“That’s one way to put it,” I mumble, feeling like the ultimate third wheel. What the hell is going on? “Well, it’s reallynice that you came. It cut down on our work a lot.” I elbow the mute statue next to me. “Didn’t it?”
“Mm-hmm,” she hums several octaves higher than her normal speaking voice.
I want to flee this awkward circle so badly, but the crescent nail marks in my wrist say I’m not going anywhere. “So… excited about school tomorrow?”
“Excited for tomorrow morning,” he replies cryptically, which finally gets a reaction out of Mei.
I’m elated when she releases me to cross her arms over her chest, blood circulation finally returning to my fingers. Her straight, black brows furrow, and she flashes him a challenging look. “I didn’t say yes.”
“You didn’t say no either,” Rand counters with the eagerness of a golden retriever. “Come on, say yes. We both have to get to school, so why not do it together?”
She squints at him. “I’m not on the way.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to get up a little earlier.” There’s a telling twinkle in his eyes. “It’s what friends do, and we’re friends, right?”
Mei’s lips pull into a pout, as if she’s been neatly snared in his verbal trap. How? I have no idea. This whole exchange is bizarre as hell.
Assuming she needs saving, I stutter out, “I can take her to school. I’m pretty sure I know how to drive stick now.”
Rand’s disappointment drags across his features, his whole body deflating like a wounded puppy.
Mei sighs. “No, it’s fine.” Her expression shifts to amused teasing. “I’ve seen your driving. Grandmas honk at you for going too slow.”
“Hey, it’s hard to shift down,” I defend weakly, “so I just…”
“Don’t go fast enough to have to shift from first gear?” She laughs, which earns her a squinty glare.
Seemingly eager not to give Mei a chance to change her mind about my granny driving, Rand announces, “I’ll pick you up at seven. I know you like to get to school early.” He races into the forest, almost instantly disappearing into the wild growth.
“What the hell was that all about?” I hiss with my fists on my hips. “I’ve never seen you act that way before.”
Mei buries her face in her hands and groans. “He sort of kind of asked me out without actually asking me out.”
“What?” I squeal loud enough to disturb the local wildlife, startled birds flapping away to find more tranquil trees. “When? Where? How?”
“He came to see me at my house before I left with my moms for San Francisco,” she answers, her words muffled by her palms.
“That was in June!” Gripping her shoulders, I shake her with a mixture of shock and excitement. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Her head bobbles back and forth with each of my exaggerated motions. “You were busy with the whole saving Nolan from dying thing.”
Letting go of her shoulders, I peel her hands from her face. “That’s ridiculous. This is huge, and I saved Nolan weeks ago.”
She shuffles her feet and looks away. “Okay, so I sort of, also, maybe, pretended that it didn’t really happen, because clearly he was out of his mind and would eventually return to his senses.”
“He obviously likes you, and for good reason. You’re amazing. Anyone would be lucky to date you,” I insist, giving her one of my no-nonsense looks that usually has the guys quickly backpedaling on whatever dumb thing they said. “And what do you mean he asked you out without asking you out? He either did or didn’t.”
“He’s stubborn and crafty,” Mei complains, and then she blows flyaway hairs out of her face. They fall right back into place. “I clearly explained to him how it would be a bad idea for us to date, because the ace thing would eventually be too much and the friend package is much better—all the good parts, none of the drama.” She tries to push the wild strands behind her ears, but there’s a bit of a breeze, and they refuse to stay put.
I do my best not to laugh as she grows more and more annoyed. “I take it he didn’t agree.”
Ripping her ponytail out, she aggressively pulls all her hair back. “All that idiot caught was that I liked dudes and thought he was cute. He missed all of the other important stuff.”
“Or, for argument’s sake, let’s just say,” I begin, dropping my hands casually on my hips, “he did hear everything you said, and with all that information, still recognizes what an awesome person you are, and he wants to date you.”
Mei shakes her head once her ponytail is back in place. “Such an idiot.”
“Do you want to date him?” I ask, my voice dropping to something gentler. “You don’t have to just because he wants to.”
