Page 88 of Before We're More Than Friends
He looked up from his screen. “Oliver found some in the cabinets.”
Oliver shook his head. “How do you eat that much junk without breaking out?”
“I have the skin of a goddess.” Caleb rubbed his hand along the fair skin on his face.
“You’re a girl?” Sienna asked as she walked in, holding her signature cup of coffee from our school’s café. “A goddess is a girl.”
“Girls have amazing skin.”
Hayden rolled his eyes. “Are we ready or what?”
“I’m not sure what we’re ready for,” I said, my brows drawing together. “Why couldn’t we wait until Saturday?”
“Because Dallas came up with this yesterday, and we talked it through during lunch.” Hayden nodded at Dallas, who put his phone away in his pocket, cheeks already flushing. It was cute how he was bashful all the time.
Wait, did I just think Dallas Friar was cute?
Thatcame out of left field.
“As we know, Dallas won the sing-off between him and Raina.” Hayden gestured toward me.
“I think the system was rigged.” I smiled at Dallas.
He only gave a small chuckle before averting his gaze, the red in his cheeks deepening.Freaking adorable.
Okay, these thoughts needed to stop.
“Dallas and I were brainstorming future plans when he brought you up,” Hayden said, standing in the middle of the room. “He suggested something, and it was actually a great idea.”
Arielle let out a little squeal before covering her mouth.
“Am I going to be the pretty girl who stands in the back?” I asked. “I don’t even play an instrument, so that would throw people off when performing.”
“Yeah, because your beauty would justblindthem,” Dallas said sarcastically with a grin.
I laughed, though my own cheeks filled with heat. “That’s not what I meant.”
“It won’t matter that you’re not playing an instrument,” Hayden said. “Because you’re going to be the second lead singer.”
I blinked, the words not registering in my brain for a good five seconds. “You mean the backup singer? Or Dallas’s stand-in?”
“I mean you’re going to be the other lead singer, along with Dallas.” Hayden beamed, his face practically glowing. “Like a duo, but with a band behind you.”
“Yay!” Arielle shot up and clapped so loudly it hurt my ears, the others following.
More blood rushed to my cheeks. “But . . . but . . .” I put a hand to my hammering heart. “Y-You don’t need to do that.” I faced Dallas, who was grinning bashfully, his dimples on full display. He was the only one still sitting. “You could’ve had the spotlight to yourself.”
“But I don’t want to.” His melty brown eyes locked with mine. “If I’m going to start making music again, I want it to be fun. And I want you to be a part of it.”
Something about the way he stared into my soul, like each word was coming from his, melted me from the inside out. I tried to speak, but nothing came out.What’s happening to me?
“Aw, she’s speechless,” Arielle said, folding her hands over her chest.
“This is too cute,” Sienna said as she sipped her coffee, giving me a wink. Was she talking about something else?
“Sorry, I—” I wasn’t able to stop looking at Dallas, who was still grinning just as wide as everyone else was, cheeks as scarlet as Sienna’s lips. “It’s just that I didn’t expect this. I mean, I had fun singing and didn’t realize how much I enjoyed it until then?—”
“That’s why we want you to be in the band,” Dallas said. “Plus, you wanted to go to the meeting more than I did, and I only came because of you.” He let out a small gasp. “I mean?—”
