Page 86 of Dating and Dragons
I glance between them, dumbfounded. My stomach feels like it’s been tossed around in the dryer for a few hours, but I guess I have no right to be angry given the confession I need to make to Kashvi. The way they’re looking at each other…Oh wow. I don’t think this is going to be over after a coffee.
Kashvi turns to me. “This is our first time hanging out. I know I should have said something to you before, but I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. I decided it was better to wait and tell you everything after today.”
“And how’s it going so far?” Andrew asks with a cocky smile. His eyes are sparkling in a way that some girls (who arenotrelated to him) might find, well, charming.
“I’m still here, aren’t I?” Kashvi replies, returning the smirk. “But let’s see how the next twenty minutes go.” She turns to me, her expression changing to worry. “Are you mad? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“I’m not mad. I’m…trying to process.”
Honestly, I want to be angry. I can almost see the red at the edges of my vision—because how could she meet mybrotherlike this and say nothing—except I don’t have a leg to stand on. Kashvi and I are more similar than I ever realized. We’ve both been silent when we should have talked to each other, but my behavior has gone way beyond an overpriced coffee.
“Cool,” Andrew says. “Can you give us another twenty minutes, then? Or forty-five?”
“Nice try. I need to talk to Kashvi.Now.Go kill time in Walmart until we’re done.”
“So you can talk her out of going out with me?” Everything in Andrew slumps. His expression is so dejected that it cuts right through me.
“No. I’m not going to do that. You two shocked me, but…maybeyou’re a little bit cute together.”
They both look surprised, and it makes me laugh.
“Are you serious right now?” he asks. “You aren’t trying to lull me into a false sense of security just to get Kashvi alone and tell her how I drew horns on your Calico Critters when I was six?”
“Oh, believe me, if this situation between the two of yougoes anyplace, then Kashvi will be hearingeverychildhood horror story I have to share. I need to watch her back. But I won’t go there today.”
He studies me for a moment and then stands. “I’m trusting you.” His expression softens as soon as he looks at Kashvi. “I’ll go see if I can find those cookies.”
I frown in confusion as he walks out the door, then take his place in the booth.
“I mentioned those dark chocolate cookies I like that Mom never buys,” Kashvi says, her voice tinged with surprise. “Please don’t hate me, but your brother is pretty cool. And hot.”
I shiver in disgust. “Those words are never to come out of your mouth again.”
“All right, let me have it. What makes Andrew such a monster that I should never speak to him again?”
“I was serious before—I’m not here about that. Andrew can be good when he wants to be. There’s something else I want to talk about.”
She waits expectantly.
“Okay.” But the words don’t come. I lick my dry lips and clear my throat. “So, I’m not sure how this thing with Andrew might change what I’m about to say, but either way I want to start by saying that I’m sorry it took me so long to talk to you about this. I love having you as a friend and I didn’t want to jeopardize that, but that’s no excuse. I’ll never forget the way you welcomed me that first week.”
She grows still. “Quinn, you’re scaring me. What’s goingon?”
“Logan and I kissed last night.”
She blinks, but otherwise there’s no reaction. It’s as if we’rein a TV show and someone hit pause. I want to fill the silence with all my rationales and explanations, but I hold back. I owe her time to process too.
“You kissed?” she whispers finally. “How? I mean I knowhow,but why?” She shakes her head. “Sorry, I’m not making sense. I guess I know why—because you wanted to—but I’mjust…”
“Kashvi, I’m sorry. All this stuff with Andrew aside, I know you like Logan. You told me that and I kissed him anyway. Not to mention that we all agreed we wouldn’t get together with anyone in our group, and I broke that trust.”
“Give me a second….” She leans back onto the booth cushion. “I knew you were friends, obviously. And I knew you’d spent some time together helping your grandma, but…did this just come out of nowhere?”
I hesitate. She might be more empathetic if I softened the truth a bit, but I’m tired of keeping secrets. She needs to know what’s really been happening if there’s a chance for us to move past this.
“No, there’s been something growing between us for a long time now. I promise I’ve been trying to fight it—we both have—but Grandma and I got into a car accident last night, and—”
“Wait, you got into anaccident? You should have led with that! Are you okay?”