Page 78 of Better Than the Movies
Kind of, but I didn’t want it to spoil the impending evening so I responded with: Nope.
Wes: Liar. Tell me.
Like he really wanted to know. He just wanted to leave it all behind because there was nothing here for him. I rolled my eyes and texted: Get on with your question, Bennett.
Wes: Fine. Do you like dive bars with good food? I kinda feel like you’re too ruffly for greasy burgers on napkins.
I unlocked my car and opened the door. Thank you for callingme ruffly, but I’m actually a shameless carnivore who’d sell her soul for a good burger.
Wes: Thank God. I’m jonesing for Stella’s and I thought you might not be down for it.
He’d just bumped the already-appealing night up to wonderfully mouthwatering. I freaking LOVE Stella’s!
Wes: I’ll pick you up at 6. And FYI—“ruffly” wasn’t a compliment.
I smiled and got into my car. Sure it wasn’t.
When I got home, I ditched my school outfit—a supercute dress that was covered in bright red poppies—and took a second shower. After shooing Fitz off my clothes, I blow-dried and spent an eternity straightening the hair that wasn’t meant to be anything other than kinky-curly. I even took extra time getting my eyeliner tails on point.
By the time Wes texted that he was about to ring my doorbell, I felt like I looked pretty good in an I-look-like-everyone-else kind of way. I quickly texted him: Don’t ring. I’ll be out in one minute.
Wes: I feel like you’re ashamed of me.
Me: I so am.
Wes: Well if you aren’t out in thirty seconds, I’m going to start honking the horn.
I threw open my bedroom door and ran down the hallway, zipping my cross-body bag as I flew down the stairs.
“Ooh—someone’s in a hurry.”
I stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked over at Helena,who was reading a book on the living room sofa and smiling at me as if I were entertaining. Things had been super awkward since dress shopping, but then yesterday it was like she’d decided to forget it. She’d picked up pizza for dinner and acted like my assholery had never happened. Thank God, because I really felt bad but wasn’t sure how to apologize without eliciting further discussion.
I said, “I already told Dad that I’m going to Michael’s with Wes. For movies. You weren’t home yet when we talked about it.”
She turned the book over and set it on the end table. “He told me. So… Wes is still helping you land the Michael, then?”
I could totally read on her face that she thought there was something going on—emotionally—with Wes. “Yep.”
She looked at her watch. “It’s awfully early for movie night, isn’t it?”
“Wes and I are going to Stella’s before we go over there.” I didn’t smile, but I felt like she could see the changing truth in my eyes. I waited for a comment.
“Well, isn’t that just tasty?” She grinned, and we kind of had a whole conversation with our faces before I said—
“Whatever, dork.” I ran a hand over my smooth hair and said, “You’re just jealous that I’m going to Stella’s and you aren’t.”
“God, I would lick the floor for one of those burgers right now.”
I laughed. “I get that.”
“Seriously. If someone said I could have a Stella burger this very minute if I licked the kitchen floor, I totally would.”
That made me snort and I asked, “Do you want me to bring one back for you?”
“Oh my God, yes, please!” She leapt up and ran to her purse on the counter. “Are you serious?”
“Yes—” I started to answer when I heard the first honk. Oh, good Lord, Wes was honking. “I’m serious. But it’ll be pretty cold by the time we’re home.”
