Page 56 of Finding My Charming

I turned from Ari and faced Dallin, standing behind the register. “It was just the veggie wrap! I’ve liked the other things I’ve ordered.”

He chuckled. “No need to cover it up now.”

“Whatever.” I huffed and glared at Ari. She’d done this to me. She was ignoring me and smiling sweetly at Dallin.

“Hi. I’m Ari, the best friend.” She actually stuck out her hand over the counter, and he took it and shook.

“Nice to meet you, Ari. I’m Dallin, the insufferable tease.”

Her eyes trailed down from his face to his chest and arms then back up without one ounce of discretion.

After we placed our order, I tugged Ari away from him. I swore that girl was part evil, always scheming. “Come on. I only have a half hour, and I don’t want to spend it watching you stare at him like you’re trying to use mind-control.”

She huffed and took her empty cup from me.

I followed her to the soda dispensers and waited for her to finish.

“If I had mind-control, he wouldn’t have stayed behind the counter, and you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me.”

I nudged her out of the way and got my lemonade. “I have a date tonight, Ari. With a guy that I’m really excited about.”

We turned at the same time and walked to an open table near the front windows.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t talk to anyone else. Your track record isn’t the best.”

I grabbed my drink and twirled the straw around in circles. “So, I should assume that things with Vincent are going to end the same way as every other date?”

Ari leaned forward until she was in my line of sight, forcing me to look at her. “No. You know that’s not what I’m saying. I just think that you should leave all of your options open until you know.”

This conversation was making me anxious. I checked the counter and saw Dallin distracted with other customers, so I whispered to her. “He isn’t even interested in me.”

She gave me the stern look she normally reserved for extreme cases of annoyance. “That boy’s face completely changed when he saw you walk in. His eyes lit up, and he was covering his smile with a menu. That, plus the fact that he was at the party, means something, Elle.” Her eyes flashed with determination. “Admit it.”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to reciprocate her intimidation. “Never.”

Suddenly our table tilted slightly. We broke our stare, and I noticed Dallin smiling down at us while holding two salads.

“Your meals, ladies.” He sat them down in front of each of us. “Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

I smiled before turning my attention to Ari.

Her head was swinging back and forth as her eyes darted from me to Dallin.

I kicked her shin under the table, trying to get her to stop.

“Thanks, Dallin. You’ve been great.” She spoke to him in a sugary-sweet voice that drew all of his attention. Little evil siren.

His smile grew, and he turned and walked back to the counter.

“What the heck, Ari?”

She ignored me and poked her salad with her fork. “What?” She looked at me with innocent eyes.

I stroked my fork debating whether or not to use it as a weapon. “What was that? Were you flirting with him?”

“Are you jealous?” She batted her eyelashes like a stupid woodland creature out of a cartoon.

A dismissive noise, a cross between and scoff and a laugh, escaped. I jammed my fork into my salad and repeatedly stabbed at the innocent vegetables.