Page 44 of Check Mate

My shoulders slump and I’m unable to act perky any longer at the constant reminders of David. “Yeah, I don’t know. He didn’t really act like he was interested.”

Hannah and Anthony share a look with each other before bursting into laughter. “You’re kidding, right?” Anthony asks.

“I don’t know, I’m just confused. He started acting weird yesterday.”

Hannah pats my shoulder. “Just talk to him. Maybe he’s not sure where you stand either and where to go from here?”

I sigh. “You’re right, I’ll talk to him. I mean, we are neighbors. And he gave me his number.”

“See?” Anthony says with a wave of his hand and I laugh.

The next shuttle pulls up outside and we say our goodbyes. I have Hannah’s number so we can keep in touch, since she and Anthony live in Northern California.

Once my plane finally takes off, I feel anxious to get home. My stomach flips continually for the entire flight and I keep catching myself bumping my leg up and down nervously. I can’t seem to hold still or ease my mind.

Maybe it would’ve been less awkward to just remain David’s enemy… but now that I’ve experienced how funny and thoughtful he can be… I don’t want to be his enemy.

When my plane lands in Texas for a layover, I shoot David a text before I lose my nerve.

I attach the photo of him glaring at me with the llamas in the background.

Isabella: Just in case you’re missing your girlfriends, here’s a photo for you to remember them by.

Three dots appear and then disappear several times before his response finally comes through.

David: There are definitely things I’m missing about Peru.

A few seconds later, he sends a picture of me curled up on my pallet, holding a blanket close to my face. I’m sound asleep. He must’ve taken it with his phone one morning before I woke up.

I grin at my phone, my heart fluttering with hope that this means he does feel something for me.

Chapter nineteen

David

Pacing back and forth in my living room, I glance at my phone screen for the millionth time. I had just arrived home when Isa’s text came through, and I got so pumped that she actually used my phone number that I completely lost my cool and sent a text that was obviously way too flirtatious because she never responded to it.

A knock comes from my front door before it opens, and Drew lets himself in.

“Welcome home!” He grins as he walks toward me, still wearing black scrubs from work. He must have just finished up for the day.

I continue pacing and his smile falters. “What’s wrong?”

I tailspin into a summed-up version of the trip… not leaving out the fact that Isa ended up on the same trip, that we shared a tent, and how we kissed… several times. As he listens, Drew’s facial expressions change from amused, to surprised, then… delighted?

Handing him my phone so he can read through our texts, I try to decipher his reaction as he reads, but he keeps his expression neutral.

I thrust my hands into my hair. “I must seem like the biggest creep taking photos of her while she was sleeping.”

“David—” He starts, but I interrupt him.

“What was I thinking? I’m terrible at flirting. I have no idea how to portray interest without making myself appear to be a psychopathic stalker!” I throw my hands up in the air in defeat.

“Dude, chill.” He hands my phone back to me. One of his eyebrows is arched like he might agree that I’m borderline psychopathic. “Is she even home from the airport yet? She probably hasn’t even had time to respond.”

I stop abruptly from my pacing. “You think so?”

“Yeah,” he says before huffing out a laugh. “I’ve never seen you like this before. You’re really into her.”