Page 101 of The Friend Scheme

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It’s not. It’s really cute.

“It’s not dumb. I sort of believe in it, too. I’m, like, paranormal agnostic.”

“Dude, that’s the perfect description! I’m exactly the same! Like, I’m not totally convinced that they’re real, but like, I think there’s a chance. Enough to get scared by a horror movie, anyway.”

I love it when he gets like this. All hyper and excited.

It’s so. Damn. Precious.

We smile at each other.

Again, I feel overwhelmed by how cool I think he is. I fall back to that mental image, of us, in sweats, just hanging out together. Idon’t know why I like that picture so much, but I do. Us, as boyfriends.

Naomi was right.

It would be really cute.

“Is this going to scare me?” he asks.

“Probably.”

He lifts the remote, and then lowers it. He tilts his head toward me.

“Hey,” he says.

“Yeah?”

“Is there a reason you aren’t on the bed?”

“Oh, I just thought…”

“Thought what?”

“I didn’t want to assume.”

“Well, you’re totally welcome to join me. Sitting there is cool, too, if you want to. No pressure.”

I move to the bed.

“Much better,” he says.

He scoots across as I start unlacing my shoes. I kick them off, and then put my legs onto the bed. He’s watching me, smiling.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

I think he wants me to lean forward and kiss him. The twinkle in his eyes makes me think that’s what he wants. I take him in. Perfect hair, broad shoulders, and soft-looking lips. Military boy par excellence. He hasn’t shaved today, so there’s a slight shadow on his cheeks.

Kissing him would be unbeatable.

But what if I’m wrong?

What if I make a move, and he doesn’t want me to, and then things between us become so awkward that we never talk to each other again?

Plus, he’s a Donovan. I really shouldn’t kiss him.

Instead, I just lean against the headrest, keeping a comfortable distance between us.

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