Page 366 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
Charlie nods. “I was instructed not to give you any more information than what’s on the card, but I believe your wardrobe is appropriate for the occasion.”
I take a steadying breath and look from Lucy to Summer. “Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you later?”
They both lunge forward and pull me into a group hug. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be great,” Summer whispers.
I hear her words, but I don’t miss the concern hovering in my sisters' eyes. Not that I can blame them. Sometimes, I think my sisters forget what I’m capable of because I’ve intentionally made my world so small. But just because I don’tlikedoing lots of people-y things doesn’t mean I’m incapable.
“You guys. I’m fine. Please stop worrying about me.”
“Youarefine,” Lucy says. “You’ve got this.”
I give them one last hug, then follow Charlie to the limo which is really more like a stretched-out SUV. It’senormousand feels like a ridiculous expense to drive around one person, though I do feel slightly better when I see the eco symbol on the door telling me the car is fully electric.
I wait while Charlie opens the door for me, then I climb in. “There’s chilled water and sodas in the fridge across from you,” Charlie says through the still-open door. “And snacks in the basket next to you. Help yourself to whatever you like.”
“Thank you, Charlie,” I say, though honestly, I’m way too nervous to eat. It occurs to me, as Charlie pulls the limo onto the interstate heading toward Asheville, that the whole point of getting together with Flint today was so that we could talk about boundaries and expectations. I don’t particularly love surprises, but even more, I don’t love not knowing what to expect.
I pull out my phone, intent to text Flint and let him know he still owes me a conversation, but as soon as I look at my phone, I find a text from him already waiting for me.
Flint:Thanks for agreeing to go. Sorry again for abandoning you. Were your sisters able to join you?
Audrey:They’re both working today, so I’m on my own. But thanks for inviting them.
Flint:I thought you might need your sisters to convince you to go at all. Now I’m even more grateful you said yes.
Audrey:Oh, I definitely needed them to convince me. I don’t typically love surprises.
Flint:Noted. I hope you’ll enjoy this one anyway.
Flint:Have a good day, Audrey.
Flint:I’ll be thinking about you.
I lean back into the seat, keenly aware of the way my heart is fluttering. I don’t have a lot of experience with this sort of thing, but Flint’s texts feel…I don’t know. Likemore.Not quite flirting exactly, but like more than he would say to a casual acquaintance. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Flint is this thoughtful and solicitous with everyone he texts.
I take a couple of screenshots of our last few texts and send them to my sisters.
Audrey:Give me your thoughts.
Summer:Ummm, he’s totally into you.
Lucy:Yep. Agreed.
Audrey:But is he really? How am I supposed to know what’s real when our relationship is fake?
Lucy:I mean, you’ll only be faking it in public, right? Why would his text messages be fake?
Summer:I agree with Lucy. I think he’s into you for real. But you still have to talk to him. You need rules, woman.
My sisters can’t be right.
I’ve lost sleep over the idea of being afakemovie star girlfriend.
I wouldn’t know the first thing about being a real one.
Still, as I look at the basket sitting next to me and pull out a bag of chocolate-covered almonds, I let myself indulge in a frivolous, ridiculous thought:A girl could definitely get used to this.
Oh my.If I thought limo service directly from my front porch was nice, I don’t even knowwhatto think now.
