Page 36 of The Big Easy & Other Lies
“Was I subtle enough for you?” he asked. “I didn’t even use actual words to communicate with you this time. The rumor mill will have nothing to work with, right?”
“You’re making fun of me,” I said.
He shook his head. “I’m making fun of the people here who are way too bored.”
I didn’t know what to do with my hands. A vague ticklish tremor in one suggested it was about to escape captivity and fly free, complete with wild flailings. I leaned against the wall, trying to look casual, and folded my arms.
The volume from the stage rose. It sounded like Jake Zachary and Timor Phenald were doing a scene fromScott Pilgrim vs. the World.Rhett leaned in. For a second, I thought he was going to do a faux sexy-whisper thing in my ear. I hoped not. It would make me like him less. But he only leaned close enough to ask softly, “Are you working tomorrow night?”
“No,” I said, my pulse picking up. Cue awkward rejection scene...now.
“You know how you were asking me about my capstone project?”
Wait, what? This was not a “please go out with me” question set up. “Yeah...?”
“Do you still want to know what it is?” His tone was intense.
“Yes, of course,” I said.
He nodded. “Cool.” Then he waved and slipped around the curtain back toward the chairs.
I stood there dumbfounded for a moment before I shook myself out of it and went back to Livvie’s skirt. What the heck?
* * *
“‘Cool?’ That’s all he said?”
“Yes,” I said as we walked out to Livvie’s car. “Weird, right? I’m not being paranoid?”
“It’s weird,” she said. “No doubt.” She let out a sudden squeal when Bran swooped behind us and tickled her sides. She smacked his hand away. “You’re two seconds away from walking, Bran.”
“But I’m not kicked out of Jelly Bean yet?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.
She scowled but that quickly morphed into a flirtatious smile, which could only mean one thing. I looked around for Trent Kelly. He was coming the opposite direction.
“Hey, Livvie,” he said.
“Hey yourself,” she said. Even five minutes out of cross-country practice, she managed to make her sweaty hair and damp tank top look intentionally hot. When Livvie talked to boys, it was capstone-level mastery every time.
“You heading home?” Trent asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “I had a tough run today. I need a shower.” This immediately planted the image of naked Livvie in Trent’s mind. First, ew. Second, see? Master class.
“I’m going that way. Why don’t I give you a ride?” Trent asked.
“You don’t even know where I live,” she said, smiling.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “Whichever way it is, I’m pretty sure that’s the direction I’m going.”
I tugged at Bran’s jersey and drew him away while calling to Livvie, “I’ll meet you at the car. Bran has to help me with something.” Few guys could resist her, but her short attention span when it came to boys left a trail of them in her wake. “Good luck,” I mumbled to Trent who was too far away to hear.
“What do I have to help you with?” Bran asked when we reached the bench under a nearby magnolia tree.
“You have to help me help Livvie snag a date.”
He looked sheepish. “Oh, yeah. I wasn’t paying attention.” Suddenly he slouched and looked bored. “Now I am,” he said under his breath.
“What?”
