Chapter Eleven #3
Turning back to him, I asked, “What time is the party?”
“Technically, it starts at seven.” Ethan’s voice sounded nonchalant as he added, “But the popular DJs won’t go on until later, so I think we could get there whenever.”
“Okay, BamBam and Sterling’s panel is supposed to end at seven-thirty, and then she and Gregory are going to try an Emeril restaurant and see Magic Mike.” I paused as Gabby started snickering. Immediately, Ethan perked up. I shrugged. “When in Vegas. Anyway, if we go a little late, I could do it.”
I bit down on my bottom lip.
“My grandma has late dinner reservations. She isn’t gonna be back until after nine, so this could work if we don’t stay out too long.”
My heart did a backflip, and I forced it to pull itself together before I could think too hard about what that meant.
“Maybe we meet at the end of the conference hall, near where they have the water station, at seven-forty-five in case BamBam hangs around to talk to people?” I added.
“Sure.” Ethan nodded, tucking his hands into his pockets as he rocked on his heels again. “I should get going before my grandma comes back from breakfast and wonders where I am. But see you tonight?”
“See you.” I moved away from the door as he started to walk backward down the hall, that disarming smile returning to his face.
“Wait.” Ethan stopped abruptly, then jogged toward me with his phone out. “Can I have your number?” A hint of pink returned to his cheeks as he shrugged and added, “So I don’t have to turn up at your friends’ rooms like a weirdo to talk to you.”
I smirked. “I kinda want to see how you explain this the next time you have to track me down at my grandma’s room or something.”
“I feel like explaining how I found you to your grandma might get my ass kicked,” Ethan joked. “I’d rather just text you and keep all of my parts intact.”
“I guess you have a point.” I snickered and handed him my phone. I took his and smiled at the background. Holding the phone up, I asked, “Is that your dog?”
“Yes. That is Shelby, the most ancient and smelliest basset hound on the planet.” Ethan’s voice sounded completely devoid of warmth, but his smile gave him away. The dog probably smelled like Fritos, but he loved it.
Ethan said, “For a girl who claimed Lady Friday was her favorite movie, your phone screen says otherwise.”
I winced, remembering the background of my phone was set to the poster for my current obsession.
An extremely cheesy action movie sequel starring Teddy Flunder, the hottest actor of the moment, and an animated purple monster.
Holding my head high, I said, “It’s His Girl Friday, and I refuse to apologize for appreciating Death Ship Five.
It had a clever fusion of animation and camerawork. ”
“Right,” Ethan said, pressing his lips into a flat line to keep from laughing as he passed me the phone. “I’m sure that’s the reason.”
“It is.” I nodded a little too much to be convincing as Ethan backed away from the door, still skeptical. “Watch it, and you’ll see what I mean.”
“No need.” Ethan shook his head, mock sincerity on his face. “I totally believe you, Webb.”
“See, this is why we aren’t friends,” I called down the hallway. “A real friend would believe me.”
“But I do believe you.” Ethan threw his hands over his heart, feigning hurt. “Why do you insist upon breaking my heart when you know how much I care?”
“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes and stepped back into the room. “See you tonight.”
“See you soon, friend,” Ethan’s jovial voice came down the hall right before the door clicked.
Turning around, I caught Gabby and Nittha exchanging massive, floodlight-level-bright smiles. Narrowing my eyes at both of them, I tried to stem the incoming tide of excitement. “Don’t get—”
“Oh my god. This is your second date!” Nittha bounced up and down on the bed, disrupting Cricket’s regal repose. The poor dog rushed to the other end of the bed and settled on a pillow, irritated.
“We are filming for the contest together.”
“Girl! He was basically falling apart trying to explain himself to Nittha. He was nervous about talking to you because he likes you.” Gabby drew out the word like, so it sounded as if it had about fifteen syllables in it.
“I think he was nervous about turning up randomly, not talking to me.” I shrugged, then walked over to the bed and flopped down next to Nittha, which turned out to be a mistake, because my friend started nudging me with her elbow.
“Would it be so bad if this was a sneaky date?” Gabby asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“No one is showing up with Swedish Fish, Gabby,” I said, keeping my voice flat. “You know my parents’ no-dating-until-graduation rule. Even if BamBam didn’t disown me over this, my parents would ground me for life.”
Nittha rolled her eyes. “But what they don’t know—”
“Anyway, I have to be at BamBam’s merch signing soon. Are we gonna finish filming or what?” I cut her off before she could try to make lying to my parents seem like a good idea, too.
“Fine, fine. But we are gonna talk about this more at lunch,” Nittha said, lunging across the bed to get to Cricket.
“And we are helping you pick out an outfit to wear tonight. I love you, but your jean shorts are kinda killing the date vibes,” Gabby said, lifting herself out of the chair.
“We aren’t talking about it at lunch, and no one is dressing me.” I sighed and walked back to where the reflective screen was.
As the two of them started talking about how to arrange Cricket on the dresser next to the mirror, I let my mind wander. Objectively, I knew tonight wasn’t a date. Ethan and I would be working. But now that Gabby had put the thought in my mind, I was having a hard time letting the idea go.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out, my breath catching in my throat as I watched Ethan’s number come up on my screen.
Ethan: On a scale of -5 to 5 with 0 being a true neutral, I’m level 5 excited to hang out with you tonight.
Rolling my eyes, I typed back the same answer I’d given the day before, fighting the urge to read too much into his text.
This isn’t flirting, I told myself. This was merely a callback to yesterday’s misadventures.
I checked to make sure Gabby and Nittha were still engaged in arranging Cricket before answering.
I’m still a 2
A moment later my phone buzzed again, and a smile crept across my face. I bit down on my bottom lip to try to get ahold of it.
Ethan: I can work with a 2. See you tonight.