Page 28 of Bookish Boys Don't Date Social Girls
“Despite the circumstances, you and your sister have stayed good, decent people. You’ve earned this move all on your own, and I know you’ve worked very hard to achieve this goal. I hope it turns out to be everything you want.”
Joel clears his throat. He glances at Ava, but I can’t see her face. “Thanks, Grandma.”
“I…” she starts, but then she must clear her throat as well. “I love you, boy.”
Joel nods again, seemingly unable to speak. They lean into each other and hug. Holding the hug longer than I expect, with each passing moment I feel more of the tumultuous history they’ve shared.
Finally, he breaks away and I feel Bek squeeze my hand. Joel walks up to his mom and they just hug. There isn’t a big speech or confession. When they break apart, his mom whispers “Good luck, Joely.”
When he smiles, he looks so much like Ava, I can’t help but like him with all my heart. The rest of us turn and file out of the house, the heavy mood breaking up as we approach the cars.
Ava and Dylan give each other a quick kiss beforethey part. Dylan holds onto her hand as long as he can and stares at her as he backs toward Joel’s car. She smiles and nods even though he never said anything. I want to sigh because it’s so sweet that they’ve reached the non-verbal communication level of their relationship, but I also want to cry because, in that moment, I realize how much I want that.
I fold myself into my car and purse my lips. You can’t get to that level in a relationship if you only date someone twice. Not for the first time, I find myself second-guessing my previous decisions. Have I been too picky with my past dates? Do I break it off before giving it a chance? At this stage, will I ever know what it’s like to date again?
Bek slides into the passenger seat and Ava stuffs herself into the back, like normal. I wait for Joel to pull out of the driveway before I flip a U-turn to follow him to his new apartment. A cry of protest comes from Ava as she scrambles to keep the contents piled next to her from burying her.
“Sorry!” I meet her gaze in the rearview mirror and am relieved to see her laughing.
When we get there, I pull up to a red curb behind Joel and turn on my flashers. We all pile out of the vehicles and immediately grab something to take to the apartment. Joel leads the convoy of movers through a maze of sidewalks, up a flight of stairs, and through a propped-open door.
There are already people in the apartment even though there is hardly any furniture. A ratty armchair sits in the corner of the living room. Some boxes sit in what I’m guessing is a dining area. We all congregate in the center of the room while Joel drops his armload of stuff to hug and pound the back of one of the guys in the kitchen. I recognize the guy from school, but don’t really know him. His name is David Bushnell, and he has a reputation for being very smart. We’re introduced to his dad and another guy that looks a lot like David, who turns out to be his brother.Hearing the commotion, his mom and sister come out of a bedroom.
After the introductions, we start trekking back and forth from the car to the apartment to unload. David and his brother help with the bed, which will be set up in the room Joel is sharing with David.
When my car is empty, I find a parking spot and head up to the apartment.
“Who wants pizza?” I ask when I walk in. My stomach is growling and if I don’t eat soon, I might gnaw off my own arm. Ava and Bek raise their hands, but everyone else looks at me like I’ve just declared war. I hold up my phone. “My treat. Just need the address.”
“Be sure to order enough for Chris and whoever will be helping him,” Ava says.
David’s parents exchange a panicked look. They probably don’t know how to let a kid pay for food. I’m so thankful that Bek and Ava are acting completely normal. It helps to set the tone. At least with Joel, David, and his brother.
I hear the brother whisper to Joel, “Are you dating Samantha Jones?”
“No, dude, she’s my sister’s best friend.”
I pretend to be busy on my phone, but I’m totally eavesdropping.
“I’ve been out of school for a couple years and even I’ve heard of her. She gets around, right?”
Joel makes a low growling noise. “I don’t think it’s like that, dude.”
With my temper stoked, I stomp into the kitchen where I remember seeing mail. “Is this the address?” I ask David, who stands nearest. He nods. I hop onto my food delivery app, change the delivery address, and order enough pizza, soda, and cheese bread for a small army. If we don’t eat it now, the new roommates will probably appreciate having leftovers.I remember Bridget complaining about not having food when she first moved. Hopefully, none of the new roommates have dietary restrictions or are picky eaters.
By the time I’m done, Joel and Dylan are in the bedroom assembling Joel’s bed. The apartment door still stands open, so we hear the footsteps tromping up the stairs before anyone appears on the landing outside.
“Oh my gosh!” I cry. I leap forward and wrap my arms around Chris Trent’s shoulders. “Dude, are you the Chris moving in here?”
He grins. “I am. What on earth are you doing here? Are you here to break my heart again?”
“I never broke it in the first place.” I see there are people behind him, so I step back to let them pass. The third person to pass is Brent Post! He sees me and…wait for it…scowls. But this time I scowl back. At first, his scowl deepens, but then his face lights up with laughter.
“Am I doing it again?” he asks.
“Yes, you are. I’m getting a complex.”
Brent follows Chris into the second bedroom, and we hear greetings being exchanged when the roomies see Chris has arrived.
