Page 32 of Falling Like Snow

Me: What class are you in?

I drop my phone on my desk like a hot potato and rush to cover it with my notebook, mumbling an apology when everyone turns to see the cause of the ruckus. Why did I ask him that? Like I’m interested in learning about him and his schedule.

Micah: chem with flaherty

I see, so I am a welcome distraction then, I send, trying to play it cool—something I definitely am not.

Micah: always.

I’ve never been more grateful for the eye-roll emoji.

Micah: haha ok tell me more about these shirts.

I send along the crappy sketches I did yesterday: one with MEOW-RY CHRISTMAS and a cat in a Santa suit; one with JUST BE YOUR-ELF with an elf hat over the words; one with the phrase THERE’S SNOW PLACE LIKE BRAMBLE FALLS, CT, set between the pillars of a snow-covered gazebo; one that says I’M A LOST CLAUS inside the fuzzy white brim of a Santa hat; and one that has BIRCH, PLEASE written over a birch tree decorated with lights and ornaments.

Me: if you’re in, I’ll have my cousin design them.

Micah: colors?

Me: literally whatever is easiest for you. Or cheapest for me

Micah: when do you need them

Me: By the holiday market on the 20th

Micah: how many

I send him quantities, letting him know I’m flexible, and he gives me what seems like a super-reasonable estimate.

Me: awesome! You’re the best!

Micah: remember that when I ask you out

I stare at my phone.

What.

I rub my aching temples as I wait for him to say something else, knowing he’s probably waiting for me to respond. But I have no idea what to say to that. Is he serious? Or is this one of his flirty jokes?

When the bell rings, I slide my phone into my backpack and decide I won’t look at it the rest of the day. I refuse to be a girl who waits around for a text from Micah Cook.

Chapter Nine

“Oh my god. He’s totally going to ask you out,” Hannah says from my passenger seat that evening.

Preeti lets out a deep sigh in the back seat. “I’m so jealous.”

I laugh. “Don’t be. We don’t even know if he was being serious.”

“Oh, I’d put money on it,” Hannah says.

I grin at her. “You mean if you had money.”

“Accurate.” She shrugs. “Maybe he’ll ask you to the Snow Ball.”

“Doubtful. Doesn’t seem like something you ask someone you barely know to go to. It’s a big commitment versus something like grabbing coffee at the Caffeinated Cat or eating some onion rings at the diner.”

“He already spent the day with you at the soup kitchen,” Preeti argues. “If he’s planning on asking you out, he’s already past the ‘let’s see if I like the type of person you are’ stage.”