Page 88 of Tongue-Tied

“It’s gonna be great.”

I waffle all through my morning classes before finally heading to the bookstore and then to Luco Flowers. Austin has a shift at the coffee cart this afternoon, so I need to be speedy about it.

The bell above the door at Luco Flowers dings when I go in, and the owner looks up and smiles at me. “You’re back! Does this mean the poppies are working?”

I feel myself flush. “Yeah, I suppose they are.”

“So what can I get you this time?”

“A bouquet of different colored poppies.”

“Oooh, nice idea. We have white, pink, and red. Would that work?”

“That would be great. Do you think you can add some pink roses to the mix?”

She makes up the bouquet, and soon enough, I’m on my way back to campus.

Doubt begins creeping in the closer I get, so I find a bench to sit and get organized. I open my backpack and set the bouquet inside, leaving enough room so the flowers don’t get squished. Arranging them gives me some time to rebuild my confidence.

I sling my backpack over my shoulder and head toward the center of campus. When Austin and the coffee cart come into view, I lose my breath. It’s as if I’m seeing my best friend in a new light, one that underscores all the stuff I love most about him. Not only his hair and eyes and shy smile but also his tall stature and unassuming attractiveness. It’s his quiet fortitude to stand in his own truth and not back down from what he wants. And how he cares enough to be a solid foundation or a soft place for someone to land. He deserves the world and more.

I join the back of the line with jelly legs, and I’m so in my own head that it takes me a bit to notice that Brandon is two customers in front of me, as if the gods are mocking me. It’s guys like him that made Austin want to do the fake dates in the first place. Though I’m not blaming Brandon himself—he seems unaware of his effect on my friend.

Now, I’m even more petrified about having an audience. I don’t generally mind that sort of thing, but Austin might. God, I’m an idiot. What if he’s mortified? And how about me when he turns me down?

If Austin notices I’m in line, let alone Brandon, he doesn’t show it. He’s too busy filling orders and calling out the names of customers waiting on the side. The blue-haired girl is running the cart with him today, but Austin seems to be doing most of the work.

This might end up being the exact wrong time. But the whole point of the grand gesture is to do it in public, just like in Austin’s romance books.

And hopefully, we’ll get that elusive happily ever after I never even knew I wanted as badly as Austin and my mom. Christ, what a turn of events.

I stew on that as the line keeps moving, but my thoughts are disrupted when I hear Brandon’s voice. “Hey, Austin.”

Austin is distracted, but at that, he looks up. “Oh, hey, Brandon.” Austin’s tone of voice is flat, and there’s no stutter. Does this mean he’s over his crush, or has his self-confidence taken hold?

Or maybe I’m wrong on both counts. Maybe Austin realizes he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell with Brandon, and he’s come to accept it. Besides, just because you find someone attractive doesn’t mean they’re right for you.

Once Brandon gives his order, he steps aside to wait but then calls Austin’s name again. I clench my jaw, ready to defend Austin at all costs.

“Yeah?” Austin asks, and I can’t help leaning forward to hear better.

Brandon throws Austin a cocky grin. “I was thinking maybe you and I could get together sometime.”

Austin’s eyebrows rise to his hairline. “For what?”

His innocent response makes me want to laugh and cuddle him all at once.

Brandon quickly glances around and then leans closer. “You know…to get to know each other better?”

“Oh, I…you…uh…” Austin starts stuttering, and suddenly, I’m blinded by crushing jealousy. I don’t want to hear the rest of their conversation, so I step out of line and head over to the same bench Austin sits at before his shifts. I take some deep breaths and calm my racing heart. No way I want to listen to him stumbling through another date proposal.

I suppose I only have myself to blame. Austin is hot and sweet, and now that he’s more confident, he might attract even more prospects. Not that I think Brandon deserves someone like him. But I also don’t want to meddle in his dating life. I should be happy for him.

“Where are you going, Dex?” Austin calls to me. “Why’d you step out of line?”

“Uh, I…”

He lifts a finger. “Hold on.”

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