Page 109 of The Disasters of Dating
“Hey, I didn’t give my list based on order of importance.” Keaton defends.
Maybe I hadn’t only thought my sigh.
I smile so he doesn’t think it’s him. I mean, it is him, but not for the reasons he thinks. “Herriman is a great area.”
We pull into the parking lot of a newer apartment complex. He comes around and opens my door. Grabbing my hand, he shuts the door behind me. “Ready?”
I nod. “I’m just along for the ride. I’ve got no skin in this game.”
His brow creases slightly but then smooths out again. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. On the odd occasion we can hang out once you start school and work, I want you to feel comfortable.”
Maybe my horoscope wasn’t only referring to my mom having a ‘me first’ attitude. Although I’m not sure whether it’s Keaton or me who’s having the attitude.
I give his hand a tug. “Okay. Well, let’s see what they have to offer.”
CHAPTER 31
KEATON
A Romantic interlude will soon come your way.
Learn Chinese: ?? — Nàixin — Patience
Lucky numbers: 73, 18, 29, 2
It’s beentwo days since Poppy accidentally texted Lincoln the invite to dinner. Why hasn’t she texted me? Has she decided she doesn’t want me to go after all? What changed her mind? And shouldn’t I have some way to defend her reasons for not inviting me? Although that seems difficult when I’m not supposed to know she accidentally invited Lincoln.
It’s Friday afternoon, and I’m sitting in my office waiting until I can leave. My head isn’t here today. It’s back in Salt Lake. I have so much going on there, I don’t have time to be here.
I signed a lease for an apartment before I left. Normally, I wouldn’t have done something without taking more time to think about things. But the place felt good. Like, when I walked in, I could feel myself living there. And if I signed right then, I can move in on the first of the month—which is Monday. I’ll only need a hotel for one night. Granted, I have no furniture and probably won’t for a month or so. But that’s okay.
I’ve already called and given my apartment notice. I have to pay for the month of September, but that’s fine. It’ll give me time to pack up everything and have it delivered to Utah. Now I need to speak to my dad about crashing at his place when I’m in town. It’ll feel weird to sleep in my old bedroom.
My phone dings with a text alert, and I grab it, hoping to see Poppy’s number.
But it’s not Poppy. It’s my dad. Hmm. It’s like he knew I was thinking about him. Maybe Poppy has something with the whole universe knowing everything.
I read his text.
Dad
Hey, son. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen you. I thought maybe we could all get together for dinner this weekend? Lowell leaves for school in the next few weeks, and I thought we should have dinner together before he leaves. Otherwise we won’t all be together until Thanksgiving.
Sure. It would have to be tonight or tomorrow. I fly back to Utah on Sunday night.
Dad
…
…
This is probably where he is trying to decide how to break the news that he has to work late those nights, so maybe we can try for some time next week. Which will be even harder because I just canceled Thursday’s flight. Evan will just have to handle the board meeting without me next week.
Dad
I think I can make either of those work. Let me see what Lowell, Alix, and Evan say and I’ll get back to you.
Okay.
