I shiver.
“Huh?” Cassie replies.
“What are you celebrating?” Atticus clarifies, his tone growing impatient.
Fuck, I want this whole encounter to be over. I want to escape his intense gaze and stop fuckingblushing.I’ve seen enough—I can spend the rest of my life thinking of this moment and never need another, thank you.
“Oh!” Cassie says, laughing quietly. “Cameron got a new job, so we’re celebrating before he starts. It’s a mechanic gig.”
I want to slap my palm over my best friend’s mouth so badly that the urge momentarily distracts me from Atticus’s piercing gaze.
She’s revealing too much. Now the guy I’ve been secretly watching since before I hit double digits is going to know I’m a lowly mechanic. Though that is an upgrade from being a lowly cook.
“Congratulations,” Atticus says blandly, and after a moment, I realize he’s speaking tome.
Holy shit, he’s speaking to me!
“Thanks,” I mumble, dropping my gaze from his to hopefully hide my worsening blush.
“I normally don’t attend parties,” Atticus continues, his eyes flickering back to Cassie.
“Oh, well, there’s a first for everything,” she says sweetly, turning her charm up as she leans in subtly.
Atticus seems unaffected, but I dislike it nonetheless.
“Come on, Cas,” I interject, taking her arm in my hand as I try to pull her back. “Our friends are waiting, and he clearly—”
“But,” Atticus interrupts, his eyes finding mine once more. Then, unbelievably, a hint of a smile appears on his lips. “This one could be entertaining.”
My jaw practically drops open as Cassie squeals. He’s going to come? Tomyparty?! Well, the party paid for and hosted by Cas, but still. Why?
“There’s really no need,” I say, shaking my head lightly. “It’s clearly not your thing, and there’ll only be a few people there anyway. It’s not a big party.”
“Even better.” Atticus actuallygrins. “What do I bring? What time should I arrive?”
“We haven’t figured out all of the details yet, but we’re meeting up now to decide. Here, take my number so I can let you know.” Cassie is smooth with it; I’ll give her that.
Atticus shrugs, pulling out his smartphone and passing it to her. After she punches in her number and hands it back, he doesn’t place the device back in his pocket.
No, the man holds it out tome.
“Uh… what?” I mumble.
Am I in an alternate reality? Because the man I’ve been ogling for years is suddenly,seemingly, asking me for my phone number, and that’s doing something to the side of me I’ve been ignoring for my entire life.
“Your number?” Atticus presses, and his tone tells me that he believes I’m an idiot.
And I might very well be one with how my hands are shaking and the fact that I’m just staring, unmoving.
“Cam,” Cassie whispers, nudging me with her elbow.
“Oh.” I extend my hand, careful not to let our fingers brush as he passes me his phone. Oncemynumber is safely entered, I pass it back, still shell-shocked.
“Let me know a time and a place,” is all Atticus says, turning his attention back to the shelf next to us and effectively dismissing Cassie and me.
As Cassie drags me out of the bookstore, she sighs dreamily.
“I cannot believe I convinced him to come. Think he’ll get drunk enough that I can steal a kiss?” She giggles, linking our arms as we cross the street toward Ground Central.
