Page 30 of We Are the Stars

Me:Thank you for apologizing. It means a lot.

Carsen:You’re welcome.

“Why are you smiling so big?”

I let out a yelp and throw a hand over my heart. “Oh shit, woman! You scared the crap out of me.”

“Don’t get it on the carpet.”

“Huh?”

“Your crap, Elliott. Don’t you dare stain my carpet.”

“My sides are splitting with laughter,” I deadpan.

She grins and folds her arms over her chest, resting against the doorframe. “You didn’t answer me. What has you smiling like that? Or…who? You seemed upset at dinner. Is it the same somebody?”

I pin her with a stare. “Why didn’t you and Dad tell me about him yesterday? There I was, asking questions, and yet you said nothing about Carsen working at Down the Lane for Bryan.”

“Reasons.” Mom shrugs, and I can feel like there’s a bigger picture here she’s not painting for me. “What’d you think of him?”

“Well, he’s the reason I’m smiling. He’s also the reason I almost lost my job today.”

She purses her lips. “Elaborate, please.”

“He was a dick and I nailed him in the nuts. That’s about the gist of it.”

“And now he has you smiling?”

“Yep. He apologized. Then he avoided personal questions with sarcastic comments. It was kind of cute—in a Carsen way.”

“He has his own way already?”

“Oh, Mom,” I say, shaking my head. “You have no idea.”

We chat for a few more minutes then she heads off to bed. I go through my nightly routine and bury myself under my blankets. As I’m reaching over to switch off my bedside lamp, my phone vibrates again.

Carsen:Are you busy around 12:30 tomorrow?

Me:No.

Carsen:Proposal: Have lunch with me?

Me:Why?

Carsen:Because I’ll buy.

Me:*swoon*

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