Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
STEVIE
Winona Ryder yells at her parents about something dumb on the screen as Brad offers me more popcorn. I grab a kernel, wanting to be nice, but in truth, I have no appetite.
We’re already three-quarters of the way into the eighties cult classic film Heathers, at the revival theater, one town away from Driscoll.
Although I prefer the musical for more reasons than the music and screenplay, the movie’s okay.
Brad was sweet in planning the whole date and trying to guess what a girl like me would like.
He didn’t make a bad choice. Still, I was hoping we could talk a little more.
In truth, I don’t know Brad all that well.
We only really talked about music, and maybe that’s why I’m not ecstatic about him wanting to get pizza afterward.
I should be having fun. This is the kind of date I would have loved to go on with Andrew before everything, but something’s missing. And I know that something is probably a dark-blue-eyed, brooding twenty-year-old musician who’s currently doing God knows what in our apartment.
No. Levi said he didn’t mind, and even if he was lying, I need to see if maybe the high I feel with him is only because of our mutual attraction or if it’s because I have feelings for him.
For some reason, I had the idea that to figure all of that out, I had to go on a date with another guy.
It could also be because I wanted to be a bit petty.
And now I feel like shit because I realized that I’m kind of taking advantage of Brad.
“You okay?” Brad whispers in my ear.
Realizing I’m biting my fingernails, I stop. “All good.” He smiles and puts an arm around my chair.
Brad’s been the perfect gentleman all night. He’s paid for everything, even though I offered to cover at least half of the cost. He hasn’t so much as touched me inappropriately, and he has checked in on me throughout the movie while we shared snacks.
It hasn’t been a miserable night, and he complimented me on the way I look, which, yes, might be a little too much for a movie and pizza, but I wanted to feel good about myself.
The bomb in the movie explodes, and soon after, the credits begin to roll.
Brad picks up our things, and we dump everything in the garbage on the way out.
I was a little wobbly at first with these shoes since they’re a little chunkier than I’d typically wear and I almost fell when I jumped out of the car.
I’m thankfully steady now and not tripping over myself like an idiot.
“Pizza at Moonlit’s?” Brad opens the passenger door for me, and I nod my response.
Moonlit’s Pizzeria opened right before winter break, and I’ve already ordered from there a few times. Most of those times being with Levi—
Who you are not on a date with. Brad. Brad is your date.
Said date gets in the driver’s seat. He turns the engine on but doesn’t move. His fingers are tapping against the wheel and I’m wondering if he’s letting the car warm up. It looks like a pretty new car, so it shouldn’t take long.
“Did you like the movie?” Brad asks.
Turning, I see that his brown eyes look hopeful, so I smile. “Yes.”
He narrows his eyes. “But?”
I shrug and roll my eyes. “The musical is way better.”
He laughs. “I’ll take your word for it.” Brad pauses. “Listen, Stevie.”
Damn.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a couple of weeks now, but was waiting until your audition was over in case you said no, and things would get awkward.
” I swallow harshly as he continues. “I like you. I don’t want you to think I’m only here because I want to sleep with you—not that I don’t.
That’d be nice, eventually.” He laughs, and I follow.
I’ve never seen him like this, and it’s very endearing.
When we both stop laughing, he gives me the look and leans over.
Shit, he’s going to kiss me. Should I? Yes, I should. He’s cute, funny, and a friend. He likes me. Maybe I’ll feel something.
I meet him halfway, and he gives me a gentle, closed-mouth kiss. A good kisser, but besides that, there are no sparks—nothing…absolutely nothing.
We separate, and he looks at me weirdly, while I return the look.
He opens his mouth. “That wasn’t what I expected.” Brad puts a hand up. “Not to say you aren’t a good kisser, but it was missing…”
“A spark,” I finish for him, and smirk. Brad rubs the back of his neck, agreeing. An idea occurs to me. He deserves a little more after all the work he’s put into tonight. “Let’s try one more time, but really try, and then if we feel nothing, we’ll know.”
He sits up and cracks his knuckles. “Let’s fucking do this.”
I giggle as he leans back over and takes my cheek this time. We both open our mouths and allow our tongues to touch for a couple of seconds. I can tell he’s enjoying it by his eagerness, and although it’s pleasant, it’s still not a toe-curling kiss.
We pull apart. “How was that?” he asks, a little breathless.
“Good.” I nod. “But…”
He smiles sadly. “Yeah, same.” Both of us lie back in our chairs in silence. “You like Levi, don’t you?”
My head snaps to him. “What would make you say that?”
Brad pulls out of the parking lot. “Just a wild guess,” he deadpans.
I huff out a breath. “That obvious, huh?”
“Eh, only a little.”
When I see him again, he winks, and I roll my eyes.
Thank God both of us ended up feeling nothing.
I still feel like crap for using him, yet somehow, he knew all along about Levi and didn’t say a thing.
And now I’m one hundred percent certain that what I feel for Levi is more than sexual attraction.
Son of a bitch.
A thought occurs to me. “Brad?”
“Yeah?”
“Were you willing to date me exclusively?” I give him a side-eye.
His jaw flexes. “There’s no doubt I have a reputation, but I’m never dishonest. I would’ve been with only you if we had both felt something. I’m not scared of being someone’s boyfriend, I just haven’t found the right person yet.”
Looking out the window, I make my final decision. “If that’s the case, I have a friend of a friend named Luna who you might like. She’s a dancer and is funny, outgoing, kind, and beautiful.”
Brad raises both eyebrows. “Send me her number.”
Picking up my phone, I barely glance his way when I say, “Hurt her and you’re a dead man.”
He chuckles. We talk like friends do until he drops me off, hugs me goodbye, and I head up the stairs, not knowing what’s about to happen next.