The way Carter stumbled over his words, and the ridiculousness of them, made me want to laugh. “Pretty girls are mean, is that what you’re saying?”
“No!” The word echoed through the air, and his cheeks reddened. “No, of course not. Gosh, that came out wrong. I just—I don’t know.”
I calculated the move in my mind before reaching out, coasting my hand across Carter’s shoulder. He stilled. “You don’t have to be so nervous,” I told him. “I’m still the same person you’ve been talking to for the past month.”
It’d been early April when I’d reached out, messaging him about the pier. We hadn’t exchanged that many messages a day, but wehadtalked daily. I wasn’t a stranger to him, and he wasn’t to me.
Carter cleared his throat. “Speaking of. Can we keep that between us?”
“Which part?”
“That we talked before. Or, really,whywe started talking before.” He leaned his head closer. “Mr. ASMR.”
I fought a smile. “Don’t worry. I’m not really into gossiping.”
A relieved expression crossed Carter’s face, and the urge to laugh rose up again. Despite being from one of the most influential families in Fenton County, he was soanimated. Poised at times, stuttering at others. It caused asurge of affection to race through me, like looking at a little kid tripping over their feet.
“Iwasafraid someone else might’ve caught your eye first, though,” I went on. “I heard you danced with quite a few girls last night.”
His expression sobered. “My parents treated last night like my Victorian era introduction into society. They were all polite, but nothing like you.”
Only then did I wonder if I’d misread Mr. ASMR entirely. I’d gone into last night curious to connect with a new friend, but had he gone to Senior Night thinking it was a romantic rendezvous? His nerves would’ve made more sense then. The uncomfortable tension in my chest did not.
“I actually can’t stay,” Carter told me a little sadly. “My parents are meeting the Hollands here for brunch, but I wanted to stop by and say hi, since you said you’d be here. And say… I’d love to see you again. There are more things I’d like to talk with you about. Maybe we can meet up for coffee? If you know a good spot?”
I knew better than to ask if I could join them for brunch to meet his dad. The long game was always a better one. “I do know the perfect place, chance would have it. Have you heard of Crushed Beanz?”
“I haven’t tried it. I could pick you up if you wanted to DM me your address. Maybe… Tuesday? Say six?”
“You should know I’m big on punctuality,” I told him, tucking my arms behind my back. “Don’t be late.”
Carter grinned. “Noted.”
My lips fell back into a neutral position after Carterdisappeared around a rosebush, going off in the direction of the garden. It would take him a while to get to the country club’s restaurant from that way, but I didn’t rush after to stop him.
Despite another short interaction, sweet triumph welled in my chest. Not a checkmate, but the game was advancing. Out of everyone he’d spoken with last night, Carter came to me for the first date. Not Lydia, even though she’d been at the same table moments ago. Me.You’re so beautiful.
Except the idea before had been to charm Carter to get to his father, and I wasn’t sure I could do that to Mr. ASMR. Maybe I could convince him to just be friends. Friends could introduce each other to their parents. It’d make my plan less diabolical.
But it wouldn’t be the first time I’d made a diabolical decision for my own benefit.
D-I-A-B-O-L-I-C-A-L.
I closed my eyes, a different voice creeping in.I thought you’d be uglier.
“Jeez, he’s gag-worthy, isn’t he?” I jerked my head up to find Beck leaning against a pillar at the mouth of the pathway. He had his arms folded across his chest, his hair tipping into his eyes. His sunglasses were gone. “Please don’t tell me you actually liked that fluff.”
It wasn’t quite horror that hit me, but something similar had my cheeks on fire. “You were listening?”
“I figured you wouldn’t want me to interrupt.” Beck straightened before slipping both hands into his pockets, giving a boyish shrug. “I couldn’t find the restrooms.”
The lie was obvious. “You know where the bathrooms are.”
“Do I?”
“They’reinside.”
“Are they?”
