If I Could - B. Celeste Page 0,35
brows lifting as he finally looks at my pale expression. “But I did say I’d bring it up.”
My heart squeezes with an onslaught of jealousy. Is he considering it? If he didn’t turn her down, that means he’s up for seeing Harper. He hasn’t mentioned being interested since we’ve hung out, but we never really talk about work or coworkers for long before we’re on each other’s cases about whatever we’re watching on television, the weird food combinations we eat, or some other topic of conversation.
When I realize he’s waiting for my response, I set the glass down on the counter and clear my throat. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea,” I tread carefully, eyeing him for a reaction. “The girls are both nice, but they’re a bit…”
“Demanding,” he muses with a chuckle, somehow managing to fold the bread in half and take a large bite of it.
That’s one way to put it. “They both know I’m not a huge fan of going out,” is what I decide to reply with.
He snorts, and I narrow my eyes trying to figure out what’s so funny about what I said. When he swallows his mouthful of food, I get my answer. “Harper might have mentioned Michelle’s persistence in getting you to go out. Have you straight up told her you’re not interested?”
I blink, the need to defend myself too strong to stop. “Who says I’m not interested?”
He blinks too. “Are you?”
Well…no. But what would he say if I said that? I’m sure he’d ask, because he hasn’t pushed on a lot of things I’ve left wide open before. He’s bound to bank on that eventually and giving a half-ass “she’s not my type” won’t satisfy him.
Lawrence cocks his head, studying me a little too closely. “If you want me to say yes…”
Now I’m starting to think he wants me to say yes, so he can go out with Harper. But why would he need me when she’s been all over him since he showed up? They’ve had plenty of opportunities to go out one on one before now.
Hesitantly, I murmur, “I guess it could be fun,” though I’m not very convincing even to my own ears. Lawrence doesn’t say anything right away, only stares until I’m inwardly cringing.
I want him to tell me he doesn’t want to go, to let me off easy because I can see the wheels turning in his head. So, when he does open his mouth, my shoulders tense at the words that pass his slowly upturning lips. “I’ll talk to Harper about it. I’m sure the women will be thrilled.”
Son of a bitch. His tone is thick with something similar to amusement, while I try forming a smile that doesn’t look like I’m being held at gun point to do so. “Great.”
“Awesome,” he retorts.
“Fantastic,” I grumble, grabbing my water and sulking out of the room.
I hear him snicker as I sit back down at the table and finish the work I started before he decided to show up at my house and raid my fridge at eight o’clock on a school night.
But instead of focusing on the papers in front of me that are scribbled on with ink and lead, all I can think about is the date I suddenly have and wonder what it’ll take to get out of it.
Michelle tells me the next day how excited she is about Friday night when she comes into my room. I almost ask her why she’s excited about game night, when my conversation with Lawrence hits me full force while the bubbly blonde grins at me.
Friday night. Date night. If there wasn’t a cinnamon bun waiting on desk for me this morning, I would have gone to the vending machine myself to eat my weight in sugar before the day even started. I needed it.
I manage to respond halfway normal when I tell her I’m looking forward to it, even though I can think of at least three other things I’d rather do. Like deal with Red, who’s currently bothering a group of girls instead of working on his packet.
“Red,” I say firmly, eyeing him until he turns around to face me. “You only have fifteen minutes before the period ends. I expect you to be finished with that before the bell rings.”
“Maybe I already did.”
Somehow, I doubt that. “Did you finish?” I haven’t seen him lift his pen up once since I gave them time to complete it. It’s only two pages, front and back. Mostly