Page 30 of Before We're More Than Friends
Hayden’s lips tilted in a smirk. “You clearly do.”
Oliver scoffed. “Hey, she started flirting with me first.”
“Because you’re just so irresistible.” Caleb fanned his face, fluttering his eyelashes. “My pants are falling down just thinking about you.”
Oliver flipped him off. Caleb stuck his tongue out at him.
“I didn’t know the new vet had kids our age,” Arielle said. “And yet Oliver is already making out with one of them.”
“Are we really surprised?” Caleb asked, pulling a bag of chips out of a cabinet. “Oliver collects girls the way my sister collects dolls.”
Oliver scoffed. “I donotcollect people! And we haven’t even reached the kissing stage yet.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “So you’re all coming?”
“Arielle and I can’t this time,” I said. “We’re having a girls’ night out with our mom.”
“That sounds way better than the Saturn Frenzy, honestly,” Sienna murmured, taking a sip of coffee as she leaned against the counter. If she didn’t have a cup of coffee in the morningandafternoon, she’d been replaced. “My cousins want to come with me since my aunt and uncle are going on another date.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, but what married person loves their partner that much?”
“I can confirm that not a single one,” Hayden said. “If my parents go on more than four dates a month, I’d think they’re possessed.”
Oliver nodded, sitting next to Hayden at the table. “If my parents go on a date, I’dknowthey’re either possessed or replaced.”
Caleb looked at the door. “Let’s hope your mom didn’t hear that.”
Oliver rolled his eyes.
I slouched in my chair. My parents used to go on expensive dates once a week, but it’d been months since they’d done it. Around the time when we last had our girls’ night out.
Three days until the night I’ve been waiting for,I told myself. I left to clean up the dog poop outside. I finally had something to look forward to, and even the awful smell of crap couldn’t dim my spirits.
Alex
I’m not dead, I promise!
I’m such aterrible friend.
Chloe
Don’t worry, I wouldn’t have freaked out until it hit the one-week mark. Then I’d be calling the police to report a missing pen pal.
Though Ihadbeen freaking out about it. I knew I shouldn’t have asked Alex if I could tell him my real name. It’d been a stupid spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. It was an accident. It was dangerous.
He wasn’t ready for it. For me.
I’d done a good job of blocking the moment out of my mind, but every day when I got home, I checked Connections over and over. I didn’t want to be the one who messaged first and only made it worse.
Alex
I’m sorry I haven’t said anything. It’s just been very stressful arranging everything at home. Yesterday we checked out our shelter, and honestly, it’s pretty cool. The owner’s son is nice too and will be at the same school as us. Nevada hasn’t given me a reason to hate it yet.
Chloe
Oh, what city are you in? You still haven’t told me.
I didn’t want to push, but he’d told me he would tell me once he remembered. It took him around two minutes to reply.
Alex
Boulder Valley. Not too far from April Springs.
