Page 47 of The Dangers of Daydreaming

“Sounds good.” I didn’t look up. I couldn’t. That expression was going to wear me down, I just knew it.

He rummaged in his bag and then walked to the bathroom. The tension in my shoulders eased when I heard the shower turn on. And when it later turned off, I quickly slid my laptop onto the nightstand and ducked under the covers; I didn’t want to risk another conversation.

When the door creaked open to the bathroom, I was on my side with the blanket pulled up to my chin. It took him a few minutes, but eventually he flicked the lights off, just leaving the lamp between us on, and I heard him climb into his bed.

How the heck was I supposed to go to sleep like this, knowing he was RIGHT there? If I rolled over, I could probably reach a hand out and touch his bed. My heart would not turn to sleep mode and was distinctly stuck in just-saw-a-cop-while-speeding mode. Another minute passed, and my phone buzzed. I had it under the covers with me, so I quickly dimmed the screen and pulled it close to see who had messaged.

Finn: You don’t need to pretend to be asleep to avoid me.

The entirety of my body reacted to that little message. It vibrated again.

Finn: Sweet dreams, Luce.

I was sure he was watching me for a reaction, so I just quietly slid the phone under the pillow and shut my eyes tight, trying to pretend that every single one of my nerves wasn’t standing deliciously on end from his nearness.

Chapter 14

Would You Rather

Finn

Ikeptmyphoneclose for the next ten minutes, struggling to keep my eyes on my book

instead of straying to its dark screen. If Gram wasn’t an early-to-bed person, maybe texting her would have been a good distraction, but she’d already given me the update on Pops, and now I was left with this book I already knew the end to, and my empty phone screen.

Lucy didn’t text back.

She also didn’t move even an inch, and her breathing didn't even out, so she was definitely still awake.

I felt bad for Lily’s resurgence of food poisoning, but I’d hoped it had meant a little time to plead my case with Lucy. Or even just play cards or something. Not fake sleep when the sun had barely gone down.

Well. Two could play at that game.

I tossed my book to the other side of the bed and made a big show of turning off the lamp and getting under my covers. I waited a minute, maybe two, before I faked a tired roll to my side to face her, eyes still closed, and started talking.

“What do you mean you don’t actually likeAnne of Green Gables?” I mumbled, trying my best to make my words slurred and sleepy.

The sheets on the bed beside mine rustled.

“It’s outdated? Silly? No… You can’t mean that.”

I felt like I could feel her eyes on me. I almost peeked one of mine open.

“You mean it’s my fault? It’s because I’m so attractive? I’m so sorry I’m making you like me more than Gilbert Blythe—I know… I know that must be hard to wrap your head around.” I faked a snore. It was honestly terrible—I was surprised Lucy didn’t break into laughter at that alone.

“No… I don’t know if I can keep this secret. I think you—” A pillow hit me in the face.

I ignored it. “Okay, fine, if you’re going to beg, I’ll go out with you.”

Another pillow whizzed past my head.

I popped one eye open. “Really? I’m two feet away, and you missed?” The last word was muffled as another pillow hit me in the face. I caught it before it fell to the ground and raised it like a weapon, eyebrows lifted. “You sure you want to start something you can’t finish?”

The room was dim, yet I could still make out her features because of how close our beds were. But I couldn’t tell if she was about to laugh or yell. Her face was contorted somewhere between a smile and a scowl. I started to throw the pillow I held, but at the last second, didn’t let go.

It worked. She tried to retaliate with a throw of her own. Her fourth pillow smacked into mine.

Her last pillow.

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