“Good luck,” I replied, trying but failing to mean it. He shut the door behind him. I slid to the edge of my bed, picked up my phone, and dialed Sam’s number.
“Hey, hot stuff,” she answered.
“Hey, Sam,” I replied dully. “Garland wants to hit the dance as couples. What do you say? Want to be my date?”
She waited to respond. The metaphorical crickets chirped. “Are you sure you want to go with me?”
I laughed. “Duh. That’s why I asked you.”
“Did Garland already ask Abby?”
“He’s on his way right now.”
“That’s not good.”
Her reaction worried me. “What’s wrong?”
“When did he leave?”
“A few minutes ago. Sam, what’s going on?”
“Hmmm.” She grumbled incoherently.
“Sam!”
“All right, all right.” She caved. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but we can’t let Garland ask Abby, because she’ll say yes.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“It is when she likes you, dummy.” I was stunned silent. “I know how you feel about her. Anyone with two eyes could see it. And I knew she liked you back, so I called her out on it last night. After some poking, she crumbed like a stale cookie. She told me all about your little mishap in the snowbank and the shopping trip and dinner and how you kissed her…kind of. That’s a rotten thing to do, by the way.”
I felt my cheeks heat up. It was a strange sensation since I didn’t get embarrassed very often. I’d imagine I looked a lot like Abby right now—blushing furiously. “I wasn’t sure she wanted me to kiss her.”
“Well, she did. Now she thinks you were only teasing.”
“I wasn’t. I honestly like her. A lot.” That felt so good to admit, especially to Sam.
“Then you should be the one asking her to the dance.”
“But Garland likes her, too. I made—no, we made that happen. I can’t push him toward her, then tell him to back off. I might be full of myself, but I’m not selfish.”
“Yes, you are. You think Garland wants Abby to go out with him because she feels obligated? Nobody wants to be a pity date.”
“You don’t understand guys. He’s made a claim, and I need to honor it.”
“Well, I don’t,” Sam retorted ominously.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m going to fix your problem. Get your butt down to the gym, ASAP.”
“Sam,” I warned.
“Just do it.” She hung up.
I was sure this wouldn’t bode well for me. I hopped off my bed, slid on my shoes, and bolted out the door, running the entire way to the gym. The cold air didn’t keep me from arriving hot and out of breath. When I banged through the front doors, Sam was already there. She and Garland were having an intimate discussion on the other side of the lobby. He looked up at me, shook his head, and left through the closest exit.
“What did you say to him?” I stalked toward Sam.
She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her nose in the air. “I said what needed to be said.” I rolled my hand, signaling for her to elaborate. “The truth. That Abby likes you. That he should forget about taking her to the dance and go with me instead.”
I blinked. My mouth had gone dry. I gulped hard, trying to wet it enough to speak. My voice cracked anyway. “Did you tell him how I feel about her?”
Sam’s tough as nails expression softened. “I didn’t need to.” She shook her head and walked toward me. “He already knew. Believe it or not, you kind of wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s not so much the way you act, because you flirt with everyone. It’s the way you look at her when you think nobody else is watching.”
I took a few steps back until I bumped against the wall. Then I slid to the floor and rested my head against my knees. “He’s going to hate me.”
“Give him a little credit, will you?”
“I’d hate me.”
“Well, you’re not Garland.” Sam grinned as she helped me from the floor and jerked her chin toward the gym. “I’ll go check on him. You get in there and make sure this wasn’t for nothing. If he does decide to hate you forever, at least you’ll get the girl.”
“Not very comforting,” I said blandly.
She grabbed me by the shoulders, turned me around, and shoved me at the door. “Shut up and get in there.”
I slipped in quietly. Abby was sitting on the bottom bleacher, a hundred paper lanterns strewn about in packages around her feet. Her hair was in a ponytail, hoodie drowning her tiny frame. Her wide-legged jeans were haphazardly popping out the top of her big fuzzy boots. She looked like a mess. A beautiful, perfect mess.
I walked toward her and noticed that she had headphones in. She didn’t hear my approach. “Need help?” I called loudly.
She jumped, dropping the lantern, and gasped as she slapped her hand over her heart. “Oh my gosh, you scared me.”
“Sorry.”
“Here.” She thrust a package at me.
I grinned, excitement bubbling up with the knowledge of what I was about to do. I took the lantern from her and tugged on her fingers. “Stand up.”
“Why?”
“Please,” I replied. Confusion crossed her face, but she did as I asked.
I moved closer, until I was only a few inches away. She tried to step back, but I snaked my arm around her waist. I watched the familiar blush creep up her neck. Her eyes grew wide, and she sucked in a breath. “Wha…what are you doing?” she stammered.
“Something I should have done last week.” I brought my hand to her face and swept my thumb across her jaw. “I still don’t have a ring, but I’m going to kiss you anyway.”
I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. They were soft and warm and sweet. She was reserved at first, but she quickly relaxed as her mouth formed to mine. My fingers slid into her hair, loosening her ponytail. She reached up, placing one hand on my arm and the other against my chest. My heart pounded wildly under her touch. With each passing moment, the kiss intensified—weeks of unspoken feelings released in a single burst.
