Chapter 5
“Set an extra place at the table, please.”
I really thought having all of my brothers at college this year was going to mean coming home to a calm, quiet house. I thought wrong.
“Who else is coming?” I ask.
“Gabriel’s new roommate. They’ve been friends for a few years.” Mom gives me a pointed look. “I’ve met him—he’s very cute.”
“Gross, Mom!”
I’m annoyed to find out that my mother was right. He is very cute.
My mind is spinning and it’s not because Riz is talking about space again. It is one hundred percent because that damn redheaded man walked back into my life. I haven’t told Riz or Luci yet. I definitely haven’t told Gabe yet. Instead, I’m sitting here, curled up on the couch, chewing my nails like a lunatic while I half listen to Riz prattle on about some rocket launch that’s coming up.
I’m so in my head that when my phone buzzes in my pocket, I nearly jump out of my skin. Riz stops mid sentence and looks at me like I’ve grown three heads.
“Sorry, just on edge,” I murmur as I pull my phone out and see a message from an unknown number.
Unknown
Hey.
This message is accompanied by a picture of what looks like a margarita and some Chinese takeout sitting on someone’s countertop. I zoom in on the picture to try to figure out what the hell is happening when another text comes through.
Unknown
It’s Anders.
My phone falls from my hand. I scramble to pick it up, feeling it buzz again.
Unknown
Sorry, that probably wasn’t very clear based on the last text.
It’s Margarita Monday and I figured Gabe had told you about those.
Okay, so he’s drunk texting me, but how and why did he get my number?
Anders
Gabe gave me your number. I hope that’s okay. We need to talk.
Ominous but not completely untrue after our run-in earlier today. I’m trying to figure out what to say to him when yet another text comes through. Damn, he’s an efficient drunk.
Anders
I’m fucking this up but you left class without talking to me today and I figured we should be on the same page moving forward. Also trying to figure out why you’re even in that class in the first place.
And if maybe you should find a different one…
Ouch. Blunt.
Hey, it’s Bex.
Oh my God. Obviously.
Obviously you know that.
We can talk but I’m staying in that class. I need it to graduate.
Anders
If you wanted to spend time with me all you had to do was ask. I’m at your beck and call, Baby Bardot. *wink emoji*
Shit. He’s so fucking flirty and that is exactly why I’ve avoided having his phone number for all of these years.
“Who are you texting?” Luci’s voice startles me and I nearly throw my phone in the air. “Okay, what the heck is going on, Bex? You’ve been jumpy all night.”
I sag back against the couch because I know there’s no way I’m getting out of this conversation. “Anders Olsson is teaching my Introduction to Acting class.” My head falls into my hands because I can’t look at them for this.
Silence.
And then chaos.
“No fucking WAY,” Riz shouts at the same time that Luci squeals, “This is PERFECT!”
“Perfect?!” Riz sounds about how I feel. “How the hell is this perfect? She’s been avoiding the guy for years, and now she’s stuck in the same room as him multiple times a week.”
Riz is the practical one of the group.
But Luci is our romantic and knows Riz as well as I do, so she’s ready for this argument. “It is perfect for exactly that reason. Haven’t you ever heard of the forced proximity trope? They’ll finally be forced”—she squishes her hands together for emphasis—“to spend time together. Everyone who has ever been in the same room as them knows you can cut the sexual tension with a knife. I can’t wait to see how this plays out!”
Cut the sexua… what the fuck?
“I’m sorry, what the fuck are you talking about?” I ask, out loud this time.
Riz and Luci look at each other sideways. Oh shit. That look means they’ve talked about this before.
“Guys, seriously. What are you talking about?” I’m getting annoyed and my phone has buzzed at least four more times in my lap since we started this asinine conversation. I’m itching to look at it but I want to get to the bottom of this.
Luci is the first to speak. “Well, you have always had a crush on the guy.”
“I have NOT!” I’m panicking. Can they tell I’m panicking?
Riz rolls her eyes. “Cut the shit, Bex. You’ve been in love with the guy since you were sixteen and he first came home with Gabe. And even though you and your brother are both blind to it, Anders is obsessed with you, too.” I’m sorry what? “I honestly don’t know why you both avoid each other like the plague.”
Andddd Riz has effectively blown my mind. I definitely thought I was being subtle.
“I’m not—We’re not… I mean there’s no we, but I don’t… He’s just…” Words are hard right now.
Luci leans over and whispers to Riz, “I think you broke her.”
My phone buzzes again and, in a daze, I look at the messages I’ve missed.
Anders
Let’s meet for coffee.
Do you have a morning class tomorrow?
8 am. Same coffee shop as this morning.
Also known as, Coffee Shop.
If that works for you.
Bex?
Damn. “He wants to get coffee tomorrow morning.”
Luci squeals again. Riz sighs. “I guess you’re getting coffee with Anders fucking Olsson tomorrow morning.”