Page 6 of Sneaking Around with the Player
“The guy you’re talking to. It isn’t Eric again, is it?”
“No.”
“Another guy on the swim team?”
I shake my head.
“Who?!” Her brown eyes plead with me.
“His name is Beau. I met him at the airport.”
Her lips part as if she’s going to speak, but it’s several seconds before she says, “Only you would meet a guy at the airport. How did this happen? Does he go to Valley?”
I tell her the whole story. How I was trying to get away from Eric and how I gave Beau my number. She wants to see the texts, obviously, and I drum my nails against my thigh as I wait for her assessment.
“His texts are cute. Flirty and fun. I’d say he’s into you.”
“You got all that off a few texts, but you can’t see how totally into you Teddy is from across the room?”
“Shhh.” She thrusts my phone back at me. “Text him back now.”
“And say what?”
“Anything.”
“That’s too broad.”
“Okay.” She puts a finger to her chin. “You need some common ground. You know that he goes to college and he likes video games. Anything else?”
“I know that he’s very cute.”
“If you respond by telling him how hot he is, he’ll either think you’re a potential stalker or that you’re looking to sext.” She casts a serious stare in my direction. “Are you just looking to sext?”
“No,” I say defensively. “Sexting is so high school.”
Holly laughs. I feel a prick of unease. I don’t have the best track record when it comes to dating, but at least I put myself out there.
“But I get your point.” I scrunch up my nose. “I already thanked him for the link. I don’t know how to spin that into another conversation.”
“Text him and ask for more video game stream suggestions.”
“He’ll see right through that.”
“If he likes you, he won’t care.”
“And if he doesn’t like me?”
“Who would dare not like you?” She bumps her shoulder against mine. “Worst case, he’ll ignore you or he’ll hit you up with a bunch of links and nothing else. At least then you’ll know. No big loss, right?”
“Right.” I let out a breath.
“You really like this guy.”
“I just met him.”
“So?” She casts a quick glance to where Teddy sits in the living room playing video games. “Sometimes it’s just that fast.”
Beau
