Page 19 of Past the Broken Bridges

“This is Dixie,” I tell him when he finally moves his arm and takes the seat beside me. “We just met. Dixie, this is Dawson. We live in the same building.”

Slowly, her head bobs. “H-Hi.” Licking her lips, she blurts, “I know you. We have history. Er, I mean we had history together. Last year. With Goodwin.”

Based on her darkening cheeks, I’d say she more than knows him. I’ve been a girl with a crush before, so I know what it looks like.

Dawson doesn’t seem to recognize her, even though he says, “Oh yeah. Dixie. Right.”

Totally clueless. I scoot my chair out to try giving her a minute alone with him. “I need a drink. Dixie, do you want one?”

She’s still looking at Dawson as she shakes her head slowly.

Internally, I giggle.

When Dawson notices my pants, his brows go up. “Whoa. Very…Picasso of you.”

I’m not sure that’s an accurate artist for the scattered stains on my camo, but I let it go. “Life happens. You want anything to drink?”

He smirks. “Nah. But the offer is still open for me to get you one. Preferably together.”

My eyes go to my new friend Dixie. “In a group, right?”

Dawson glances at Dixie before those red-rimmed brown eyes come back to me. “Yeah, if that’s what you want.”

I smile at the boy who I’m fairly sure is stoned right now. I used to go to chemo with a boy not much older than him, and he definitely enjoyed his medical marijuana. “Maybe Dixie and I can join you and some others then. It could be fun.”

Dixie makes another noise before I eye her and subtly gesture toward Dawson, but when I leave them alone to get water, I see Dixie silently sitting there and fidgeting with her hands while staring at her food. It takes Dawson a few minutes to say something to her, laughing, and then he waves her off and walks away.

When I get back, I ask, “Where did he go?”

Her face is still red. “He had class. How do you know Dawson Gable?”

A full name. She does have it bad. “Like I said, we live in the same building. That’s only, like, the third time we’ve ever spoken.”

She blinks in disbelief, shaking her head and playing with her new bowl of jambalaya. “He seemed very…touchy with you.”

“I think he’s like that with everybody,” I theorize, notthat I can be sure. I’ve seen him on campus with his arms around different girls and messing around with a couple guys who dish it back to him. “If it matters, I don’t like him or anything. I mean, he seems nice. But he’s all yours.”

Her green eyes snap up to me.

“So,” I press, leaning my arms against the edge of the table. “What do you think about going out for drinks with him?”

She licks her lips. “That’s Dawson Gable…”

Amusement lifts my lips. “I know.”

“He didn’t recognize me,” she mumbles, shoulders dropping in defeat.

Okay, true. “He knows you now. So…?”

She watches me, nibbling her bottom lip. “I guess one drink couldn’t hurt. If you think it’s a good idea.”

I perk up. “I think it’s a great idea. I’ll let him know the next time I see him. We can dress up, and you can get his full attention. He’d be dumb not to remember you then.”

She looks skeptical but still agrees. “Want to meet at my dorm the day we go? I haven’t gone out in a while and could use the help getting ready. I live in a single on campus.”

I grin, grabbing my apple. “By the time we’re done with you, Dawson Gable will be panting.”

Dixie shifts in her seat, but I can see the ghost of a hopeful smile on the bottom half of her face as she stares down at her lunch again.

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