Page 24 of The Trade

“Okay, I’ll take your word for it.” I shake my head, chuckling. “I’m just relieved you’re not wearing it because it belongs to a boyfriend or something.”

“Nah, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

The words bounce around in my mind, the implications slowly sinking in. “No?”

“Nope,” she affirms, her tone bright as she pushes away from the table. Well, there you have it. My opportunity has just presented itself.

Deciding to seize the moment, I start my next question just as she’s slipping on her backpack. “Can I ask you something else real quick?”

A warm smile graces her features as she faces me, her cheeks flushing a soft shade of pink. “Is this one gonna be about my jeans?”

“No, you dork,” I tease, gathering up my belongings. “I was wondering if you knew about the Spring Banquet?”

“Your team banquet?”

“Yeah, that one.” Together, we make our way toward the library exit, our conversation continuing as we navigate the stacks of books.

“Who doesn’t?” she says, an undertone of amusement in her voice. “Just another chance for football players to get drunk and give themselves trophies, right?”

“Oh, I see. So, you’ve never secretly wished you could attend?”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Yeah, and what if you went as my date this year? Would that be ridiculous?” I ask, nudging her with my elbow.

She freezes midstep, her wide eyes meeting mine. “What?”

“Yeah,” I confirm, a reassuring smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “The banquet’s at the end of next month. Would you come with me? Just as friends, of course.”

She eyes me skeptically, her brow arching in question. “As friends? We barely know each other.”

“I mean, we’ve hung out, like, four times now. Doesn’t that count as a start?”

“We ran into each other in the library a couple of times, and I helped you with your paper. I’d hardly call that hanging out.”

“You got me there.”

Her gaze narrows as she considers my proposition. “So, why ask me, then?”

“I’d rather not risk taking another jersey chaser,” I explain, hoping my fractured attempt at honesty might convince her. “Besides, my roommate’s already asked Shan. We could make it a double date.”

She pauses outside the library doors, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip as she mulls over my words. “I’ll think about it,” she finally decides.

“Wow, Jade,” I say, pretending to nurse a wounded ego. “You sure know how to deflate a guy’s confidence.”

“You said you were asking as a friend!”

“We are friends, then?”

“Yeah, Theo. Sure, we’re friends.”

“I prefer West, but I’ll take what I can get,” I say, nudging her lightly. “Just think about the banquet and text me your decision, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Thanks again for your help with the paper,” I say, tapping her backpack lightly. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“The morning?”

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