Page 10 of Level Me Up

“Uh…” I stammer.

Ruby turns to me as she loops her arm through mine. “Mo? It’s up to you,” she says confidently as she raises an eyebrow, and I realize that she’s giving me an opportunity to make good on the promise I made the night before. Crap. I guess I have to say yes, don’t I?

“Um. Yeah, Sure. We can come,” I reply, and I can feel the excitement radiating off Ruby beside me. Relief with a hint of excitement fills his eyes, and Dex says, “Great! It starts at 8:00 p.m. at Level6 down the street. What’re your full names so I can get you on the list?”

I tell him, “Morgan Lawson and Ruby Jacobs.” He doesn’t write them down but says, “Got it. I’ll see you tonight, Morgan Lawson,” with a big smile on his face. He gives a little bow and wave as he turns out the way he came.

I watch him go as Ruby is bouncing up and down with a huge smile on her face. "Morgan! I'm so proud of you! You acted normal, for the most part. And now we get to go to a party tonight!"

"Ugh. As if I don't generally act normal," I reply as I start us forward through the rest of the exhibit.

"No, it's just exciting. He asked you out! And you said yes!" she says. Ruby has a tendency to get overly excited at times.

"He didn't ask me out, Ruby. He asked ifwewanted to go to a party. There is a difference. He didn't even write down our names. What if we get there, and he didn't put our names on the list?" I ask. "What if we end up not seeing him at all?"

"Oh no, our names are going to be on the list, and you will see him. I can tell. Like I said yesterday, he likes you. I mean, he followed you in here."

"Maybe. But you didn't have to accuse him of stalking me."

She laughs but her face turns devilish. "I know. I overheard your conversation. I just hid over at the side. I wanted to give you time to talk to him…alone."

I tame the look of disdain on my face though, and ask, "So, you think he’ll really put our names on the list?"

"Absolutely," she says without a doubt, "and I really do think he likes you. He said you were cute."

"No, he said he thought what I said was cute. Again, there's a difference. And it really doesn't matter if he likes me or not. We are in California, and tomorrow we are flying home. I have no idea where he even lives. And don't you dare even say a word about a long-distance relationship. Not happening. Ever."

"Ok, ok. Let's just see what tonight brings, alright?” she replies. "But you do like him, don't you," she insists with an all-knowing smirk.

I bite my bottom lip to hide my blushing smile and nod my head. What the heck am I going to wear tonight?

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