Page 26 of Mutual Discord

“Hey, I just got to the restaurant where I’m meeting my agent.” Caitlin’s face grew shadowed as she stepped from the sidewalk into a dim interior, pulling her sunglasses from her face. “We’re supposed to discuss some projects, but before I go, I wanted to ask you one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Do you mind letting Alex drive down to Tucson with you?”

Every one of my muscles went still.

“I’m only asking because I will probably have to fly directly into Tucson because I have a few meetings that following Monday.” Caitlin smiled at a person off camera and gestured with a finger for them to give her a moment. “We both know Alex could drive down by himself, but I thought you guys could keep each other company.”

If Alex made the drive to Tucson with me, we would be in the car together, side by side, for almost two hours. Two hours of Alex Castillo’s enticing scent. His gravelly laugh that tickled like a feather down my spine. Two hours of his easy charisma lulling me into a relaxed state—a state where I would struggle to remember he was my best friend’s boyfriend.

Two hours alone with Alex Castillo would be torture.

“Of course he can hitch a ride down to Tucson with me,” I heard myself say.

I had the spine of a jellyfish.

“Awesome. Thanks, Sof.” Caitlin heaved a sigh and then turned to smile again at the person off camera. “I’ll call you next week and we’ll work out the rest of the details. Sound good?”

“Sounds good,” I replied.

“Great. Tell your parents I’m excited to see them,” Caitlin said with a quick wave. A second later she disconnected the call.

I stared at my screen for so long that it went black, and I found myself peering at my shadowed reflection. Should I message Alex about homecoming? Or should I just let Caitlin handle the specifics with her boyfriend? With a groan, I dropped my head to my knee. Alex and I were friends, and did I need to feel bad or guilty for talking to him about something we were both attending?

Sitting up straight, I typed out a quick text. I heard I have to take your ass down to homecoming.

Alex’s reply came moments later.

Alex: It’s very generous of you to agree, or else I would have had to hide in your back seat and I’m not sure it’s big enough.

Sofia: Definitely not big enough.

I sucked in a breath when I realized how that could be taken and quickly typed out another text.

Sofia: I don’t know that you’re prepared to spend a whole weekend surrounded by Wildcats.

Alex: Definitely not prepared. I only agreed to go because I hoped you would protect me.

Rocking back, I abruptly felt warm from the tips of my toes to the crown of my head. Although I knew he was joking, I liked the idea of having to stay close to Alex. It was easy to imagine that he received a good deal of attention when he went out, so going to homecoming, where he would be surrounded by not just alumni but also undergrads and fans drinking and socializing, meant Caitlin and I would be beating interested people off him left, right, and center.

Sofia: I’ll make sure to pack my brass knuckles.

Alex: I knew you were a badass. Just like the Matildas you cover.

Oh. A goofy grin stretched across my lips, and I didn’t try to hide it. But just as quickly as the smile appeared, it faded away. I was embarrassed by how easily I allowed myself to fall into the playful banter that came so effortlessly between Alex and me. It was inappropriate, and I had no excuse.

Locking my jaw, I composed a reply text with logistics for the trip, hoping it would lead our conversation back to safe waters. Alex replied in kind, and I felt more in control of myself and my wayward emotions.

Alex: I’ll ask my assistant to grab us some snacks for the road. Do you have any requests?

I held my breath as I typed out my response.

Alex: Red Vines? They taste like plastic.

Sofia: They do not! If anything tastes like plastic it’s Twizzlers. Cherry-flavored plastic.

Alex: Twizzlers are classics.