Page 63 of Introvert

"So, I hope this doesn't come off wrong," she said. "But…is there a reason you don't like me?"

I nearly choked on my water.

"What?" I shook my head. "I like you, London. What gave you that idea?"

She took a sip of her own drinkthen said, "Well, you never really talk to me, and we've been on the bus together for a while. At first, I thought it was because you're shy."

"I am," I said.

"Then I thought maybe you're an introvert who likes being alone—or at least, that you have to get comfortable with someone before you open up."

"Yes." Isenther a nod. "Absolutely, that's me. It's nothing personal, I promise."

London frowned slightly. "But you're not that way with the guys."

"What?"

"With Felix and the band," she said. "You never met them before the tour, right? And you seem fine around them."

I thought about what she said and realized with some surprise that she was correct for the most part.

"Well, I'd met Ryker," I said. "But that was it."

"Oh?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "Was it interesting?"

"You could say that. We met on a beach one night when my cousin Scarlett wanted to go skinny-dipping. It was slightly embarrassing, totally out-of-character—for her and for me—and my cousin basically lost all her clothes. But it was fun."

London's eyes were wide. "Explain, please."

I told her about Scarlett's list, how she wanted to check everything off before graduation, how she'd (incorrectly) assumed no one would be on the beach that night, her now-boyfriend and Ryker showing up, and the playful dog who stole her clothes and ran off with them.

I omitted the part where I ran after said dog, tried to wrestle back the clothes and failed miserably.

"Were you naked too?" she asked.

"No way," I said.

"And Ryker was actuallynice?"

"The whole time, and his dog Onyxis amazing. Shewon me over right away."

Shaking her head, London sat back in her chair. "I guess that's why you're relaxed around him."

Thoughts of that night brought a smile to my face, but something niggled in the back of my mind, a memory trying to break free, but it wouldn't fully form.I hadn't thought back on that moment in so long it felt like a hazy dream.

"Maybe," I said—then my brow furrowed.

That explained Ryker, but now that I thought about it, I'd immediately felt a similar sense of calm around Felix. He hadn't made me nervous either; I trusted him almost right away—which was crazy considering how long it usually took me to warm up to people.

"And Felix makes sense," she said, "since he's your boyfriend."

That was just it though. He wasn't.

"Since we just had our first friend date, hopefully someday you'll feel at ease around me too."

"We shared a pie," I said. "We're good."

"Awesome," London said, and her smile was blinding.

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