Chapter 15
Fifteen
The week flies by so fast with all the exam prep and work that I barely even notice when Friday night arrives.
Kalani was upset about having to cancel whoever she chose for date number four, but otherwise she has been positive and looking forward to the group date.
She didn’t even make a big stink about my choosing Wyatt over her guy, which made me second-guess my theory about her sabotaging my dates.
My doubts worsened when she came over Wednesday night and helped me pick an outfit while she was waiting for Maleah to finish her piano lessons.
She didn’t say anything about Wyatt not being right for me or make any other excuse to get me to not go out with him.
If she was picking bad dates on purpose and wanted them to fail, wouldn’t she have said something about not wanting me to date Wyatt? Because Wyatt is Emmett’s friend, and from what I’ve heard, he’s a really good guy.
Maybe I overreacted at the library. Maybe Arthur really did just misinterpret Kalani’s advice.
Maybe I’m shitty for jumping to conclusions that incriminate my best friend.
Kalani hasn’t been the most considerate lately, sure, but she’s stressed with everything at home, plus exams coming up don’t help, and she’s putting a lot of pressure on herself to be voted prom queen.
I should cut her some slack and not assume the worst. Even Emi doesn’t suspect anything, and I’d know if she did, because she’d say something.
I’m in the back seat of Emmett’s Volvo, with Kalani sitting shotgun, on our way to our group date. I’m wearing a green off-the-shoulder crop top and white shorts, and I wonder what color underwear Jay would guess I’m wearing. Green or white?
“What are you laughing about?” Kalani asks me from the front seat, and I rein in my amusement.
“Nothing,” I say as my phone vibrates with a text.
It’s Jay. It’s like he always knows when I’m thinking about him.
Are you at work? I’d like to claim my free ice cream.
I do owe him ice cream for helping me get out of that date with Arthur. I owe him more than that for everything else he’s done, but ice cream is a good place to start.
Just to be a pain in the ass, I reply:
But you don’t even like ice cream.
He came in while I was working on Tuesday and Thursday after his sister’s soccer practice and game, but the bakery is always so busy and I was running around, so another worker ended up helping him before I could get there.
He only sent me a wink and slid his hand across the glass of the display case before leaving.
That’s not the point. Are you at work or not?
“Is that Emi you’re texting?” Emmett asks from the front, his blue eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. “Tell her we’re almost there.”
“No problem,” I reply, but I don’t text Emi. Instead, I reply to Jay.
I’m not at work, I’m on a group date if you can believe it.
He replies instantly.
I thought you were going to tell your friends you didn’t want to be set up anymore?
It’s a long story. I’ll tell you after.
He doesn’t answer, and I put my phone away in favor of ignoring the strange hurt in my chest and staring mindlessly out the window.
Emmett and Kalani have been talking to each other in the front seat, and I haven’t bothered tuning in to pay attention until I hear my name being called.
“What?” I ask.
“I asked how your date went,” Emmett says. “Kalani told me it wasn’t good, but she didn’t tell me the details other than Chad’s a drug dealer and skipped out on the bill.”
“Again, sorry,” Kalani says, and knowing what I do now, I can’t decide if I believe her or not. She’s saying it sincerely, or as sincerely as Kalani can, so maybe I should give her the benefit of the doubt. She is my best friend, after all.
So I tell him about the date. About Chad showing up late, repeatedly getting my name wrong, ordering for me and saying it was all on him, running out the emergency exit, Jay bailing me out, and Jay taking me to Boscoe’s.
Emmett’s frown in the rearview mirror deepens as my story progresses.
“Did you call the police on Chad?” Emmett asks.
The question stumps me. “Um . . . no.”
His frown only grows more serious. “He’s a drug dealer. He was going to skip out on the bill and make you his accomplice.”
“But I didn’t run out on the bill. Jay covered it until I could pay him back.
And I don’t actually have any proof that Chad’s a drug dealer.
He didn’t pull out a baggie and show me or anything .
. .” I trail off weakly, wishing I could sink into the leather seat.
Emmett’s disapproving stare isn’t even turned on me but instead reflects off the rearview mirror, and I still feel its full effect.
“I’m sure Chad will do something stupid sooner or later and get himself arrested on his own, babe. Don’t worry about it,” Kalani says, stepping in to smooth things over for me like she normally does.
Has Emmett always been so . . . prudish? I don’t remember him always being such a Goody Two-shoes, but maybe I overlooked it because of my giant crush. I liked Emmett because of how good and nice he is, but is it possible that he’s too good? It’s almost . . . annoying?
