Page 31 of The Kissing Booth
Cody probably wouldn’t want a second date. Not that I was totally sureIwanted one, but I wouldn’t have been able to say no, really, if he’d have asked. After all, one date wasn’t really enough to get to know him properly, especially given how nervous I’d been.
Eventually I dragged myself up to bed, ignoring Lee’s phone calls for once. I didn’t want to deal with that right now. I just wanted to beat myself up about my failure of a first date for a while.
Just as well I’m not working the kissing booth, I thought to myself with a wry smile.
Chapter 8
I GAVE LEEa rundown of the date, and in return he gave me a sympathetic smile.
‘Would you even want another date though? It doesn’t sound like you had such a great time...’
‘Well, not really,’ I mumbled, picking at some non-existent fluff on my jeans. ‘But I don’t know. I probably would’ve said yes if he asked— Ouch! What was that for?’ I exclaimed when Lee smacked my thigh sharply.
‘Too nice!’ he scolded me. ‘You didn’t like the guy as more than a friend, obviously. But you would’ve led him on just trying to be nice.’
‘I wouldn’t have led him on. Just... given him a second chance. It’s not like people find their soul mate on the first date or anything.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘I wouldn’t have led him on!’
‘Yes you would. Not intentionally. But because you were being polite.’
I sighed and flopped back so I was lying flat on my back on the grass. ‘Am I really that bad?’
‘You’re not nice to Noah.’
‘Yes, but that’s Noah. Thanks, by the way,’ I added sarcastically, ‘for telling me he was giving me a ride.’
‘Oh, yeah. My bad. But, hey, you didn’t kill each other.’
‘I was ready to, believe me. And the look he gave Cody when he showed up! I swear to God, your brother is the most infuriating jackass on the whole planet!’
Lee just laughed at me. I scowled up at the clouds rolling by over my head, cotton wool against the bright blue. I felt my breaths grow more and more even; there was something calming about watching clouds.
‘I’m sorry,’ Lee said eventually. ‘You’re funny when you’re mad.’
‘Whatever.’
‘Anyway. Has Cody spoken to you since?’
It was three on a Saturday afternoon. And no, Cody hadn’t texted me or called me, and something told me he hadn’t had a great time on the date either.
‘No,’ I answered him. ‘He hasn’t.’
Lee shrugged. ‘He’s not interested.’
‘What? How would you know? Maybe he’s busy. Or maybe he’s playing hard to get or something.’
Lee’s smile twisted up to one side in sympathy. ‘Sorry, Elle, but he’s just not interested. Trust me. I’m a guy. I know how the male populous operates when it comes to girls.’
‘Fine,’ I muttered. ‘Maybe he isn’t interested anymore. Maybe I should’ve just sucked it up and kissed him.’
‘See, there you go again,’ Lee grumbled. ‘It’s not like you were under any obligation to kiss him. So you guys didn’t hit it off – big deal. Move on.’
‘I can’t quite decide if your advice is helpful or not.’
‘I’m not a chick. I’m not going to sit here and dissect your night.’
‘You just listened tomedissect it,’ I muttered.
‘Exactly.’
