Page 39 of Death is My BFF

“I’ll have to show you my consciousness and determinism book collection one day. You’ll quickly reconsider who’s the bigger nerd between us.”

I smiled a little at the thought of him wanting to see me again.

“Now I know for sure I’m in good company. Shall we return to simplistic discussion before we get in a heated debate over whether or not fate and free will exist?”

“Yes, let us go back to unsophistication,” David agreed, matching my jokingly haughty tone. “A debate might end with one of us marked by another pink airbrushed tattoo.”

Gazing at his cheek, I tucked my lips inward to repress my amusement. “Oh . . . ” I unzipped my bag. “Before I forget, I won these bad boys while you were on the phone.” I handed him the blue sunglasses from the dart game. There was a change in his demeanor that flickered by so fast I almost missed it. “I figured you could always use a spare. They’re too cool, I know . . . ”

David flashed his famous Star smile and swapped his sunglasses for mine. “I feel pretty. Do they go with my tattoo?”

“It’s meant to be. Now get ready for the extra-special surprise.”

My teeth tugged at my bottom lip as I presented the tiny stuffed frog in a dramatic display. “Ta-da! Your very own bog frog!”

David’s mouth drew into a straight line.

Wasn’t exactly the reaction I’d expected.

“You don’t like it?” I asked.

He scratched the back of his head. “No, no I like it, but I think you should take him home instead. You love stuffed animals.”

“Oh, okay.” I slipped the frog back into my bag, wondering if I’d done something wrong. I felt a little pathetic for feeling hurt. It was just a stupid stuffed frog.

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” he said carefully.

“No, no it’s totally fine. I have a perfect spot for him.” I picked at another fry and strained a little to smile.

Neither of us talked for an uncomfortable minute.

“You must have more questions,” David urged, and I was convinced he’d mastered the art of lithely changing topics.

I rubbed at my arms. “Have any weird fears?”

“I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Oh, come on.”

He smirked, although it was a little forced. “I get afraid on occasion. But fears? No. I always prove them to be nonsensical.”

“You’re getting all macho on me.”

He shrugged a broad shoulder. “I can tell you something that makes me a little nervous though.”

“What?”

He stared unflinchingly at me. “You.”

“Me?” A flush swarmed to my cheeks as a smile lifted the corners of my mouth. “How do I make you nervous?”

“You’re a total knockout, for starters. Exceptionally beautiful.”

Even though my heart did skip a beat, I burst out laughing at the corny line. However, when David’s expression dipped down a little, I realized he was serious, and covered my mouth.

“Thank you,” I said, as heat crept up my neck.

David stared at me for a prolonged amount of time. His mouth hung open slightly, midword. I couldn’t tell if he was looking at me or something behind me, because of his sunglasses, so I turned around.

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