Page 118 of Tutored in Love
Ivy:I approve the appellations, but I think you’re being paranoid. He couldn’t have been that grumpy.
Me:He didn’t say another word to me.
Ivy:Paranoid.
Me:Also, there’s the roommate code to consider.
Ivy:WHAT?! Jamie?
Me:Yeah. She’s liked him for a while. I suspected, but she confirmed before the trip. I can’t straight-up ask him out after that.
Ivy:Code shmode.
Me:Also, I already asked him out once at your insistence. Remember how well that went?
Ivy:That was entirely different. But I can tell you’re digging in, so let’s make a plan.
Chapter 64
Revolting
Not wanting to kill thepost-ride euphoria of his traveling companions, Noah agreed to hang out in Moab for the afternoon once they’d packed up.
It proved harder than expected to maintain a happy face, especially after Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” had sounded in his head as Alec drove off with Grace. Surely,Mariannehad had a good reason for walking away.
If only it were so easy for Grace to walk out of his thoughts.
An afternoon flirtation might have been an effective distraction, but since the trending crowd in Moab was both sparse and leaning to the retiree demographic, that wasn’t really an option. Instead Noah dug up some people skills and set Chris to talking about himself as they walked Main Street and hunted for T-shirts before grabbing a bite to eat at Pasta Jay’s.
Melissa and Jake kept the conversation lively during dinner with a recap of their leap-frogging a biker from Hungary on the trail several times.
“We got to the first river overlook,” Melissa said, “and decided to stop for a drink and some pictures.” She looked to Jake, who continued the story.
“This guy was already there, trying to take a selfie with the Colorado River in the background.” He threw it back to Melissa with his eyes.
“So of course I offered to take the picture because I—”
“—hate selfies,” she and Jake said together, breaking into laughter.
Chris and Noah shared a look across the table from the newly established couple and their cuteness, joining in awkwardly with the over-the-top laughter. That kind of thing was always more fun when you were part of the inside joke.
Like it was with Grace and the pizza.
Melissa caught her breath and wiped her eyes. “The guy was super excited to hand off his phone. Then he backed his bike up closer to the rim and lifted it upside down over his head.”
Jake chuckled. “I thought, ‘Nice pose. I like it.’”
“He asked us again at the next lookout,” Melissa said. “I was looking forward to seeing his new pose. I thought maybe he’d change it up, but no. Every single time, he lifted his bike overhead.” Melissa chuckled.
“I don’t know,” Jake said. “Maybe it’s a thing.”
“If it isn’t, he’s hoping to make it one.” Melissa shook her head with a smile for Jake. “What about you, Chris? Anything interesting happen with you or Alec? We already know about Grace’s washout.”
Chris offered a couple of anecdotes, but Noah didn’t listen, tucking into his food instead as he prayed that no one—besides himself—would speculate about the state of The Couple’s relationship after Alec had basically abandoned her on the trail.
Not fair.
Maybeabandonedwas too strong a word.