Page 94 of My Rules

Chapter 11

My face falls. Oh no.

Why on earth would he want to risk our friendship for something that we both know would never work out?

“Blake—”

“I know,” he cuts me off.

“It’s just—”

“I know.” He opens the car door for me, and unsure of what to say, I slide into the car.

He gets into the driver’s seat, pulls out of the parking lot, and we begin to drive in silence.

Gone is the laughter that’s been between us, replaced by ... I don’t even know what feeling this is.

And I would have asked for your number.

Horror, this is horror.

I stare straight ahead through the windshield as I try to make sense of what just happened.

Did he mean what it sounded like he meant, or have I totally misread this situation?

I glance over to Blake as he drives. He’s silent and somber. His jaw is ticking, as if he’s thinking, or perhaps something else ... Is he angry?

“Um ...” I try to think of something to say that will rectify this situation. “What have you got going on tomorrow?” I ask.

“Not much.” His fingers tighten around the steering wheel.

I stare over at him as I wait for him to say something ... he doesn’t.

“I had a great time tonight.” I smile awkwardly.

He nods and keeps his eyes on the road. “Same.”

He can’t even look at me.

Fuck.

I twist my fingers together on my lap. Why would he say that ... he knows we’re not like that. This is a disaster.

“Are you going to call Ruby?” I smile hopefully.

He shrugs.

“I’m not going to call Herman.” I shrug. “But I guess that was pretty obvious already.”

More silence, more staring through the windshield.

“So ...” I shrug. I scramble for conversation, anything to restore how we were just ten minutes ago. “I’m going to set you up for your date next week with someone insanely hot.”

“Good,” he fires back as his fingers tighten around the steering wheel. “Blond.”

My stomach dips as if I’m on a roller coaster. “Okay ... blond.”

“Any requests for your date?” he says in an almost sarcastic tone.

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