Page 17 of Bookworm

"Lottie Lotte," he said, pulling me into a hug. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. Where've you been hiding, girl?"

"Nowhere," I said with a nervous chuckle. "Well, the library mostly."

"I knew it." He pointed at me. "You always loved that place. Hey, thanks again for all your help last year. I definitely wouldn't have passed Algebra 2 without you."

"Yes, you would've," I said—though I had helped him a lot.

Free of charge.

Take that Trevor.

"This is an interesting ensemble." Chester's eyes swept me from head to toe, taking me in. "Nerd Girl Chic. I dig it."

"Thanks," I said, trying to imagine how I looked in his eyes. My black and pink "Readers Gonna Read" t-shirt was one of my favorites; the zip up hoodie I had wrapped around my waist was for if I got cold; my jeans were fitted yet comfortable; and my shoes weretennies with colorful little books on them.

My hair was pulled up in a messy bun, silver earbobs shining in my ears, and I'd put on light makeup in an effort to look more fresh-faced. It was my version of pulled together.

Chester, on the other hand, looked like he'd stepped straight from the pages ofVogue.

Perfectly tousled hair, button-up shirt, plaid vest, fitted slacks, and wing-tipped shoes.

The guy was rocking his look from top to bottom.

"I love your shoes," I said.

"Oh, these old things," he said, pointing a toe. "I got them on sale last summer in Paris."

"Wow," I said then gestured to him. "Actually, I love your whole outfit."

Chester was beaming.

"You always look so nice," I added.

"You're a sweetheart, Lottie. Thanks," he said. "Did you want something?"

I nodded, working up my courage. "Yes," I said. "I wanted to…well, to see if you'd…maybe like to hang out sometime?"

His brow furrowed. "Hang out?" he repeated. "Like outside of a school setting?"

I blushed. "Yes…"

"Was there a specific 'out' you had in mind?" he said.

"Not really," I mumbled.

"Sorry, Lottie, I'm just not really understanding what you're asking me here."

"Oh no, I'm just doing a terrible job ofit," I said on a laugh.What would Chester like to do?"Maybe we could…I don't know, go shopping together sometime?"

The guy's eyes lit up like Christmas morning.

"Of course!" he said.

"Really?" I said in surprise.

"Yes, oh my gosh," he said with a relieved laugh, waving a hand in front of his face. "I know it sounds super conceited. But at first, I thought you were trying to ask me out—like on a date!—and I was going to have to tell you I already have a boyfriend. Ugh, that would've been so awkward!"

I forced a laugh. "It totally would've been," I said faintly.

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