Page 167 of Until We Burn
“I haven’t been on a date—let alonedated—a girl in three years, Row. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do!”
We’ve only been friends with benefits. What if I disappoint Diana in trying to be her boyfriend? What if I’m not what she’s been daydreaming about? I might’ve wanted her for so long, but she’s wanted me for even longer, and I’m worried I’m going to fuck it all up.
“Dude, look at me, look at me.” Luke grabs my shoulders until we’re eye to eye. “You’re overthinking this, okay? The science is very simple. The key to a girl’s heart is telling her you’d still love her if she were a worm.”
“And if she wakes up from a dream where you cheated on her, you need to apologize like your life depends on it,” Wallace adds. His face wobbles on Luke’s FaceTime screen as he fidgets in his hospitalbed. To keep him in the loop, we’ve been video chatting with him about everything. But at the same time, I miss him so much and I wish he could be here to help me deal with the shitshow called dating.
Rowan rolls his eyes and sets his study cards aside. “Look, it makes sense why you’re nervous. Considering the fact that you and Diana were broken up before, there’s a lot of pressure you’re putting on yourself to make this work now.”
A stunned silence overtakes the room.
My eyes widen. “Youknew about that?”
“They were broken up?” Luke’s face goes white with sheer horror and betrayal. “And you didn’ttellme?”
“I—” Rowan groans. “How could I tell you? You were upset!”
“Well, you could’ve taken a hot second to let me know my best friend got his heart shattered!” Luke points out.
“You were in a lot of pain, too!”
“I was not!”
“You were listening to Evanescence, Luke!”
“Je-bal,”Wallace curses. “Why didn’t you tellme?Do you know what I’ve been stuck watching at the hospital? The fucking opera channel!”
The boys erupt into an argument.
“Hold on, hold on!” I wave my hands up, breaking through all the yelling and swearing. “How did you know Diana and I broke up?”
“You kept avoiding my questions.” Rowan scowls and crosses his arms. “Both of you are terrible liars by the way.”
Luke’s nostrils flare as he dramatically jabs his finger at us. “I can’t believe you two had this information and didn’t tell me. The betrayal I feel right now isastronomical!”
“Look, if it makes you feel any better, you can help me with this date.” My stomach twists in knots the second I glance at the clock. I gulp, gripping my curls tight. “It’s a stupidly small thing to worry about, but I’m so nervous, man.”
Luke softens up. He bites his lip in contemplation before he rolls his eyes and sighs. “Alright, well…Idohave an idea.”
“A good one?” Rowan asks.
Luke scratches the back of his head. “I mean, it’s not conventional. I’ll tell you that.”
I stand outsideof Stella’s apartment door.
I swallow hard, fidgeting under the black winter coat and crew neck sweater Luke forced me into.
“This is it, Kai,” I whisper. “Don’t fuck this up.”
I reach out and knock on the door. My clammy hands tighten around the bouquet of flowers.
There’s a crinkling noise. But it’s not from the wrapping paper.
“I can’t believe you used my Amazon prime account for this.”Rowan’s voice gripes through the earpiece.“This is a terrible plan.”
“And yet you’re still going along with it,”Luke quips back.
I adjust the earpiece, making sure it’s completely hidden behind my hair.
