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Clammy prickles run their way down my back and across my arms. I swallow. “No.” I flick one accusing glance Levi’s way. “I don’t.”
Levi smacks his hands together, sending sheetrock dust flying in the air. “My work here is done.”
It’s far from done. Only half this wall is sheetrocked. Still, I’m not going to argue with him. Not now. Not with that death glare Annie is giving me.
Levi leaves, and that’s when I begin to grovel. “I’m sorry. I wish I liked it. I—”
“Owen.” Annie shoves me in the chest—and man, it hurts. She may be small, but she is fierce. “I’m not mad that you dislike the shirt.”
“You’re not?” I swallow again. At least, I try to. I’m still having trouble finding any saliva in my sandpaper mouth. “Because you seem pretty mad.”
“I am!” she hollers. “I’m mad that you didn’t just say that! I’m not a child who can’t handle not getting their own way.”
“I know that. I never would have—”
“Well, then why did you pretend?” She shakes her head and shoves the purple polo back into the Macy’s bag. “Why didn’t you just tell me you didn’t like it? I’m your best friend, O. If you can’t say that to me, then—”
“You’re right,” I say, not wanting her to finish that sentence. “I’m sorry.”
“Fine.” She heaves out a tired sigh. “Do you have time to go over my notes?”
“Yes. Of course. I knew you were coming.”
“Okay.” Annie flops onto my bed, scooting until her back hits the wall. She crosses her feet at the ankles and looks down at the cards in her hand.
I fall into the chair at my desk and gulp down every desire to scoop her up and show her exactly who the author is to that email she got the other day.
“Okay,” she says, one toe tapping in the air. “The second date should be an active one.”
“Right. You mentioned that. We’re going rock climbing at the civic center, then out for ice cream.”
“Perfect.” She flips through another note.
“Don’t be afraid to ask about her family.” Another flip of a notecard. “And a first kiss is common for a second date.” Something shifts in her expression. “But I don’t think you should worry about that.”
Maybe I’m seeing things… but I’m pretty sure Annie is uncomfortable at the thought of Belle and I kissing. I stand, fueled with assumptions, and walk over to where she sits. I plop down next to her, scooting my side flush to hers. “Is it on a notecard?”
She smirks. “Well, yeah. But I don’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
I refrain from laughing—this whole dating and article fiasco makes me uncomfortable.
She tips her head, peering up at me. “Just be yourself. No purple shirts and no Chinese food.”
“You’re the one who doesn’t like Chinese food,” I say as I mentally measure how far apart our lips are.
“Just me? I thought you didn’t like it either.”
Maybe Levi’s right about me.
Annie’s hand slips into mine, entwining our fingers and resting our tangled hands over top of her thigh. “Active and more questions. It’s going to be good.” She lifts one shoulder in a half-inch shrug. “Unless it’s not. That’s okay too. We’ll find someone else.”
“You know, some of the kids in my class are reading your articles.”
“No way,” she says, her dark eyes like gems sparkle with her grin. “What do they think?”
And then I muster my bravery. All of it. “They want to know whyI’mnot dating you.”
A bout of giggles erupt from Annie; they murder every ounce of bravery I just gathered. She slips her hand from mine to pat my thigh and laughs—like I just said something hilarious. “Right. Well, again, I’m not here to make you uncomfortable!” She hops up from my bed, hands on her hips. “All right, so whatareyou going to wear?”
