Page 70 of We Are the Stars

“Yes?”

“Is that a question or an answer?”

“Both.”

“I’m waiting with bated breath for that explanation,” he deadpans after a few moments of silence.

“Why now?”

“Because I’m hungry.”

“Carsen…”

He sighs, and I’m certain he’s running his free hand through his hair in annoyance. “Because I want to, okay? I want to know I can do it.”

“Do what?”

“Go out. Did you know it’s been almost two years since I’ve gone anywhere other than Down the Lane, Vern’s, or my house? I don’t even grocery shop anymore. Nate and Blake do it. How fucking sad is that?”

“Are you only now realizing it?”

“No. Yes.” He pauses. “No, but I’m just now feeling like I need to do something about it, need to get out of this shell I’ve been living in.”

“And you wantmeto assist you? Why?”

“Because you have a great ass?”

“Why is that a question? You weren’t complaining last night when you couldn’t keep your hands off it.”

“Itisa great ass. Now go to dinner with me.”

“Fine, but wherever we go, they better have nacho cheese sauce.”

I hang up to the sound of him sputtering in laughter.

My phone dings with a text almost instantly.

Carsen:Want to know what time I’m picking you up for dinner?

Shit. That would be good info, especially since I look a wreck right now. My hair hasn’t been combed all day and I’ve hardly left my bed. The only semi-adulting worthy thing I did was manage to pull on a pair of leggings this morning after my shower.

Me:Shoot.

Bubbles float across the screen, but a message doesn’t ever come through, not even after a solid minute of me staring at it.

The doorbell rings.

My heart falls to the floor.

“Elliott!” Fish calls. “It’s for you!”

Shit!“Shit!”

“Language!” I hear my mom shout.

“Elliott!” my brother calls again.

“I need a few minutes!”

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