Page 64 of You Are Not Me

“Hi,” he said back.

The world tilted and then righted so quickly I felt dizzy.

Minty was still talking. “I saw the man of my dreams today.”

Daniel rolled his eyes and clapped Minty on his nearly bare shoulder. “Ignore him.”

“Don’t ignore me!” Minty cried. “He’s the most perfect guy I’ve ever seen! Handsome, dark, strong. Perfection.”

Daniel smiled bashfully at me, and my giddiness nearly bubbled out in an absurd giggle. Did he feel the same? Was his heart racing too?

Daniel cleared his throat. “Minty and I called your house earlier.”

“You did?” Holy shit, he’d called me. He’d stepped up andcalled? And I’d been out with Leslie?Dammit.

“Yeah, we went toNaked Gun2½. Thought we’d see if you wanted to go with us, but your mom said you were already at the movies with another friend.”

I bit back my brutal disappointment. “Aw man, bad timing. I’d have totally gone with you.”

Daniel’s eyes flared. “Yeah?”

“Sure. I got stuck seeingWhat About Bob?with a friend from high school.”

Daniel bumped my shoulder with his and said softly, “Next time.”

I stared into his eyes, tingling with a fizzy glee.

Minty, clearly tired of being ignored, shoved between us. “Naked Gunwhatever-and-a-half was awesome. I laughed until I almost pissed my pants.”

“It was awful,” Daniel said, his eyes catching mine again, glowing fervent and bright.

“The man of my dreams would agree with me.” Minty pouted.

Daniel scoffed. “We settled that I’m not the man of your dreams ages ago.”

“True,” Minty sniffed. “You’re way too uptight for me.”

Daniel rolled his eyes.

“So who is the man of your dreams?” I asked Minty. “That white-haired actor inNaked Gun?”

Daniel snorted, and Minty punched me in the arm pretty hard. “As if!”

I rubbed it. “That’s gonna bruise.” I shouldn’t have underestimated him just because he looked like a dainty punk-rock fairy princess.

“Not sorry,” he offered up archly.

“It’s no one,” Daniel said. “He has a new love of his life every day.”

“This is the real one, though. This one is my forever love!”

Daniel chuckled. “How wasWhat About Bob??”

“It had Bill Murray.” I didn’t volunteer that being there with Leslie was awkward and awful, and I still felt like shit about it. “I’ve been told everyone likes Bill Murray.”

“Do you?”

I shrugged. “Naked Gunis more my speed.”

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