Page 11 of Screwing With The Scrooge

“Yeah?” He asks, clearly hinting for me to go on.

“I ate dinner with her last night,” I admit, and he grins.

“I should write a book,” he jokes. “How to win over a girl that is clearly already in love with you. I could give talks all over.”

“She’s not in love with me,” I argue, and he rolls his eyes.

“She is, but don’t worry, she seems to like this whole clueless thing that you have going on.”

I flip him off, and he laughs as he lifts his cup of coffee and takes a drink.

“How did your first date go then?” He asks, and I scowl.

“It wasn’t a date, it was just…an accident,” I finish lamely.

“Yeah? And how does oneaccidentallygo out on a date?”

I open my mouth to say… what? That it was just a coincidence? Convenient for the two of us to eat together? None of those are really true.

“It was a date,” Townes promises me.

“This was a good first date, but I expect you to plan the next one.”

Olive’s words from last night hit me as I drain the rest of my coffee. I’ve been thinking about what she said all night. It’s obvious that the ball is in my court now, but I have no idea what to do with it.

“I can’t date,” I tell him.

“X, you already are. Watching you two dance around each other was cute in the beginning, but you’re going to lose her. Don’t do that,” he warns me.

“She told me that the next date was on me,” I admit, and he grins, clapping his hands together once in excitement.

“Good. Ask her out. For real this time,” he stresses.

“And then what?”

“Then you go out. You learn more about her, maybe kiss her, maybe—”

I cut him off before he can go on.

“This feels like a bad idea.”

“It’s not. It’s the best idea that you’ve ever had.”

“It’syouridea,” I protest, and he laughs.

“I’m a genius. Now, hurry up and get ready to go. She’ll probably be between rushes at the bakery so you can ask her out in peace before you chicken out.”

He waves his hands at me until I stand and stomp my way into my bedroom. I brush my teeth and stare at my reflection in the mirror. My dark brown hair is getting long and I shove it back from my forehead. The waves stick up in some spots, but I’ll be wearing a hat so I don’t bother to try to fix it.

Stubble coats my jaw and I debate shaving, but Townes is right. If I want to catch her and ask her out without an audience, then I need to get to the bakery fast.

I tug on my boots and grab my coat and hat. Townes is already standing by the door and he heads out.

“Do you want me to come with?” He offers, and I shake my head.

“I’ll be okay.”

He nods, clapping me on the shoulder as he heads over to his Jeep.

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