Page 74 of Bad Boys Don’t Date Clumsy Girls

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“It is so nice to be here!” I throw myself onto Sam’s bed with my arms and legs spread wide.

“Girl, it’s been way too long. I thought Bek was going to drive me crazy with the “no anchovies” thing.” Sam rubs Bek’s hair as she passes her.

“Well, I’m allergic,” Bek says with consternation.

“We know!” Sam exclaims, jumping onto the bed beside me and scooping her phone off the bedside table. “Pizza with anchovies it is!”

“I can’t eat any then.” Bek’s tone is accepting instead of condemning.

I honestly have no idea why she has such a hang-up over the anchovies. We’ve never ordered them. “Bek, you know we don’t even like anchovies, right?”

Sam huffs and flops onto her back on the bed. Bek meets my gaze across the room and winks. She winks! She’s been doing it on purpose the entire time? My mouth drops open, but I don’t react verbally. I won’t be the one to give her secret away. That cunning little fox. She’s just pushing Sam’s buttons.

“How’s your mom?” Bek asks, dreamy expression back in place.

I rub my forehead. “Man, the recovery from brain surgery is no joke. But she’s doing well. We see progress each day, which is encouraging. She has some bad days when she’s in a lot of pain or gets frustrated when she can’t recall a word or a memory, and she’s more difficult to be around. But I haven’t stormed out yet.”

“She’s probably going through some sort of alcohol withdrawals, too,” Bek suggests gently.

My eyes close as the revelation hits me. “I never thought of that. You’re probably right.”

“You should reach out to the local support groups and see if you can get her some support. Maybe someone could come talk to her about what she’s going through.”

“That’s a great idea, Bek. Thanks.” I feel bad that I haven’t considered having someone come to her. I’ve been so focused on the brain surgery.

“So, Ava,” Sam says, staring up at the ceiling. “Now that your mom is at least good enough to be alone for a minute, when are you going out with Dylan?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t asked me.”

Sam sits up and scoots until she’s leaning against the headboard. “Yes, he did. Didn’t he ask you to go out when things settled down?”

“Yeah, but he hasn’t asked again.”

Sam rolls her eyes. “I’m honestly surprised you are here tonight instead of out with him. Girl, text him right now and ask him out.”

My eyes pop wide. “I can’t ask him out!”

“Why?” Sam looks at Bek for confirmation. She nods. “It’s totally cool for a girl to ask a guy out. Plus, you already know he wants to go out with you.”

“What if he changed his mind?” My heart beats like I’m doing a salsa dance.

Sam nods. “Yeah, that’s why he went to your house and took care of a perfect stranger, three times! That’s why he eats lunch with us every day when he used to leave the campus completely. That’s why he goes out of his way to see you every chance he gets. I can see why you’re nervous about this.”

“Ask him out, Ava,” Bek says.

For some reason, I trust her telling me more. She has that uncanny instinct and I think she’d be able to pick up if Dylan changed his mind about dating me. I roll my eyes at my own thought. Why would I even suspect that? Sam’s right. He’s given no indication of having changed his mind. It’s just my massive insecurities screwing with me. “I don’t know when Joel has off next.”

“Then ask him!” Sam flops her hands into her lap like it’s so obvious, which I guess it is.

I shoot a text to my brother asking when his next night off is. He texts back right away. I shake my head at my phone.

“He has Tuesday off. That’s not a good night for a date.”

“Ava Landry! Tuesday is absolutely fine. You text him right now,” Sam scolds.

My stomach clenches, but she’s right. I’m being ridiculous. I want to go on a date with Dylan. I want to spend time alone with him. “What do I say?”

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