Page 17 of Betting on the Best Friend
My brother makes a gagging noise.
“Not like that.” Ava sends Madison a quelling look. “But I’ll send you some links for live music you can go listen to or something.”
Joey settles back against the sofa and nods.
“All right, chocolate-tasting tomorrow with Colton,” I confirm.
“But no Colton-tasting,” Joey says.
“Definitely taste Colton if the vibes are right,” Madison says to needle Joey.
“Madi,” Oliver says, his tone somewhere between a warning and a laugh. We all know she’s onlyhalfjoking.
“I’ll be sticking to chocolate.Notthat you’re the boss of me, Joey,” I say. What I don’t say is that it’s been more than six years since I kissed anyone besides Niles, and I can’t wrap my head around kissing someone new.
Even the idea makes my stomach feel weird. Bad weird, like when Ava and I got our ears pierced when we were twelve. Or weresupposedto get our ears pierced. We decided to get them done together, and Ava had researched the best place to go, but the second I walked in and saw the needle, I chickened out. Ava left with a tiny stud in each ear, and I didn’t get mine pierced until I was almost sixteen and decided that my soul cried out for gold hoop earrings. I do love rocking my gold hoops . . .
Is the lesson that I’ll also love kissing someone new?
Definitely. Obviously.
Take that, gawkers. Ruby Ramos isthriving.
So why don’t I feel convinced?
Chapter Seven
Charlie
It’s my turn towork Saturday, and that means Ruby doesn’t.
I like our whole staff, but it usually bums me out to know that I won’t have Ruby as my library sidekick. This morning, I’m okay with it; I don’t want to hear about her date last night. I’ll need to get the recap at some point so I know how to strategize, but right now, I can believe her date sucked.
My watch vibrates to inform me that the library is officially open, and within seconds, patrons begin breaking off from the line streaming through the main entrance to head my way at the reference desk. I always enjoy helping them, but today, I’m extra grateful for the distraction from my Ruby thoughts.
It works for about an hour until she texts me.
When’s your lunch break?
Never
Understaffed?
I stare at her reasonable question. I want to sayNo, but I don’t want to hear about your date because I yearn for you.
No, but busy. Lunch at noon.
I’ll come feed you.
Nothing proves Ruby and I were meant for our jobs more than the fact that we often drop in at the library even when we’re not on shift. Sure enough, Ruby lures me outside two minutes after 12:00 with a text.
Meet me outside.
She knows my order: Cobra burger and fries.
I still don’t want to hear about her date yet. But I really love Billy’s.
I know where she’ll be waiting, and there she is, under the shadiest trees near the building in a camp chair with another one waiting beside her, my takeout bag on the seat.
