Page 60 of How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend
“I’ll freeze,” I say. I do have limits.
“You can borrow my coat,” he tries.
Kaitlynn sucks her lips in, visibly restraining a squeal. Me too. Internally, big time. I clench my teeth together and a gush of something warm and scary runs up my chest. I need to sayno, that’s the only right answer, but he offered me his coat. Likehow freaking adorable is that? He has to stop with the sweet shit!Okay, compose yourself!
I so don’t have this under control. My smile breaks free and instead of saying no, I nod. Oh my gods, what is my problem?
“So, yeah?” Zachary leans across the counter and the smile on his lips grows.
“No!” I yelp. It’s louder than I’d intended, but I’m saving this. “No, I mean. Sorry. I meant you’re right. About them letting us sit outside.”
What? What am I saying?You are so fucked.
“Oh, okay. So youdon’twant to go?” he asks again.
“Uh…” I mumble, trying to figure out how best to turn this back around without being the pathetic enby who can’t say no to the handsome gray-eyed man. I could just say no, or no thank you, but I need a reason, an excuse. Right? And it has to feel important. I can’t just say no. It’s mean.
“I can’t,” Kaitlynn says. “Gotta work on this paper for school.”
My paper! I… Wait. I see you, Kaitlynn. Very good.
“Me too. It’s due Friday.” The save I needed. Iamtechnically behind. I “finished” it, but it still needs another page. More fluff.
“Oh, okay. Maybe I can just wait for you to get off and talk a little after, walk you to your car?” he tries again.
“I…” He’s going to find a way regardless, isn’t he? What would it hurt to let him walk me to my car? It’s only like a skip and a jump down the street. We’d be there in no time, and I can use my paper as an excuse not to stick around long. “Sure.”
“Awesome, I’ll be back at close then,” Zachary says, walking backward toward the entrance all smiles.
“Wait!” I yell. Stop walking backward! Flashes of Hayden spring into my head.
“Huh?” Zachary stops.
“Please watch where you’re going.” I nod toward the floor. There’s nothing there, but in my head, I remember it was wet and dangerous. “That’s how Hayden, you know…”
“Ah.”
Realization lights up behind his pretty eyes and then he smiles. Ugh. Stop it! You’re making me smile, and I shouldn’t be. Not for any of this! It’s arealproblem!
“That your boyfriend?” Mr. Franz speaks up from the corner. I’d forgotten he was here. “Or partner?”
I love how much he tries to be considerate of labels. They’re not that important to me if I know you’re a truly kind person, but it’s really nice, even if his question is sending the blood rushing to my face. I can feel the heat in my cheeks. I’m blushing something major. When I dare a glance at Zachary, he’s looking at me wide-eyed, face as red as Pennywise’s balloon.
“No!” I yelp, and it’s less than a second later that Zachary is blurting the same thing.
“No! We’re just friends,” he says quickly, hands up, waving at Mr. Franz like it’s urgent.
“Friends,” Kaitlynn mutters under her breath and grunts comically.
I side-eye her, and speak again. “Yeah, just friends. He’s Hayden’s brother.”
“I knew he looked familiar. That’s the one you’ve been fancying, isn’t he?” Mr. Franz continues. He noticed that? I want to cover my face and die. End me right here, right now. “He’s got the same eyes.”
Zachary’s gaze springs back and forth between Mr. Franz and me like it’s being slapped around in a ping-pong machine. His mouth hangs half open.
“Yeah,” I admit sheepishly. He’s much more observant than I realized.
“They’re my brother’s enbyfriend,” Zach springs in.
