Page 50 of When We Meet Again

“It’s him! Answer!” She bounces on my poor Lovesac and claps like we’re in middle school waiting to hear from our crushes.

I calmly place my smudge stick in the bowl and allow the smoke to fill the air.Never extinguish sage. It will know when to slow the burn itself.I put all of my trust in Ember at the new age shop. I better not have to call the fire department.

From the short walk from the kitchen to the living room, my palms start to sweat. I wipe them on my baggy sweatpants and plop down next to her. Of course, she’s already holding my phone.

Unknown: Hey, Waverly–Connor. I can’t wait to meet you

She probably described me as adorable, but I assure you I’m anything but

Send me your address and I’ll pick you up at six

Does Casa d’ Amigos sound good to you?

Victoria and I stare at the screen in shock at his words. “Anything but?” I reiterate. That doesn’t make him sound ugly, it makes him sound sexy as hell.

“Anything but…” I hear the devilish grin coming from her without even looking.

I tap out my address, tell him quickly about my love for Mexican food, and push send. After he thumbs up the message, I decide to send Roman a message back.

Me:Good idea. I have a date tomorrow at six

Let ya know how it goes

I lay my phone down expecting Roman to get back to me in the morning, but a message comes through thirty seconds later.

Rome:Are you serious?

“No, Roman, I’m not. I love playing with emotions more than anything,” I say to myself. Victoria stays silent next to me watching it all unfold. I’m surprised she didn’t pop any popcorn.

Me:Dead.

Roman:Where are you going?

Me:Why would I tell you that?

This was your idea. I’m going along with it

So let me have my date

You want me to go on a date and then you want to know where I’m going? No dice, Roman.

Roman:If he tries to get handsy, call me and I’ll be there

Me:It’s not like I have anyone else’s hands on me

Maybe handsy would be good for me!

I feel more like myself than I have in years. Snarky Waverly has come out to play. The Waverly who didn’t get pushed around, played no games, and was selfish sometimes. I want hands on me. Like, all over me!

I am waiting for another reply. Bubbles appear, then disappear. Every part of me is hoping that he’ll tell me to forget the “date.” I drift into a small daydream. Perhaps he’d knock on my door and order Victoria to leave before he proclaims his obsession with me. He’d ravish me. Claim me. Be the other half I’ve been longing for as a woman.

After so long without a message, I put my phone down.

“Girl, he’s going to go all alpha male on you. Roman has that in him, and I feel where his brother didn’t want to channel his inner alpha, Roman has no problem exercising that muscle.” Victoria nudges me with her shoulder.

That’s what he said.

I guess time will tell.

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