“Anyway,” Kalani adds, and I’m grateful for the subject change, “are you excited, Carina? Make sure to be nice to Wyatt. He’s our last shot at getting you a prom date.”
Now I’m not grateful for the subject change. “I’m always nice.”
“Uh-huh,” Kalani says, flipping the sun visor down and using the mirror to fix her lipstick. “I’m just saying, it’ll be the first time there are six of us and not five of us, so you won’t be a . . . you know . . .”
Unlike the other times she’s hinted at it, I don’t restrain myself. “A fifth wheel?” I deadpan, clenching my jaw.
“Come on, guys!” Emmett interrupts. “It’s going to be fun! Wyatt’s great, he’ll fit right in.”
I don’t say anything, instead sinking into my seat and crossing my arms. I have no idea what game she’s playing, but clearly Kalani still thinks I’m going to ruin this date, so I’m going to be on my best behavior and make this the best damn date Wyatt’s ever been on.
—
Wyatt is good-looking, I’ll give him that.
He has kind brown eyes, light brown skin, and dark, curly hair.
He smiled warmly when we met at the restaurant and was friendly and welcoming, making me instantly comfortable around him.
But even though by all accounts he’s great and polite and friendly and charming, there’s just something off about him, and it’s no fault of his own.
I just have this weird feeling that he’s not the one for me.
Something tells me his eyes aren’t dark and intense enough, and it bothers me that he wears a genuine smile instead of a sarcastic smirk.
Right now, he’s sitting next to me at the table, with Emmett on my other side, Kalani in front of him, and Daphne and Emi beside her.
We’ve already ordered and eaten, and though my shrimp was good, it had a weird taste, probably because of that nagging feeling that something feels off.
Even Kalani is being quieter than normal and hasn’t brought up prom once.
It made everything taste weird, less enjoyable.
“So, Carina,” Wyatt says as we wait for the waitress to bring the dessert menu, “Emi and Emmett have been bragging about your art forever. Are you going into graphic design like Emmett?”
Another conversation that makes my stomach queasy.
“No, I’m going into business. Art is just for fun.”
“Oh, that’s cool,” he says, and that’s the end of that. It’s a normal, perfectly fine reaction. But where’s the teasing that I’m not good enough? Where’s the banter?
Kalani shoots me a look, and I imagine her scolding me, Make an effort, Carina!
I sigh and fiddle with the napkin. “What are you doing next year?”
He tells me how he’s interning at his dad’s advertising company this summer before starting his marketing degree so he can be promoted faster.
I smile and nod when appropriate, but I’m not sure how convincing I am because Kalani’s still giving me the side eye.
Emmett, Emi, and Daphne join in as normal, so it must just be Kalani I can’t convince because she knows me best.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Wyatt.
He’s not insulting me, not proposing marriage, didn’t bring his mom, isn’t a drug dealer, and actually knows my name.
I just need to get out of my own head. I promised myself I’d show Kalani this would be the best damn date ever just to prove to her I could do it, especially since she might have been sabotaging me, so that’s what I’m going to do.
By the time we order dessert, I have relaxed a bit and allowed myself to actually laugh at Wyatt’s jokes. We even agreed to share a slice of molten chocolate cake. That’s a cute, date-like thing to do.
After dessert, Wyatt pays for my portion of the bill, which is nice, and even pulls my chair out for me when we stand to leave and holds the door open for me.
“It’s going really well!” Emi stage-whispers to me as we walk through the parking lot, her hand in Daphne’s.
Wyatt’s walking a few feet behind us, engaged in a conversation about hockey stats with Emmett and Kalani.
“Yeah, I guess,” I reply.
Daphne leans around Emi. “Actually, he reminds me a lot of Emmett.”
“Oh my God! Yes!” Emi exclaims. “I knew there was something I couldn’t put my finger on. It really felt like we had another Emmett there.”
I frown as I consider it. Wyatt didn’t remind me of Emmett at all. The evening was so tame and unexciting. I never thought a date with Emmett would be so . . . average.
Daphne studies me. “I’m sure it’ll be smoother at laser tag.”
Emi gasps. “That reminds me!” She stops walking and waits for the others to catch up, forcing Daphne and me to do the same. “Hey, Wyatt!” she calls. “Where are you parked?”
“Right over there,” he says, pointing a few rows over.
“Great.” Emi shoves me in the direction he pointed. “Carina will ride with you to laser tag.”