Page 64 of Summer Ever After
“Moving on!” Capri says loud enough for both of us to hear. “What other tropes did you cross off your list?”
I eye Walker before answering. “I decided not to incorporate getting my wisdom teeth out in all of this. It was a stupid idea. I’ll be heavily medicated with swollen cheeks. It’s not worth it, no matter how much I wanted to check off thecaring for someonetrope when they’re sick. Instead, I’m going to ask Beau to pick me up. Just as friends.” I add that last part to set the record straight in case there’s still any confusion about our relationship.
“I wish I was still going to be in town so I could pick you up.”
“I’ll do it.” Walker displays his most virtuous smile. “In the spirit of being helpful.”
I’d rather die than have him see me like that.
“Don’t worry yourself. I’m sure Beau will do it.”
“Yeah, Beau can do it,” Capri agrees. “He loves that sort of thing.”
“Fine, I won’t pick you up. But I still don’t get how all of this is supposed to work.” He shifts his weight, crossing one foot over the other. “You select a guy to go out with and choose a trope to go along with the date, and that’s supposed to help you fall in love?”
“When you say it like that, I sound desperate.”
He laughs, raising his broad shoulders. “How else am I supposed to say it?”
“This whole thing makes more sense when you’ve read these tropes in books for years. They’re gestures—romantic gestures—that break the ice and get the ball rolling.”
“It’s never going to work.” His head shake is irritating on every level.
“You don’t know that.”
“Ithink it’s a great plan,” Capri interjects. “And it’s our job to help Jane make it happen. That’s why I’m curling her hair right now.”
I tip my head way back so I can see her eyes. “You’re a good friend.”
“You won’t think that if I burn you.” She pushes me forward again.
“Who’s after Dustin?” Walker asks. “Because we all know you two aren’t compatible.”
“Why aren’t we compatible?”
Cobalt-blue eyes pin me. “Because he’s not good enough for you.”
The mixture of genuineness and jealousy behind hiswords has my head spinning with forbidden hope. When it comes to Walker, hoping for something is about the worst thing you can do.
Capri’s pointed stare lands on Walker. “Very few guys are good enough for Jane.”
“You got that right.” I force a laugh, glancing away from him.
“You have a blind date later this week, don’t you?” Capri asks.
Yes, let’s stick to the schedule.
“Yeah, on Thursday night. Somebody I met on Swipe Right.” I peek at Walker to see his reaction to me using a dating app. He looks disgusted—clenched jaw, pouting eyes. He must think I’m a joke, but who even cares? There are insurmountable reasons why he’d never be a viable love interest, so I sit up taller, moving my gaze from him. “And I have a date with Phoenix Park lined up for Sunday. We bumped into each other today, and I asked him if he’d like to go boating with me this weekend.” He seemed reluctant, but said yes, so I’m counting it as a win.
Walker straightens. “Sounds like you have it all figured out.”
“I do.”
“She does,” Capri adds.
“Then I guess there’s nothing else to say.” He walks past us, his cologne assaulting me as he exits. “Where’s Tala? Are we about ready to watch this movie?”
That’s just like Walker.
