Page 17 of The Disasters of Dating
She shrugs. “Fair. I don’t think I’ll fail the class. But I’m doubting I’ll pull an A. Maybe not even a B.” There is more resignation than disappointment in her voice.
I feel a little bad for convincing her to take the class. But I stand by my reasoning. Like me, her goal (after she dances in CATS on Broadway) is to open a chain of dance studios. And if that is her goal, she needs some business sense. Although, if I’m being honest, it was as much a ploy to get us into the same class as it was for her goals. With our majors being so different, we are never in the same classes together.
As a tradeoff, I have to take Beginning Dance next semester. I’m already dreading it. Picture a giraffe in a salsa class. All legs and no rhythm. I failed to inform her I’m taking the class for credit only because I know there is no way I’ll get an A, and I can’t have it affecting my GPA. I am applying for grad school in December, and I can’t have a dance class ruining my chances of getting into my top picks.
“I’m sure you’re overreacting,” I say.
“I’m not, but it’s nice of you to say.” She turns her head and looks at me. “So what was that frowny face for?”
I sigh. “I was just thinking about a guy I met yesterday.”
She sits up, her eyes wide. “Oh, do tell.”
I sit up on my elbows. “First, you needed to tell me something, remember?”
She lifts a brow, like she thinks I’m trying to avoid the conversation. Which is only partially true. “Fine. But don’t think I’ll forget about this conversation.”
I grin at her. “I’ve known you too long to think that.”
She licks her lips. “I did something crazy.” She gives me a grimace.
“Yeah? I thought I was the one who did crazy stuff.” It’s not really true of either of us.
Paisleigh, deep down, wants to do crazy things. But as a general rule, she is straight as an arrow. She throws her arm over her eyes. “I applied to be onBeyond Limits.”
I let out a scream. “You did not! When did you do it? When do youfind out? Don’t you have to submit a video with the application? Why didn’t you let me help you?”
Paisleigh laughs. “Slow down. I think you might be more excited about it than I am.”
I reach over and grab her around the upper arms and shake her lightly. “Tell me everything!”
CHAPTER 6
KEATON
Trust your instincts this summer.
Learn Chinese: ?? — Péngyou — Friend
Lucky Numbers: 32, 13 ,49, 51
I stare downat the fortune on my desk. We’d ordered in Chinese for lunch so we didn’t have to stop working. There are only four of us in the office now. But in a couple of months, I’ll be hiring programmers and office staff. Then we’ll be off to the races.
I tap the edge of the fortune on my desktop. I’m not a big believer in fortune cookies. Actually, that’s not true. I believe a great deal in the cookie—what’s not to love? It’s lightly sweet and can satisfy a craving. It’s the fortunes inside that I’m leery of. But for some reason, I can’t seem to throw this one away. I keep coming back to it. Is it saying I should trust my instincts in my personal life or my business life? Why do they have to be so vague? Maybe I should check my horoscope and see if it backs up the fortune cookie.
That turns my thoughts to Poppy. I’d like to say it was the first time I’d thought about her since I collected my suitcase from her airport shop. But that would be a bald-faced lie. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve picked up my phone to text her. But then I chicken out. What would I even say?Hey, sorry for the epically horrible dinner last night. How about a redo?I obviously have not come up with the right wording yet. Hence, no text.
But like the fortune cookie, I can’t seem to stop thinking about her. And it’s not just the kiss. Don’t get me wrong, I think about thatplenty. I’ve never had such a short kiss impact me so much. Nor be so memorable—not that I have many accidental kisses to compare it to.
But kisses aside, I liked being with her. Once we got over the weirdness of the false accusations, we had a great time. We have a few things in common. And I’m sure we’d discover more if we only spent more time together.
“Hey, Linc. We’re all going to go to the brewery down the street for dinner. Do you want to come?” Brenden rocks back on his heels.
I cringe slightly at the name. When Evan hired me, we’d both decided it would be best if I went by my middle name—also my mother’s maiden name—rather than my legal last name. Barrington is pretty well known in the tech world. So everyone here knows me as Keaton Lincoln. Yeah, I know. It doesn’t really roll off the tongue. Not even close. But I don’t need anyone thinking that the only reason I got the job is because I’m Evan’s brother. Because that isn’t true. I frown. Okay, maybe it’s partially true. But having a master’s degree from Yale has to hold some street cred, right? It’s what I tell myself.
I don’t know any of the execs very well. Evan did all the hiring while I was presenting my thesis. While I’d been conference called in on the interviews, I wasn’t the one doing the talking. That was all Evan. He is, after all, the owner and CEO. But once Brenden, Dan, Jasmine, and Claire had been hired, Evan handed the reins of the day-to-day running of the company to me. He had something else ‘big’ he was working on. The point being that I’m not buddy-buddy with the other execs. We have a work relationship, and that is all. And I’m not looking to change it.
I pick up my phone and look at it as if a message from Poppy will magically appear. I mean, I don’t want to make plans with other people if I can hang out with her.
