Page 41 of Catching Feeling

I swallow, giving them a small smile and an awkward wave.

I’m not trusting myself to speak right now as I stare at him. “Holy shit,” Reese mutters so low that I almost don’t hear him at all. “You look… incredible, Viv.”

Hallie squeals when she sees me, leaping up from the couch, then tossing her arms around me once she’s in front of me. “For once, something we can agree on. You look so good, Viv! Oh my god, that dress is killer. Everyone at the party is gonna have eyes on you tonight.”

“This old thing?” I tease. My gaze flits to Reese, whose jaw works, not looking very happy about her comment.

The dress has been in my closet forever, but I never really had a place to wear it to. Anyone to wear it for… until tonight.

Not that I’m wearing it for Reese.

Okay, I’m lying. I’m one hundred percent wearing it because I knew he’d like it.

The pale purple satin hugs my body like a glove and stops midthigh, showing off just the right amount of leg without being indecent. I’m wearing my best bra, the one that makes my boobs look bigger, and I used my old curling wand, doing a few loose curls to go with the dramatic, smokey eyeshadow I applied. I’m even wearing heels, which is not something I do often.

It’s not a date, I tell myself again for the tenth time tonight.

It’s just an opportunity to wear this amazing dress and look hot as fuck.

From the look on Reese’s face, it paid off.

“Thank you,” I say. “But you’re the one that looks hot. That skirt? Perfection.”

Hallie glances down at the black skirt she’s wearing with a white bodysuit with pink hearts on it tucked into the waist. It’s the cutest outfit I’ve ever seen, and no one could pull it off the way she could.

“You girls ready?” Lane says, walking over and sliding his hand into hers. “I made a reservation for six. Just in case it was packed.”

She nods, then looks over at me. “I’m ready if you guys are. Let me check on the Uber.”

While she’s checking on the car, I walk over to Reese to break the ice. For whatever reason, I’m slightly nervous.

Being nervous makes me feel… out of control of the situation. Lately, it’s all I’ve been feeling. A lot more than I’d like seems out of my control. I never usually feel like this when it comes to a guy, but for some reason, my palms are clammy, and my stomach flutters like there are thousands of butterflies swirling in the pit of it.

It’s not a date.

“You know this isn’t a date, right?” I say.

“Trust me, you’d know if it was, Sweet Tart,” he replies, shooting me a playful wink that makes me want to press my thighs together.

“In your dreams,” I say with feigned confidence that I am not at all feeling right at this moment.

“Just two roommates, going out with friends. Plus, a Valentine’s date feels like at least a ten-date kind of thing. Way after the playlist reveal. Light-years beyond bananas.”

A smirk plays on my lips.

“Uber’s here!” Hallie says, interrupting us.

“Let’s do this,” Reese responds. “Ready?”

As I’ll ever be.

We walk out to the car, and I take the front seat instead of squeezing in the back. I could practically feel Reese’s eyes on me the entire time, and my body feels hot to the touch. I’m flushed, and we haven’t even made it to the restaurant yet.

The entire ride there, I’m quiet. I stare out the window, watching the city fly by.

Mostly because I’m trying to convince myself that I’m the only one who’s on edge about tonight. Hallie’s right. It’s just friends, going to dinner and then a party.

Nothing more.

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