipstick, then blot with a tissue. “It’s really fun.”
Anna squeals softly. Poppy smiles as she washes her hands.
“The way Blake’s jaw unhinged when he saw you in that dress? Priceless,” Poppy says.
“He looked like one of those cartoon characters when their mouth falls to the floor, and their eyes pop out of their head,” Anna says.
My tummy does a somersault thinking about the look on Blake’s face when he saw me.
He is the hottest guy I know, and to think that he thought I looked hot too made me feel like the sexiest woman in the world.
“He keeps staring at you,” Anna says. “Through the whole first course, he couldn’t take his eyes off of you.”
I’m smiling so hard, my cheeks hurt. Excitement flutters in my chest. Then, a second later, my nerves catch up.
“As fun as it is to flirt with him, I’m nervous,” I admit.
“Why?” Anna asks as she smooths over a stray hair that’s fallen out of Poppy’s sleek hairstyle.
I let out a breath and lean against the sink. “Blake’s my best friend. I’m just nervous that if we cross the line into something more, it’ll be awkward. Like, what if I go to kiss him and trip, then fall face-first into his chest?”
Anna burst out laughing. “You think a little awkwardness is going to make Blake all of a sudden not be into you?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah, kind of.”
Anna just smiles and shakes her head. “Believe me, Blake is into you. He’s just gonna be excited that your mouth is on his body.”
Poppy nods along. “She’s right. If a guy likes you, he’s not gonna care if things are awkward at first.”
I let out a breath, feeling a little calmer at their reassurance.
“Or hey, maybe he’ll make the first move and try to kiss you,” Poppy says.
My skin tingles thinking about Blake taking charge. I think about him grabbing my waist, pulling me against his body, and kissing me.
“I hope he does that,” I say quietly.
“Then just keep flirting with him,” Anna says.
“And look at his mouth a lot. Make it clear you want to kiss him,” Poppy says.
“Oh yeah, that’s a great idea,” Anna says.