I pulled back, and her eyes fluttered open. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against my shoulder. I tipped her chin up. “I’m sorry I waited so long to do that.”
“I wasn’t sure you wanted to.” She bit her lip. “Not after last weekend.”
“I was an idiot last weekend. Will you forgive me?”
Abby smiled and surprised me by pushing up to her toes. She murmured against my lips, “I will, if you kiss me again.” I didn’t need to be asked twice. We stood there a while, making up for lost time, but eventually she pried herself from my grip. “As much as I’d like to keep doing this, these lanterns won’t assemble themselves.”
I sighed. “Okay, let’s get it over with so we can get back to the important stuff.”
“Slow down there, buddy.” She laughed, then sat on the bleacher, picked up a package, and tore through the wrapping. “So…” she trailed off.
“So…” I echoed.
“What about Garland? Isn’t kissing me against bro code or something?”
“Nah.” I waved her off. “He didn’t like you that much.” Garland was already ticked at me. I didn’t need to make Abby feel guilty on top of it.
“Ah!” She gasped, all offended like.
“Honestly it’s no big deal. He actually just asked Sam to the dance.” Yes, I was lying, but I stood by my decision. Hopefully it’d help Garland save face.
“He did not.”
I held my hand up. “I swear.”
“You really don’t think he’ll be upset?”
“He’s fine. I promise.”
She smirked. “I guess that means I need a date, too. Do you—”
“Stop!” I cut her off. “That’s my job. Abby, would you like to be my date for the dance?”
She placed her finger on her lips. “Hmm. Let me think about it.” I reach
ed out and yanked on her ponytail. “Fine, if you’re going to be a bully. I guess I’ll go with you.”
“Gee, thanks for being so excited.” I pulled her in for a hug and ruffled her hair. She giggled. Finally, the world seemed right. All I had to do now was make my peace with Garland.
Two hours later, we’d finished with the lanterns. I held Abby’s hand on the walk home and kissed her good-bye at the doorstep. But I couldn’t revel in my bliss, knowing what came next. I might not have a best friend anymore. As I approached our room, my stomach became a ball of nervous energy. I held my breath, sent a quick prayer to the sky, and opened the door.
I was immediately thrown off balance by a tennis ball to the gut. The impact was hard enough to knock the wind out of me, and I doubled over. I knew Garland played baseball in high school. Judging by his strength and accuracy, he must have been pretty good. He sat on his bed, back against the wall, and glared at me.
I grunted and clutched my stomach. “I deserved that.”
“No,” Garland replied. “You deserve to get punched in the face, but I’m a better friend than you.” He didn’t sound as angry as he looked. With most people that might be a promising sign, but with Garland it didn’t mean anything. Maybe this was his mad voice—cool and calm, right before he murdered you.
“I suppose apologizing wouldn’t help?”
“Depends.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “On how sincere the apology is.”
I inched across the room, careful not to turn my back in case his levelheaded façade was a rouse and he secretly planned to jump me. He must have known what I was thinking because he smirked, gratified by my fear. I put my hands up in surrender as I took a seat on my bed. “I’m really, really sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I swear. When you told me you were interested, I backed off.”
“I’m aware. It’s the reason I didn’t pummel you.” He sighed, and most of the animosity left his face. “Truthfully, I’m not mad that you like her.”
“You’re not?”
“No. She’s impossible not to like. I’m mad that you didn’t say something when I asked. You flat-out lied to me.”
I cast my eyes down in shame. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“That’s because you’re stupid.”
“You’re the second person to call me that today. I guess I can’t argue.”
Garland’s lips puckered. “The worst part is, I knew you’d lied to me the night of the show. I could see you in the audience, stiff as a board, avoiding any contact with Abby. And then you bolted so fast. It was the exact opposite of how you’d normally act. I only asked her out again because I wasn’t sure if she liked you.”
“Yeah, she’s hard to read,” I replied absentmindedly. Garland narrowed his eyes, and I clamped my mouth shut. “Sorry.”
He tapped the back of his head against the wall a few times and looked at the ceiling. “Dating’s impossible with you around. What is it about you that drives girls crazy? You aren’t that good-looking. And you’re kind of scrawny.”
“I’m not scrawny,” I argued. “I’m petite.” Garland cracked a smile. “If it makes you feel better, I’ve never liked anyone so much before. Something about Abby sucks me in. I can’t stop wanting to be around her.”
“Aww,” he cooed. “Evan’s in love.”
“Maybe.” I shrugged.
He seemed shocked by the admission. “I suppose opposites really do attract. Too bad I feel foolish and pathetic. Now I look like a chump.”
“No, you don’t. I got your back. After I kissed her,” Garland glared again, but I ignored it. “The first thing she asked was if you’d be upset. I told her no, because you didn’t really like her that much anyway.”
“You didn’t!” He was appalled.
I nodded with a wicked grin. “In fact, I said you liked her so little that you’d already asked Sam to the dance.”
“Butt-munch!” He threw his pillow at me. I barely ducked in time.
