Page 8 of Wet Paint

Ruby rolled her eyes and slid into the booth before me. “You’ve been here for ten minutes.”

“Ten minutestoo long,” Lenny said dramatically. “Also, I already signed us up asTrivia Newton-John. You’re welcome.”

I laughed and took the seat beside her, heart thudding a little louder now that we were settled in.

Lenny turned to me. “You okay? We missed you last night.”

Ruby glanced at me, too. I could feel both of them looking, waiting.

I hesitated. “Yeah, I’m fine. There’s uh…something, though.” There was no smooth way to say it, no casual way to deliver the bomb I was about to drop.

“I uh…” I cleared my throat. “I might’ve invited someone.”

Lenny blinked. “What kind of someone?”

“Like aguysomeone?” Ruby added, already leaning in. “Ohmygod. Did you meet up with someone last night when you left?”

I furrowed my brows. I didn’t really meet up with him. It wasn’t planned. But I did hope to meet him at the studio.

Pressing my lips together, I waited a moment before telling them. “I invited Will.”

Lenny tilted her head. “Will who?”

“Professor Novak,” I said, only confusing them more.

They frowned at me.

“Ourart teacher?” Ruby said, her voice half a gasp, half a laugh. “You invitedhimhere?”

“To trivia night?” Lenny added, looking between us like she wasn’t sure she heard right.

I nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

“Is this, like…” Ruby trailed off, eyes narrowing. “Is he the reason why you left early last night?”

“No,” I said quickly. “I mean…kinda. I wanted to go home, but then I remembered him saying he would be at the studio all night. So I went too.”

“Ivy, girl, don’t tell us you’re secretly dating Will Novak.”

I looked at Ruby’s wide-eyed and amused face.

“Definitely not dating,” I stated with a nervous laugh.

“But there’ssomething,” Lenny added.

“I guess…”

“Holy shit.” She looked at Ruby and they both grinned.

“That’s kinda hot. I mean, he’s hot. And you two have, like,somuch in common, so…I get it.”

I bit my lower lip. Ruby’s words made my heartbeat settled a bit. Their reactions were better than I hoped. Then again, they’d support anything I did. Well, maybe not everything. But most things.

“He’s smart, and they keep asking these stupid art history questions. So, maybe it’s a good thing you invited him,” Lenny said. “I want to win tonight. First prize is a gift card to that fancy restaurant next to the country club. Wait…if we win, will you bring Professor Novak too?”

“Of course, she will. Especially if he helps us win.” Ruby grinned at me. “What happened at the studio last night?”

“Nothing,” I exhaled, nervous laughter slipping out. “We painted. We talked. Then he walked me home around five in the morning. I kissed him on the cheek,” I added quickly. “It was innocent.”

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