My ass.
Chapter Ten
Levi
“Alright. If we’re going to make this work, then you gotta treat her like gold.” Pulling out a chair in the break room while knowing I only have five minutes before my next meeting, I watch Conner chew his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
After a few seconds, he swallows. “That won’t be a problem. Anything else?”
“You gotta promise me that she never finds out I had anything to do with this.”
“Deal.”
I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.
There was just something about this morning with her. I knew I’d been overprotective during high school, and that I probably shouldn’t have intervened so much with her dating life. But to hear that she’s never even been kissed? She’s twenty! How the hell is that even possible? What’s holding her back? She needs a push in the right direction, and if I have to make a deal with Conner to get her to live her damn life, then so help me, I will.
I breathe a slow sigh then rest my elbows on the table.
“Fine. I want you to know that I’m not just doing this for you or for the jo
b. I’m doing this because she needs to get out of her shell, and I think she needs a little push in the right direction.”
There. I said it out loud. So, why am I still feeling so damn guilty?
“Then push away,” Conner replies, clearly invested in the conversation.
“She likes sports. She’s obsessed with baseball and running. Loves pizza and burgers. Hates fish. Her favorite candy is Nerds, though she’ll tell you it’s chocolate. She runs when she’s scared and almost never yells. When she’s nervous, she’ll pick at her clothes and avoid eye contact. She also––”
“Dude. First, you should probably just email me all this shit because there’s no way I’ll remember all of it. Second, how am I supposed to use this information?”
Frustrated, I run my fingers through my hair before blowing out another breath. “I’m not the one trying to date her. You are. I’m giving you all the ammo I can think of to make that happen, but the ball is still in your court.”
He shakes his head. “That’s not how this works. Yes, I think all this info is a great start, but I’m still going to need your help.”
“Then you’re going to have to be more specific,” I bite out.
“How do I convince her to give me a chance?” he returns with just as much venom.
Apparently, I’m not the only one with a lack of patience for the day.
“I don’t know. Right now, she’s pissed at me too.”
Pulling away, Conner takes another bite of his sandwich after asking, “And why’s that?”
“Because I asked her if….” For some reason, divulging the fact that my best friend has never been kissed seems like crossing a line. “I asked her if she was seeing anyone.”
“You didn’t know if she was single?”
“I assumed, but we don’t really talk about our love lives.”
“Why?”
Because she doesn’t want to hear about mine, and I never bothered to ask about hers, I think to myself, feeling like a dick for being so self-absorbed. Still, the thought of her being with someone makes my nose wrinkle, so maybe it’s self-preservation more than self-absorption. Or maybe I’m just trying to make myself feel better, and that I’m not really a shitty friend.
Realizing he’s still waiting for a response, I say, “Because we have more important shit to talk about. But you’re in the clear. She’s single. Which means that if you can get her to see the current you instead of the asshole from your past, then you might have a chance.”
“And how do we get her to see that?”