Page 40 of Always Us

“It was fine. I had my own bed and the hotel loaned us a crib for Caleb.”

“So again, you didn’t need to worry. Nothing happened.”

“I know but,” she lowers her voice, “I kind of wanted something to.”

“You did? Like you wanted to—”

“Shh. Don’t say it.” She sits up, checking to make sure we’re alone. “But yes, I wanted to do that. I wouldn’t, with Caleb there, but I wanted to.”

“Do you think Alex did?”

“He’s a guy. Of course he did.”

“So are you saying you’re done being just friends?”

“Yes.” She leans across the table, the grin appearing again. “Alex officially asked me to be his girlfriend. When he picked me up to go to his parents’ house, he brought me flowers and asked me if I’d go steady with him. He actually said ‘go steady’ as a joke and then he got serious and told me all this stuff about why he likes me and asked if I’d be his girlfriend.”

“That’s really sweet.”

“Yeah, it was. And then he asked Caleb for his permission. He gave him a mini football to sweeten the deal. His words, not mine.” She laughs.

“And what did Caleb say?”

“He threw the football at Alex’s face.” We both laugh. “Alex took that as a sign Caleb was okay with it.”

“So now what? I mean, you were kind of already dating him so does anything change?”

“Well, we can kiss without feeling like we shouldn’t be. And maybe do more than that.” She smiles again. “But other than that, not really. Friday, Alex is making dinner at his place so I’m bringing Caleb over there. He’ll be asleep by eight and then Alex and I can watch a movie or something.”

I raise my brows. “Or something?”

She swats my arm. “Not that. Not with Caleb there.”

“You said he’ll be sleeping.”

She rolls her eyes, but she’s still smiling. It’s good to see Sara so happy. She was convinced Alex wouldn’t stick around, but I think now she’s realizing that he will. It sounds like he really cares about her and Caleb. I’ve only seen Alex a few times so I don’t know that much about him. But maybe now that those two are dating, we can all go on a double date and I can get to know him better.

“Oh. I almost forgot to tell you.” Sara sits back in the booth, checking her phone, then setting it on the table. “That guy was here again yesterday.”

“What guy?”

“The one who was asking about you last week. Justin, or whatever his name was. I think it was Justin.”

I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I’d forgotten about that guy. I told myself he was nobody and to forget about it.

I shiver and Sara notices. “What’s wrong? Are you cold?”

“No, I’m just freaked out that that guy’s still hanging around. You didn’t tell him anything about me, did you?”

“I didn’t talk to him. He just came in to get a coffee and left. Someone else waited on him at the counter.”

“Was anyone with him?”

“No, it was just him.”

“And what did he look like? What was he wearing?”

“Just dress pants and a shirt and tie. Like he was going to work or something.”

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