Page 54 of More To Us

"Yeah? So then what? Where did you go?"

"We got ice cream at this place by his house."

"He has a house?"

"No, he lives with his dad. We ended up going over there because I spilled on my shirt." I point out the stain. "His dad was there and so was his brother and his brother's girlfriend."

"You already met his family? This is getting serious." She's perched on the edge of her seat, eagerly awaiting whatever I'm going to say next. It's just like I said. Amber lives for this stuff. She's obsessed with all things romance, even if it has nothing to do with her. She totally needs to be a matchmaker.

"I only met his family because they came home as I was washing my shirt out in the sink." I leave out the fact that I never actually got around to washing my shirt.

"So are you two dating now? You didn't deny it when I called it a date, so does that mean you're dating?"

"Yes. We're dating."

She bursts from her chair. "Oh my God, I can't believe this! My best friend is dating a Wheeler boy? Austin's the only single one left! Girls are going to be so jealous of you!" She sits down again. "So how did this happen? How do you go from not wanting to date him just a few hours ago to actually admitting that you two are dating?"

"I don't know. I guess I just decided that it might not be so bad to have a boyfriend."

"Wait, so now he's your boyfriend? You're already calling him that?"

"Yeah. Why not?" I say it casually, but I know she'll make a big deal out of it.

"Is he calling you his girlfriend?"

I get up and take a glass from the cupboard, not answering her.

"Kira, did you hear me? Is Austin calling you his girlfriend?"

"Yes," I say, filling my glass with water.

She almost knocks over her chair as she gets up and meets me at the sink. "Are you serious? You've gone on like two dates with him!"

And been to the gym with him, talked on the phone for hours...but she doesn't know any of that.

"The girlfriend thing is just a label," I say, trying to downplay it. "It just means we're dating." I attempt to go around her but she blocks my path.

"It's more than that. It means he really likes you. Enough that he wants everyone to know. I can't believe you've lived here less than two weeks and already got the hottest, most wanted guy in Chicago to be your boyfriend. This is crazy!" She throws her hands up.

I laugh. "Okay, calm down. This may not even last. By next week, we could be broken up."

I hope that doesn't happen. I hope this lasts longer than a week or two, and if it doesn't, I hope Austin and I can still be friends.

"I'm tired." I go around her, my glass of water in my hand. "I'm going to bed."

She races in front of me. "We're not done yet. I need to know more, like, did you kiss? Well, you must have if he's calling you his girlfriend. Wait, did you kiss him last night and not tell me?"

"No. But we did kiss tonight."

"And? How was it?"

"Good." I smile. "Great. Perfect."

"I knew it! He seems like he'd be a good kisser. He has great lips. So what else happened?"

"Nothing. That's it. We just kissed." I walk past her and down the hall. "I really need to get to bed. I have to get up early."

She follows me. "Why are you getting up early?"

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