Page 41 of The One I Hate
“All right then. Number one, you fascinate me. I hear your answers in class and I wonder what other ideas and thoughts you have going on in your brain. Second, I think you’re beautiful, and if we hang out then we’ll get to know each other and maybe one day you’ll go on a date with me. And, third, and I think the most important, I’ll be one step closer to finding out your name.”
I feel my walls breaking down, which is not what I was expecting. Simon is a frat boy player. I feel like this is the beginning of some elaborate prank.
Then again, I get the sense he’s being honest. Which I can’t believe solely based on what I know about him and my history with men. So I quickly decide to figure out if he’s for real or not.
“Okay.”
“Okay!?” His eyes light up, and his smile is so big it’s kind of adorable.
I hold up a hand. “Yes. But on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“It’s to study.”
“To study?”
“Yes,” I say. “We have an oral exam in this class on Friday, and it would be best to practice our answers on another person in the class. So if you want to hang out, it’s for us to study.”
There. If he really wants to hang out, he’ll say yes. If he turns it down, then I was right and the man was only after one thing.
“Deal,” he says. “Also it should be noted that I didn’t make a joke about oral exams. I think that should earn me bonus points.”
“Good job, Simon.”
“Thanks,” he says proudly. “Now, should I come to your place tomorrow?”
I hurry and shake my head. “No. Not my place. I’ll come to yours. Or Perks.”
He gives me a curious look but doesn’t press me on it. “Fine. My place. Tomorrow night. I’ll get snacks.”
I shake my head. “Let me take care of the snacks.”
“But you don’t know what I like.”
I smile as I start to walk away. “Trust me. I have snacks down to a science. You won’t be disappointed.”
All I wanted was a lovely nap on my couch that’s only comfortable to me. Instead I’m woken up by a memory of Simon and a twenty-pound furball that just cannonballed on my stomach.
“Dammit, Nuggy!” I say as the dog I barely like starts walking up my chest to lick my face. “In what world does it look like I want you to do this?”
The dog doesn’t understand me—she rarely does—and continues licking my face despite my attempt to stop her.
“Nuggy! Stop! Quit licking Aunt Charlie!”
To the rescue comes my niece, Lila. Also known as the reason there is a baby cocker spaniel who lives in my house. She’s very cute and very persuasive—a deadly combination in a four-year-old.
“Thanks, Sweet Pea,” I say, my face suddenly feeling like it needs to go a few rounds with the cleanser. And just as I think the assault is done, Nuggy jumps back onto my stomach.
Super.
“I had her in my room, but she ran fast,” she says.
“It’s okay,” I say. And it really is. I mean, how can I get mad at my adorable niece and the mostly adorable dog? I might be a woman who sees the glass half empty, but I’m not a monster.
“What’s going on out here?”
Connor comes slowly walking into the living room from the kitchen, a towel slung over his shoulder.
