AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No,” Sofi said too quickly, biting her lip in frustration when Austin’s eyes narrowed. She definitely wasn’t telling him her real reason for online dating, but her quick answer had just made him all the more suspicious. Now he would want to know what he didn’t know along with why she was online dating. She was really sucking at this conversation.
“I mean, kind of,” Sofi tried to backtrack. “I haven’t told you the reason I’m online dating because I was worried it would hurt your feelings.”
Sofi swore she heard Leia stifle a giggle at Sofi’s poor excuse. Sofi knew she was now just saying things and at some point they were going to have to make sense, so she’d better start being a little more coherent. “I mean, I’ve dated mostly your friends. And honestly, they’ve all stunk.”
Austin burst into laughter.
“That’s what you’ve been hiding? That you’re looking for love online because my friends are bad boyfriends?”
Had that worked? Leia shot Sofi a hopeful look behind Austin’s back and Sofi’s face lit up as she smiled.
“Nope, that was too easy,” Austin said as he leaned back in his seat.
“No, that is totally the reason I’m online dating,” Sofi insisted. One reason, but whatever.
“I believe that. What I don’t believe is that it’s what you’re hiding from me. You would have been all too happy to tell me my friends are terrible boyfriends.”
Sofi tried to hide her feelings on that but her lips pursed anyway. He was right. And he was getting closer to the truth. She could feel it. But he couldn’t know that this date was tomorrow. She needed space from Austin if this was going to work. So she was back to plan A. She’d tell Austin she had a date but keep the details from him.
Austin set down his plate—or Sofi’s plate—and put his hands on either side of Sofi’s face, pulling her to look at him. Sofi fought the urge to close her eyes and relish Austin’s soft touch.
She swallowed and pulled her head out of the haze that threatened, looking Austin dead in the eye. The way any best friend would.
“You have a date,” Austin said gleefully, totally unaffected by his and Sofi’s nearness. She kind of hated him for that.
“You saw that in her eyes?” Leia asked, incredulous.
Austin laughed as he dropped his hands. “I knew it from the moment I heard Sofi’s declaration to keep something from me. What else would she keep from me?”
Other than her undying love for him? Yeah, nothing.
“I know you don’t want me on these dates, Sof. You made that more than clear when the Tías were here. But I’m coming. I made a promise to you and me.”
“Don’t forget the Tías,” Leia added unhelpfully.
Sofi turned to glare at her friend.
“And of course the Tías.”
Sofi shook her head. “Well, you can’t. I do have a date. But that’s all I told Leia. I’m keeping all other details to myself. And you can tell the Tías that’s what I said.”
Sofi had a feeling this might be her only date without Austin hovering in the background. After the Tías heard about this there would be hell to pay and Sofi would give in. But for this one date, for tomorrow, Sofi would stand her ground.
“Fine,” Austin said as went back to Sofi’s dinner.
“Fine?” Sofi echoed, unsure if she’d heard correctly.
Leia’s identical question was spoken through her gaze.
“Yeah, fine,” Austin said as he took a bite of rice, beans, and asada, a smile forming the minute the flavors hit his tongue.
Sofi watched her best friend carefully, wondering if he was up to something.
But if he wasn’t pressing she was going to let it go as well. Was Austin really just going to let her win? It looked like it.
Sofi smiled to herself as she felt her hunger re-emerge. She took her plate back from Austin.
“Hey!” Austin said as he tried to reclaim the plate but Sofi turned and he relinquished it.
