Part 9 (1/2)

He shuts the door before I can respond.

My mind is still so muddied it takes the entire walk down the hallway before I realize the girls are talking-about me.

”Okay, tell me honestly. Do you think Brody is hot or what?”

I'm not an eavesdropper normally, but the question Dani asks Hayles is one I want to know the answer to, too. So I hang out in the hallway.

”He's way hot. Everybody knows that.”

Whoa. Stomach twists.

”You guys dating, but not really dating?”

Hayley laughs. ”No. We're just friends. I don't think I'm exactly his type.”

At least I haven't been obvious.

”Are you sure? He's been flirting with you all night.”

Maybe I have been obvious.

”Trust me, I'm sure. I know who he likes.”

”You?” Dani laughs.

”Ha, ha. No!”

Yes. h.e.l.l yes.

”Okay, okay, but let's just say hypothetically, if this girl was you, would you go for it?”

I'm leaning forward so much, I have to duck my head back around the wall so they don't catch me listenin'. She's taking forever to respond! Would she go for it?

”Gosh, I can't even think about that hypothetically.”

Why not?

”Why not?”

Thank you, Dani.

”You've seen Brody, right? I mean h.e.l.lo! You know those s.e.xy scales?”

Ah h.e.l.l...

”Scale from one to ten?”

”Yeah. I'm like a four, and that's only because I've got a big rack. And Brody is like a fifteen. There's no way for me to even contemplate him being interested in me. Because it's just not possible.”

Dude, is that really what she thinks? If anything, it's the other way around.

”Just say it is possible. Would you go for it?”

”I don't-”

”Hey man, did you get lost?”

d.a.m.n Tanner.

”Very funny,” I growl as I walk into the game room. Both girls' faces are bright red, and I'm sure mine is too. Tanner seems to be the only one relaxed. But he did just spend a h.e.l.l of a lot of time in the bathroom.

”Okay, round two, girl. Be prepared for a rematch!” Tanner grabs the controller and sits on the edge of the couch.

Hayles laughs and rolls her eyes. ”Your funeral.”

Reason 9: You've turned me into a psycho.

”Holy super fun! Thanks for bringing me. Your friends are awesomesauce!”

”Uh, yeah. Uh huh.” Tongue not working again. Either that or my brain isn't functioning. I can't get her words out of my head, and I wish Tanner would've taken longer in the can.

”Hey, you okay?”

Hayles smiles, but she looks concerned. Can't help but smile with her.

”Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired I guess.”

”Okay...”

Silence. Well, not really silence. She sings along to the radio. But her voice is lost in the swirling thoughts going through my head.

I think I want to ask her out. On a date. But she's been so weird about that topic, I'm pretty sure she'll cringe or laugh at me.

And Quynn... well, I'm still not sure how I feel about that.

”Brody?”

Stomach twists. ”Yeah?”

”Did something happen with Quynn?”

”Huh?”

Even though it's dark, I still see her face go red. ”You've just been quiet. I know I don't know you all that well, but I'm a perceptive person, remember? So, spill. What's wrong?”

Everythin'. I'm falling for you, but still like Quynn. Not sure how to ask you out without you freakin' on me. Can't decide whether or not I want your help anymore-if I should give up on this whole date the brother's ex thing, or if I should grab you and kiss you right now.

”Nothing.”