Page 38 of Daydream

Of course they can be friends and not hook up JJ

KRIS

Are you really the person to champion that as a possibility?

LOLA

She’s so gorgeous I sort of want to bow at her feet

ROBBIE

I’d like to see how she’d react if you did that

MATTIE

No I get what you mean in a very platonic and not at all triggering to Henry way

RUSS

I think she’s a nice person

BOBBY

That’s the spirit, muffin

HENRY

Please don’t be weird to her. She’s my friend.

KRIS

We’re just playing, Cap. She’s great and we’ll stop

BOBBY

Message received mon capitaine

ROBBIE

Fuck it maybe one drink

MATTIE

Normality at last

ITHINK EVERY SINGLE PERSONin LA decided to try to come to this bar tonight and I haven’t even seen Halle yet.

Four people have hit on me according to the guys, who take great enjoyment in keeping count, but I hadn’t noticed. I don’t know how many times I’ve checked my cell phone, but I now receive punches to the arm every time I tap my screen. I keep looking at the time, but I can’t actually remember what time it is.

It’s too hot. It’s too busy. It’s too loud. My clothes feel too tight and scratchy and it’s like I can feel my hair too much, but I need to be here for the team. And I do really want to see Halle. We were lucky to grab a few tables next to the wall when another big group left as we arrived, but even with more privacy than standing at the bar, it still feels too busy.

I didn’t notice Aurora was gone until she reappears, tailed by Halle and her friends. Halle immediately makes a beeline for me, grinning broadly. As she gets closer to where I’m sitting, her smile dulls and eyebrows pucker. “What’s wrong?”

How do you tell another person that you can feel parts of your body too much? And if whoever is in control of music puts on one more squeaky, repetitive, poorly remixed track that you might scream. “Not a fan of the noise.”

She nods and puts her purse down on the table beside my phone. “Can I touch your head? Just your ears and temples.”

Anyone else I’d have immediately said no, but I nod. She steps closer, positioning herself between my legs. The bar stool I’m sitting on puts us face to face and she really is even more beautiful up close.

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