Page 52 of Hate You, Maybe
Unlike Tori’s pink silks, I sleep in plaid flannel during the fall. More like something a lumberjack would wear. So it’s a good thing I’m not trying to attract Dexter tonight. In fact, I’d like to throw water on the flames of the attraction I’m feeling for him.
When I come out dressed, Dexter’s finally got his shirt on. That’s a start. I return his hoodie, and the absence of his warm scent hits immediately. So I make myself busy, tidying up the things spread all over my bed, while he digs around in his duffel. I clear my throat, unable to resist teasing him. Just a little.
“Did you pack your teddy bear in there?” I ask. “As I recall, you still have it.”
He glances up at me, startled. I may not want Dexter to be attracted to me, but I do like impressing him with my memory.
“I’m just looking for my charger.” He pauses to ruffle his hair in a way that’s both sweet and annoying. I can’t exactly keep my edge while picturing him as a cute little boy in thehospital. He returns to his search, locating a charger brick in his bag and plugs the cord into the small power strip next to the nightstand. Then we climb into our beds.
The mattress is soft. The blankets are warm. When I flip off the light, moonlight spills through the cracks in the curtains.
“I’ve got Clarence back in my office for good luck,” he speaks into the dark.
“Clarence is the bear?”
“Yup.”
“And you keep him at school.”
“Yeah. Why? Does that ruin the very manly view you have of me?” I can almost hear the smile on his lips.
I smile, too, although he can’t see me. “What makes you think I’ve ever had a manly view of you, Dex?”
This earns me a low breath of laughter. “Your jokes are getting better, Kroft.”
“They were neverthatbad.”
“Agree to disagree.”
We’re both quiet for a moment, and I look up at the ceiling, counting the wooden beams streaked by the moon.
“But seriously,” he says, after a stretch. “Thanks for running interference with Tori for me today. That was a nice thing to do, considering you can’t stand me.”
“Eh. If I’m being honest, I might hate you just the tiniest bit less than I thought I did.”
He gifts me with another soft chuckle. “Just the tiniest bit less? Quite the ringing endorsement.”
“Baby steps,” I say. “I can’t gotooeasy on you since we are still competitors. And anyway, you’re going to hatemewhen I win that grant.”
“Don’t you mean the FRIG?”
“Hah. Yes. Exactly.”
“What makes you think you’ll win?” he asks.
“Ihaveto win.”
“Effective argument,” he says. “So how about this? Just to make things fair, I promise to be more irritating tomorrow.”
“Good. Yes, I think that should work. More irritating tomorrow. Thank you, Dexter.”
“Sleep well, Kroft,” he says. “I’ll try not to snore too loud.”
Chapter Fourteen
Dex
As it turns out, Sayla doesn’t snore or talk in her sleep at any volume, but I still lie awake for hours. In the quiet of the cabin, I listen to her steady breaths and the occasional soft sigh, wondering what she was thinking when she decided to tell Tori we’re dating. And why the thought of dating Sayla for real stirs something in my chest that’s not entirely … terrible.
