Page 6 of My Favorite Girl

“Like what?” I ask in disbelief that he could possibly think I’m fun. All I ever do is play the piano and talk about music. I have no social skills. People think I’m weird. Maybe I am weird. I’ve come to accept that.

“Last night when we were having dinner at your place with our parents,” he starts, and I don’t even have to look at him to know he’s grinning. I can hear it in his voice. “I mean, you’re cute and all in front of them, talking about Renaissance music. But as soon as they’re out of earshot, you blush and tell me the trombone used to be called a sackbut, like it was some dirty word you couldn’t say in front of them.”

I laugh, covering my face with embarrassment. “You have to admit a sackbutdoessound like a rude word.” And oh my goodness, how can he so casually slip into the conversation that I’m cute. The word came out of his mouth with such ease that I know he only meant it in a friendly way, not for me to be obsessing over it.

As we arrive at a cross intersection, Dan veers us right, instead of in the direction of my apartment. “My mom is expecting me at home,” I say.

“So? Text her and tell her you’re studying at the public library with me. She loves me.”

That’s true. I think more than anything, she’s thrilled I have a friend, if that’s what Dan and I are. He feels like a friend. A really handsome friend who I’ve visualized kissing on more than one occasion. But I won’t share that information with anyone, especially not him. I’m sure he’d laugh at how easily my body responds to the simple touch of his arm on my shoulders or how he hooked his finger with mine a few minutes ago. Those are the kinds of things that stir something deep within my belly, having such limited experience with guys.

Dan isn’t on the same playing field. He hassexwritten all over him. I know the kind of guy he is. I’m sure he sees me as just a friend and only takes an interest in me because of our parents.

“Andwillwe be studying at the library, or is that a cover up?” I’ve never lied to my mother before. I don’t want to lie to her either. She’s my best friend and she’s protective of me after everything that happened with her ex-boyfriend.

“Yeah, we’ll be at the library.”

“Studying?”

He sighs, laughing, and squeezes my shoulders. “Oh, I can see why my dad is so fond of you. Such a role model child, for once. Yes, we’ll study.”

I open my mouth to respond, closing it again, my muscles stiffening when I see someone across the street take a photo of us. A man with a professional camera.

Dan must sense my discomfort. He follows my gaze, seeing the man. “This your first encounter with paparazzi? Ignore them. That’s what I always do.”

“Kind of hard to ignore when I haven’t grown up in the world of fame. I guess it’s something I’ll need to get used to now that our parents are dating, but I don’t think I’ll like the attention.”

Dan switches positions, stepping to the other side of me, shielding me from view with his body. “Better?”

“Maybe a little. Thank you.”

It’s not long before we arrive at the library, the quiet atmosphere and escape from the cameraman a relief. Dan leads me to an area at the back, where people are still scattered around, sitting at tables and searching through the stacks, but where we have a little more freedom to talk. We settle at a table and sit opposite each other, with me flipping through an art history textbook and Dan advanced mathematics. He must be good with numbers, which is the complete opposite to how my creative brain works.

“So…” Dan murmurs after a few minutes of our studies. “What was with you and those girls at the school gates?”

I don’t look up from my textbook, hoping to brush off the topic. “Oh, um, nothing.”

“Didn’t seem like nothing. You don’t like them?”

“More like they don’t like me. I don’t really… have any friends at school.” I can feel my face turning red at the embarrassing confession. “I don’t have friends outside of school either, other than my mom and uncle Daxton.”

“I don’t see why.”

“It’s a long story that I’ve spent years in therapy trying to deal with. I’ll spare you the details.”

Dan shrugs, focusing on his textbook. “We’re friends. I’ll listen.”

Finally, I look up from my page, liking that he thinks we’re friends. He peers up at me and grins, then abandons his textbook and slumps back in his chair with his legs spread wide.Sitting in that position, Dan looks like such a guy. It’s kind of hard to concentrate when he looks so good.

My gaze lowers to his dick and I swallow hard. I realize I’ve been caught staring when he laughs, the sound quiet but smug and making me flustered enough to forget the topic of conversation.

I avert my gaze. “Um… What were we talking about?”

“I asked why you don’t have friends.”

“Oh. Um… I’ve got daddy issues, I guess.” Jesus. Did I have to state it like that?

“You and me both.” He gives a humorless laugh. “Where is your dad?”

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