“I didn’t say it in those exact words! Geez, what kind of a jerk do you think I am?”
His head lolled to the side, and his eyes rolled. “Really?”
“Never mind. Don’t answer that. Suffice it to say that you don’t have to feel like a chump. And as long as you didn’t kiss her, there’s no need to be awkward.” I waited for confirmation, because I still wasn’t 100 percent sure he hadn’t.
He grunted. “Lucky for you I’m a slow mover.”
I sighed in relief. I might be okay to date a girl my best friend had taken out, but if he’d kissed her, it’d be a whole different story. It got quiet. Not an uncomfortable silence, but a contemplative one. Finally, I asked, “Are we cool?”
“Yeah, we’re cool,” he replied.
“Should we hug?” I teased.
“We aren’t that cool.” He grinned. “I suppose I should call Sam and make good on your lie about asking her to the dance.”
“Maybe you two will have a little valentine’s spark…” I waggled my eyebrows.
He shook his head. “I think you’ve played Cupid enough for one semester.”
I laughed. “I think I’ve played Cupid enough for one lifetime.”
3 Months Later
“Oh, I’m going to miss you so much!” Sam hugged Abby, squeezing her hard enough that I thought her eyes might pop out.
Abby laughed. “You’ll see me in a few months.”
“You’re right.” Sam nodded her head at me. The second she let go of Abby, I reclaimed her by slipping my arms around her waist. “I could use a break anyway, from all the schmoopy-woopy, lovey-dovey make me want to pukey snuggling you two do.”
“Schmoopy-woopy?” I nuzzled Abby’s cheek with my nose, then nibbled on her earlobe. “You mean, like this?” Abby giggled.
Sam looked at Garland and stuck her finger down her throat. “Yeah, exactly like that.”
Garland rolled his eyes. “Can you at least wait until after we leave?”
“Come on, you guys,” Chrissy said, smirking. She and Nate had driven over to bring Garland back home for the break. “Personally, I’m glad Evan found someone better than me.”
Nate slung his arm around her shoulder and nodded. “Yeah, me too.”
“Ah!” Chrissy huffed and socked him in the stomach. “You’re supposed to say there isn’t anyone better than me.”
“Sorry, babe, I cannot tell a lie.” He winked at Abby, then gave me a taunting grin. Chrissy stuck her tongue out at him, and he put her in a headlock.
I used to think I wanted a relationship like theirs. But in the last few months, I learned that’s not me. I had a sweet, kind, funny, and sometimes shy girlfriend who liked that I was a little on the sappy side. Chrissy and Nate’s dynamic was right for them, but mine and Abby’s dynamic was right for us. The one thing we all had in common, though, was that our boyfriend/girlfriend was our best friend. I felt bad shifting Garland into second place, but I think he understood.
“Bye, man.” Garland and I did the bro-hug-back-slap thing.
“See you in September. You ready to bachelor pad it?” I asked. My parents had done as promised and bought a small house close to campus.
“I can’t wait to be out of the dorm. I won’t have to find a hiding place while you guys make out anymore.”
“You’re always welcome to stay,” I teased.
He made a sour face. “Gross.”
“Okay.” Chrissy clapped her hands and turned to Garland. “Let’s get this show on the road. We’re burning daylight. Mom’s making meat loaf for dinner, and if I don’t have you back by five o’clock, my butt’s toast.”
Garland nodded somberly. “She’s not joking.”
He bent down and scooped Abby into a hug. “Bye, Garland,” she said. “I’m so glad you got that drama camp job with my sister. This is Chloe’s third year. She absolutely loves it. I know you’ll have loads of fun.”
Garland’s face lit up. “It does sound pretty dope. I get to goof around all summer and
make money doing it.” He shut his bags in the trunk of Nate’s car and hopped in the back seat.
Sam got into her car and rolled down the window. “Bye! Love you! Miss you already!” She stuck her arm out and waved when she pulled away. Nate honked as he backed out. Garland rolled his window down and waved, too.
After they’d driven from view, I turned Abby around to face me. “I, for one, am thrilled that it’s just you and me this summer.” Abby lived almost four hours away in upstate New York. Rather than being separated, we decided to stick around campus. She got a job in the bookstore, and I signed up for a few classes.
Abby grinned. “Me too. Now all you have to do is pass the parent test.”
She’d met my family months ago, and of course my mother instantly adored her. But I’d yet to meet her parents. We were headed to her hometown tomorrow, where she assured me I would not be put through the ringer.
“Don’t worry. Moms love me.” I grinned, but my confidence was a sham. It wasn’t her mom I was concerned about. I had a hard time believing that a father of four daughters wouldn’t be waiting for us on the front porch—polishing his shotgun.
She kissed me on the cheek. “They’ll both love you because you love me.”
“I do, huh?” I gave her a skeptical look.
“You do.” She giggled and hugged me tightly, resting her head against my chest.
I laughed as I wrapped my arms around her. “I do.”
THE END
Read Chrissy and Nate’s story in
THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS
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The Problem With Cupid (Holiday Romance Book 2) Page 10
