“It doesn’t matter. Like you said, he’s with Courtney, so I guess you’re doomed to pine after someone you can’t have unless…”
Don’t look up. Don’t look up.
Farrah looked up.
Dammit. She needed better self-control. “Unless what?”
Blake leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head. “You get the hots for someone else.”
He wasn’t the first person to suggest that solution. Olivia had been trying to get Farrah to hook up with another guy in FEA for weeks, but when Farrah had a crush, she had tunnel vision. Most of the time, anyway.
She chose not to think about the way her stomach fluttered every time Blake smiled—a real smile, not the smirk he was giving her now.
“Don’t tell me you’re offering yourself up for the position.”
He looked offended. “I’m not, but there’s no need to sound so disgusted. I have feelings.”
Farrah arched a skeptical brow.
Blake kept the pretense up for about ten more seconds before he broke into a wide smile.
There it was again—that stupid stomach flutter. She should get that checked out.
“Kidding. I don’t have feelings.”
Farrah couldn’t help but laugh. Blake’s grin widened.
He was so cocky she hadn’t thought him capable of self-deprecation, but it was nice to see he didn’t take himself too seriously.
The group returned with the food. Farrah had told Olivia to order for her, and her faith in her friend was well-placed. The Shanghainese pork belly rice was fantastic. They also bought a bunch of dishes to share, including crab meat spring rolls, shao mai (Chinese dumplings), chicken teriyaki skewers, and a quarter roasted duck. Dessert comprised of an assortment of mooncakes, in a nod to the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The festival was a time for moon worship (in the olden days) and family reunions (in modern days), but honestly, it was all about the mooncakes.
Farrah savored the taste of her Disney-themed green tea mooncake. Yum.
To Farrah’s relief, Blake didn’t bring up Leo again for the rest of the day, probably because Olivia and Courtney had them running around like crazy people so they could fit everything in before the park closed.
Despite her exhaustion, Farrah had a blast. It had been ages since she visited Disneyland. She was a child swept up in the magic again, especially at night when the park lit up like a sea of fallen stars.
Even Kris warmed to the experience. By the time they left, she’d spent hundreds of dollars on overpriced souvenirs. Farrah didn’t know why Kris bought so much stuff. It wasn’t like she’d ever be caught dead wearing Minnie Mouse earrings.
Whatever. Farrah was too tired to read much into it.
She collapsed into her seat on the metro. They had a long way to go before they reached SFSU, but Farrah didn’t mind. It gave her feet more time to recuperate.
“Today was a good day.” Olivia yawned and rested her head on Farrah’s shoulder. On Farrah’s other side, Courtney and Kris were already fast asleep.
Farrah looked across the aisle to where the guys were watching a video on Sammy’s phone. Blake was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. It was the most genuine smile she’d seen from him yet.
“Yeah.” Farrah rubbed Olivia’s arm. “Today was a good day.”
Chapter Six
Blake rolled out of bed at eight. He couldn’t remember the last time he woke up this late, but Disneyland took him out. He forgot how tiring amusement parks were.
Fortunately, it didn’t take him long to get ready, and he was out the door by 8:15.
Blake’s stomach rumbled with anticipation. The jianbing from the street vendor behind campus was the highlight of his mornings. He’d passed by the stand multiple times his first two weeks here, tempted by the smell but wary of buying street food, before he caved. It was the right decision. Those savory, crisp-fried crepes were some of the best things he’d ever tasted.