Page 78 of Anyone But Her

Chapter Fifteen

Luke

"Who was that?" Cal asks as I put my phone away.

"Birdie."

He scrunches his face up. "Birdie? Taylor's friend?"

I laugh. "How many girls do you know named Birdie?"

He grabs the remote and lowers the volume on the TV. "Why was Birdie calling you?"

"She wanted to know if I could go out tonight. I told her I could. I know we're watching the movie but I've seen it at least twice so—"

"Wait." Cal was reclined on the couch, his feet on the coffee table, but he quickly puts his feet down and sits upright, turning to me. "Are you telling me Birdie asked you out?"

I shrug. "She didn't call it a date but I'm guessing that's what it is."

"Okay, hold on." He shakes his head side to side like he's trying to rattle his brain to make sense of this. "Tell me exactly what she said."

"She asked if I'd meet her at some restaurant across town and then maybe go to a movie, but then she said it might be too late for a movie."

Cal stares at me, his jaw dropped.

"Why are you looking at me like that? It's not that unbelievable. Girls have asked me out before."

"Yeah, but this is Birdie."

"Why does that matter? She's a girl, just like any other girl."

"Except she's not like any other girl. She's..." He pauses, like he's searching for the right word. "She's different. She's also Taylor's friend, which makes going out with her not cool, man."

"Why? Why can't I date Taylor's friend?"

"Because..." He pauses as he thinks up a reason, then points his finger at me. "Because if you date Birdie and it doesn't end well, I'll be the one paying for it. Birdie and Taylor will both blame me because you acted like an ass."

"Then I won't act like an ass." I half-smile. "I promise."

He stands up. "This isn't funny, Luke."

Actually I'm finding it hilarious. I don't know why he's getting so upset over this.

"You can't date Birdie," he says emphatically, as though it's a law.

"I already told her I'd go." I stand up, motioning to the TV. "Finish the movie. I'll see you tomorrow."

Walking to the door, I feel him behind me.

"Luke, stop."

I turn around. "You're not talking me out of this. All I'm doing is meeting her for dessert. We may find out we don't even like each other."

"I already know you won't." He crosses his arms over his chest. "She's not your type."

"Then you have nothing to worry about." I turn to leave but then stop and look back at him, getting the feeling there's something he's not telling me. "Whose type is she?"

"What?"

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