Page 48 of The Ruse
“I think so.” She tore off a piece of her roll. “I know we’re just going to be watching the movie version of the play tonight, but Nash sounded like he really wanted to make it back for that.”
“I bet he’s hoping you’ll save him a spot next to you on the couch,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows. “Maybe even has plans to invite you out on the porch for a moonlight rendezvous himself.”
“Asher,” she scolded, putting her hands to her cheeks like she was trying to hide her blush. “You know you’re not supposed to say things like that.”
“But we’re friends now, aren’t we?” I asked, bumping shoulders with her.
“Yes…” Though she said it like she still wasn’t sure we should be.
“Then as yourfriend, it’s my job to tease you about your crush.”
She let out a nervous sigh. “I’m just not used to my guy friends teasing me about my crushes.”
“Probably because all your guy friends have always wanted to be the one you were crushing on,” I said.
“Yeah right.” She shook her head, like I was being ridiculous.
“I bet it’s true,” I wagered. “I bet you’ve never been able to be friends with a guy without it getting complicated.”
She was beautiful, talented, and smart. And though she was quiet, she also had a surprisingly spunky side that guys loved.
It would be hard to want to stay just friends with someone like her.
“I’m friends with Hunter,” she said. “Nothing has ever been complicated with him.”
“Yeah.” I picked up my water bottle and unscrewed the lid. “But that’s only because he’s too busy trying not to be in love with Scarlett.”
She looked like she was trying to think of another friend she had who wasn’t related to her or dating her sister already. After thinking for a few seconds and getting the cutest little pucker line between her eyebrows from such deep concentration, she shrugged and said, “I just haven’t had that many guy friends, I guess.”
“Even at your old school?” I asked. “Because I can text my cousins Jace and Logan to verify.”
“Please don’t.” Her eyes widened with alarm when I pretended to reach for my phone.
“Do you have something you’d like to confess?” I took a pull from my water and set it back down on the table. “Because Logan is always more than happy to talk to me.”
“Please don’t talk to Logan about me,” she rushed to say.
I couldn’t keep a half-smile from my lips. “Now Ireallyneed to text Logan.” From the way she seemed so against the idea of me texting him, I was almost sure he must have some sort of dirt on her.
“You better not text him,” she said.
“Why?”
She looked at the other end of the table where a few other students were laughing about something. Then back at me, she said, “So maybe I’ve never been that successful at staying friends with guys for very long.”
“I knew it.” I grinned, genuinely proud of myself for being right about her.
“Not that I’ve had that many boyfriends,” she hurried to say. “Only two that I’d really call aboyfriendboyfriend.”
“Yeah?” I asked, suddenly curious about these ex-boyfriends of hers.
She nodded and poked at her veggies with her fork. “And those two didn’t start as friends, either, so your theory isn’t very valid.”
“So you’re saying that sincewe’refriends now,” —I pointed to her and then at myself— “it means we could never be boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“No,” she said. “I mean yes.” She shook her head, looking flustered. “I mean…” She sighed. “Ugh. You are annoying, did you know that?”
I laughed, enjoying this whole exchange way more than I’d enjoyed anything in a long time.