Page 22 of Fragile

“I will not sabotage.”

“Was that so hard?” Indie asks.

“It was, actually,” Seb retorts.

The reality of having a date with someone who knows of me and isn’t deterred by my brother, well, that makes me little bit giddy. “I’ve got a date.” I test the words on my tongue, and they feel odd.

Seb grunts in disapproval. He’s always been the best big brother, but thanks to Indie, I’m finally feeling like I can spread my wings a little more. “Oh god, what do I wear? Where am I going? Is it casual?” My heart rate kicks up a notch, and I can’t tell if its nerves, fear, or excitement.Try everything.

“I have his number for you. I wasn’t about to give yours out, because girl code and all.”

“You’re the best.”

She shrugs and reaches for her phone, pinging me his details. “I know.”

My brother stands, packing away his laptop and notebook. “I’m going back to check on Miles.” He leans down to whisper something to Indie that I know I don’t want to hear, judging bythe color of her cheeks. And the mention of his name brings back that guilt. Should I be thinking about dating when he’s hurting? God, I sound so ridiculous. He doesn’t care about me like that. Sure, he cares. Miles is so incredibly caring and thoughtful; he always has been, but he doesn’t see me like I see him.

Resolve fires into my bloodstream. I need to get a grip. I can still be there for him as a friend if he needs me, but I need to move on.

Opening my phone, I see Alex’s details and force a swallow. Why do I feel so nervous? My fingers hover over the keyboard, the words blurring together. It's just a text. A simple message. Why does it feel like such a big deal?

Come on, Quinn. It's not that hard,I think to myself. But the more I think about it, the more my stomach twists. What if I say something wrong? What if Alex doesn't reply? What if he thinks I'm boring? A thousand what-ifs swirl in my mind, making me want to lock my phone and go back to lying on my bed.

“You okay over there?” Indie asks. When I look up, I realize my brother has gone, and I didn’t even notice him leave.

“I’ve never texted a guy asking him out before. What do I say?”

“You could say… 'Hey, Alex, it's Quinn. Indie mentioned that we should hang out sometime.' Simple, direct, and it opens the conversation.”

Covering my face with my hands, I groan. “It should be easy. I tend to ramble, though, and he might think he’s made a mistake before we’ve even met.”

“You? Ramble? I never realized,” Indie teases.

“Oh, she’s funny today,” I quip.

Indie rolls her eyes, coming to sit next to me, playfully nudging me with her shoulder. “Quinn, it's just a text. Alex is not going to dissect every word. Just be yourself.”

I peek at her through my fingers. “Easier said than done. What if he thinks I'm weird?”

“Newsflash: we're all weird. And if he doesn't appreciate your unique brand of weirdness, then he's not the right guy for you,” Indie says firmly.

I consider it, then nod slowly. “Yeah, that sounds good.” I open my phone again, typing out the message. After a moment’s hesitation, I hit send and toss it to the side like it’s on fire. “There, done,” I say on an exhale.

“See? That wasn't so bad. Now, the hard part is over.”

I laugh nervously. “Yeah, now I just have to wait and see if he replies.”

Indie grins at me. “He will. And if he doesn't, it’s his loss. You're awesome, Quinn. Don't forget that.”

I smile, feeling a little bit of the tension ease from my shoulders. “Thanks, Indie. I don't know what I’d do without you.”

She winks. “Probably still be staring at your phone. Now, let's go do something to take your mind off everything. How about we watch that terrible movie we’ve been avoiding?”

Anything to distract me sounds great.

Chapter nine

Miles

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