Page 12 of Between the Boards
She gasps and leans closer, the coconut scent of her hair drifting toward me. My eyes close for a second as I breathe it in. I’ve been around plenty of girls, but none of them smell as good as Kairi.
“Is thatBrandon Dingalo?” She asks. “How the hell did he get so hot?”
My eyes snap open and I glance down at the profile she’s looking at, frowning when I realize she’s right. ThatisBrandon. In high school, he was a short, pale, pimply redhead with braces and thick, square glasses. If a girl so much as looked at him, he’d make a wheezing noise and disappear into the bathroom for an hour.
Now he’s buff with clear skin, contacts, and the straightest, whitest teeth I’ve ever seen. He’s even managed to get somewhat of a tan.
”I never thought he’d end up looking like this,” she mutters, scrolling through his pictures. “And he’s a poet?”
According to his profile, when he’s not working out he’s working on his poetry. He’s self-published three poetry books as of this year, with one being a bestseller, and he’s halfway through writing his fourth.
“Sounds like he might be right up your alley,” I say, opening the blinking message icon.
Brandon Dingalo:
Hey Kairi, are you free for dinner tonight?”
“That’s it?” She asks, pulling back from my phone and looking at me with furrowed brows. “No small talk?”
I shrug. “Maybe he doesn’t want to bother with that since he already knows you.”
“Maybe.” She studies the message for a moment.
“So?” I push. “Ready for your first date?”
Kairi chews her bottom lip, deep in thought, before looking at me with wide, worried eyes.
“I don’t even know how dates work,” she admits.
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
She shrugs awkwardly. “I’ve never actually been on a real date.”
My stomach drops and I can’t help but feel sad for Kairi. She’s stunning. Completely and utterly stunning. And she has one of the most beautiful personalities I’ve ever known.
How is it possible she’s never been on a real date?
I clear my throat and glance back down at the messages. Based on his profile, Brandon might actually be perfect for Kairi,but I’m not sending her out there completely clueless. That would make me a bad love coach, and I don’t want to let her down.
“Alright,” I say, typing back a quick reply. “Then we’ll tell Brandon you’re busy tonight.”
“Okay,” she says, seeming to visibly relax when I send the message.
“And tonight,” I continue, locking my phone and meeting her eyes, “you and I will go on a date.”
She swallows, her breathing shallowing out. “A date?”
I nod, ignoring the loud pounding of my heart. “A practice date,” I clarify. “Before the real one.”
She gives me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Sounds fun.”
“Be ready for six,” I say, standing up and sliding my phone into my pocket. “And wear something nice.” I head toward the door and step outside before she can say anything else.
Kairi needs a friend, and that’s what I intend to be for her. She’s the only good thing in my life right now, and I refuse to screw this friendship up like I do everything else.
FIVE
KAIRI
