Page 21 of Dating and Dragons

“Most of what you say is funny.”

“That sounds like a compliment, but since you’re the one saying it, I’m going to assume it’s not.”

This time he doesn’t fight the smile that spreads over his face. “No, it’s a compliment.”

I flush and squeeze my bag even tighter. We drive through a few more streets in silence, and I force myself not to look at him, but he doesn’t follow suit. His thumbs tap on the steering wheel as he drives, and he keeps glancing over at me. Finally, he clears his throat.

“I’ve been curious, was there a reason your grandma stopped and asked us to take a photo?”

I frown. “Um, because she wanted a photo.”

“Right. But what I mean is, there were lots of people in the parking lot that morning. She could have asked anyone, but she asked us. I was just wondering if there was a reason.”

My eyes narrow at the possible implications of his question. “Are you insinuating that I asked her to stop?”

“It had occurred to me.”

“Oh my god.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “That whole thing was completely her idea. I had nothing to do with it.”

The British GPS voice announces“Arrived.”

Logan pulls his truck in front of my house, puts it in park, and turns to me. “Okay, fine, if that’s what your answer is, then I believe you.”

But the casual skepticism in his tone pricks at my nerves.

“If you think I concocted some scheme just so I had an excuse to talk to you, then you’re the most egotistical person I’ve ever met,” I reply in a tone that’s more self-assured thanI feel. “My grandma is the one who spotted you because she was so desperate for a photo. I was too busy fangirling over Kashvi’s d20 earrings to notice you.”

Rather than look annoyed, he only leans back against the driver’s side door and surveys me. “Well, that’s too bad,” he replies. “Because I noticed you.”

Heat zips up my spine. I stare at him for a second as I try to process his words, but my heart is beating too fast and my brain is chugging too slow. He noticed me, which means…what? That he was interested in me? Possibilities for the two of us swirl in my mind, but it’s not like I can act on any of this even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. I’m committed to the group now.

I bumble to open the passenger door. I’m completely thrown by the end of this conversation, and I need space and air to figure out how I feel. I step out—completely forgetting I’m in a truck with a higher step down—and drop onto the curb. My knees hit the grass and I twist to glare at the offending truck.

Logan jumps out and jogs around to me. “Whoa, are you all right?”

“Your stupid truck is too high off the ground. It’s impossible to get out of it.”

“This is actually a really small truck. So small it’s embarrassing to drive.”

“You’re not helping, in case you were wondering.”

I push my bangs out of my eyes, mortification growing in me with every passing second.Thisis the moment I choose to make a complete fool of myself in front of Logan? I wantto get away from him, not spend more time together. I stand and force my chin up.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to stay any longer.”

I take a step back, not realizing my bag is now directly behind me, and tripagain.I hit the ground harder this time. Oh my god, I’m one second away from bursting into tears out of sheer embarrassment.

Before I can move, Logan is crouched in front of me. His eyebrows pull down in concern and his hands wrap around my wrists. He tugs me gently to my feet and I can’t ignore the charged tingle that shoots up my arms from the feel of his fingers pressed into my skin. It renders me mute for a moment.

“Quinn, what’s going on with you?”

“Nothing. I’m okay, I just tripped.”

“Are you sure? Do you have, like, vertigo or something?”

My all-encompassing embarrassment cranks up another notch. “No, nothing like that.”

But he’s looking at me with such worry and interest, his gaze almost boring into me, and I grasp for some explanation to give him. Something that makes more sense than saying I’m unsteady in his presence.

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