Page 33 of Not Dating Material

And when the silence falls again, I get what he means. We’re concentrating, so there’s none of that obsessive need to fill the silence. We work together, occasionally squabbling over where a piece goes. He talks a bit about Xander, and I tell him about Will, and for maybe the first date in a long time, I don’t feel like my limbs are too big, like I can’t control my body or my mouth. I’m actually able to enjoy myself.

And when I glance down at Seven, at his concentration lines and the way his tongue sticks out just a peek, I get the sneaking suspicion it’s not the puzzle that’s doing it.

Seven’s an easy person to like.

Chapter 9

SEVEN

I wake up to Xander staring at me. At one point, it would have made me jump, but it happens so often now that I usually feel him before I open my eyes.

“Morning,” I say, stretching my arms out.

“Morning.”

“Are you dying?”

“Nope.” He pops the p. “Except maybe over the idea that you went on a date. You.”

I groan and cover my face with my arm. “Madden tell you?”

“Auntie Agatha, actually.”

“How did she find out?”

“How did you think she wouldn’t?”

I lower my arm again. “Some days, the whole living in each other’s pockets thing wears thin.”

“I like it.”

“That’s because you feel safe in there.” A loud yawn rips through my body, and I stretch out over the bed. “It wasn’t a date.”

“Then what would you call it?”

“I’m helping him out.”

“Uh-huh. Wink wink nudge nudge kind of helpful?”

“Do you make it your mission to be annoying?”

“Some days.” Xander stares at me.

I stare back.

“Did you have sex?”

“Goose noose, what’s with all the questions?”

“I’m curious.”

“No, you’re nosy. There’s nothing more to tell. He thinks he’s bad at dating, so I’m helping out by telling him where he’s going wrong.”

Xander snuggles into my spare pillow. “That sounds oddly nice of you.”

“Hey, I’m nice.”

“To me.”

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