The screen lights up, and I find a picture of a little white mouse.
“You have a pet mouse?” I ask her, desperate to learn anything and everything more about her.
She nods, not muttering a word more.
She swipes the screen abruptly, hiding all of her notifications before opening her Notes app. “What’s your guys’ numbers?”
We give them to her, and she saves them before locking and stowing her phone away.
“I should go. It’s getting late, and I have to be up early.”
“For what?” Dean grins, trying to squeeze more information out of her. “Work? Class?”
She grins. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Ouch. I would.” He grabs his heart. “One last question.”
He stands up and offers her his hands, which she takes.
“Yes?”
Getting to my feet, I stroll over and stand beside Dean, facing her.
“Who do you like more?” He smirks.
She giggles before pointing at me. “You.” And then she points at Dean. “And you.Equally. Who do you like more, hmm? Me or Asher?”
I laugh, enjoying watching someone push Dean’s buttons.
Dean leans back against the wall. “Well, for one, I don’t want to fuck my brother. But when it comes to you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”
Her cheeks burn up at his confession. “Good to know.”
“When can we see you again?” I ask, already knowing how much I’m going to miss her.
Her smile softens. “I’ll text you.”
“Okay. We’ll be waiting,” Dean vows as she heads for the exit. “Oh wait, one more thing. Ash.”
Shit. I almost forgot, but thankfully, Dean remembered.
Rushing out of the gazebo, I grab the bouquet of blue tulips, white hydrangeas, and baby’s breath we picked up at Happily Ever After floral shop on campus today.
When I stride back in, her face lights up.
“These are for you.”
She beams. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” we both respond, nearly in unison.
“Good night, Prince Charming and my knight in shining armor.” She giggles and disappears into the shadows.
Iswear the air is crisper when I wake up this morning. Even Gus seems to be in a better mood when he crawls out of his nook on the shelf tucked between the wall and my bed.
“Good morning, handsome,” I greet him as he stretches his little legs and crawls across my comforter to my lap for his routine morning pets. “I’ll get you some more of those treats you like when I’m out today, okay?” I ask, as if he’s going to respond.
I like to imagine he understands me perfectly and that he’d answer if he could. Regardless, I know he’ll be excited for his treats. He’s a grateful boy.
