Page 23 of Tongue-Tied

“Are you okay?” Luna asks.

“Yeah, I…”

She follows my line of sight. “Oooh, do you have a thing for him?”

“No, not exactly.” Except I totally do—or did. “Just acted like a fool and embarrassed myself in front of him.”

“You did not,” Kael interjects. “Stop being so hard on yourself.”

“He’s right,” Angelica pipes in. “From what Kael tells me, you’re a great guy. Give yourself a break. It’ll happen naturally.”

God, I hate that advice. It has never happened naturally for me.

When Brandon’s gaze meets mine, I look away. Not only because I’m annoyed. I just can’t handle the scrutiny after that whole disaster.

When I think enough time has passed, I lift my head, only to find Dex heading our way with Milo.

“You have a nice smile,” Luna says. “You should show it more.”

I didn’t even realize I was smiling. But it makes sense. I’m happy to see Dex.

“It’s easy with friends.”

Dex gives me a one-arm hug from behind. He’s always been touchy-feely, but since our recent conversations, I’m noticing it more—how he interacts, talks, touches.

Which is good since I did ask him to teach me his ways.

God, what am I thinking? I’ve never been an affectionate person, and neither have my parents. On the other hand, I want to be touched so badly that I’m a hot mess.

Dex shoves his butt in between Kael and me while Milo goes to stand in line for food.

“What’s happening, people?”

He’s so friendly, open, and charming that several girls reply to him at once.

My gaze slides back to my book and the rest of my food. I’ve been through enough of these social situations with Dex that I’m comfortable tuning him out.

9

DEX

Austin is in his tune-out-the-world mode at dinner, which is fine, especially with people you feel comfortable around. Others might see it as rude, but I think it’s endearing how he can so easily slip into fictional worlds.

As people finish eating, it’s the perfect opportunity to follow up on our text conversation from earlier in the day. I know he was frustrated at the time, so he’s likely over it by now.

“Hey.” I tap his knee under the table. “Everything all right?”

He looks up from the page he’s reading. “Yeah, of course.”

Well, that’s a non-response if I ever heard one. “Were you serious earlier?”

“At the time, I was. But now it just sounds dumb.”

“It’s not dumb. You have little experience, and I have plenty enough to share.”

I’ll admit, when he’d first blurted it out, I wasn’t sure it was a good plan, given how much I’ve fucked up in the past. But I could also hear his exasperation—or maybe desperation is the better word. It made me feel for him and want to immediately help remedy the situation. Even if I do screw up again. At least this time, it wasn’t my bright idea.

“Except you never close the deal emotionally, only physically.”

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