Page 86 of Hate You, Maybe
“I know. But we spent the first part of the drive back from Camp Reboot talking about the FRIG, and the second half discussing how to tell everyone about our plan for the SACSS visit. By the time we got here, we were running late for the faculty meeting. We barely had enough time to change.”
“All right, sidebar.” Loren grins. “I love the way you twoannounced the whole role switch thing. You showing up dressed in Gray Squirrels workout gear with a coach’s whistle around your neck, and Dex dressed like some play director with that yellow boa around his neck? Hilarious. And brilliant.”
“Thanks.” I preen a little. “That was my idea.”
“So okay, then. I get why you didn’t talk earlier. But why not after the meeting?”
“Because the minute we were done, Mr. Wilford excused everyone, and Dex disappeared with him. So I dragged you here to update you on the twenty-out-of-ten kiss.”
Loren wrinkles her nose. “Hmm.”
I tip my chin. “What’s with the face?”
“Aren’t you the slightest bit worried that Dex is in Wilford’s office right now making his final pitch for the grant money? You both went to this retreat determined to win the grant. How do you know Dex wasn’t just trying to get your guard down the whole time? And kissing you last night could’ve been the final move.”
“Yeah.” I swallow against the lump in my throat. “I was kind of hoping you’d talk me into trusting him.”
“Oh, I can absolutely do that.” She lifts her hands. “Honestly, I like Dex. He’s a great guy, and also a babe. It’s just that you spent the past three years campaigning to convince me he’s one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.”
“Actually, Dex is afraid of horses.”
“Ha! Are you two besties now?” Loren lets out an exaggerated scoff. “Should I be nervous I’m losing you to him?”
“Never,” I say. “And the truth is, I questioned his motives, too. On the drive home. I think he was offended, which I understand, if he’s innocent.”
Even as I say this, my palms start to itch, and I fight the urge to start chewing my cuticles again, but I take a deep breath.
Things are different now, Sayla. You know Dex.
You can trust him. You can trust your judgment.
“So you believe him,” Loren says.
“It was his idea for us to stop competing and let the chips fall where they may. He’s committed to his department, yes. But he’s also got a ton of integrity. I really do think he’ll keep his word.”
Loren pretends to fan herself. “Listen to you talking about Dexter Michaels like he’s dreamy.”
“I hate to admit he kind of is.”
“So why on earth did you pump the brakes on the make-outs? Oh, right.” She smirks. “Yourmominterrupted.”
“Yes, that. And we can’t afford to make things any more complicated before the SACSS visitation.” I press a smile onto my face. “Which was a very mature decision, if you ask me.”
“Boring.”
“Intelligent.”
“Agree to disagree.” She lets out a laugh. “But should we circle back to the late-night call from your mom? Did Eugene bail on her? Do we need to go beat him up?”
I groan. “This time, my mom’s the one doing the bailing. And get this: It’s because he told her he didn’t want to get married on Christmas.”
“Huh.” Loren tips her chin. “Getting married on Christmas actually sounds kind of cool.”
“That’s what my mom thinks. Either way, it’s a ridiculous reason to break an engagement. But on brand for her. Now she’ll probably decide she has to quit her job and move again. Which just reminded me why it’s a bad idea to date a coworker.”
Even as I say this, my brain goes into debate mode.
Against me.
