Date Me, Bryson Keller(46)

“Did you have fun, Kai? What did you do?” Mom asks me.

“We just hung out,” I say.

“With Bryson?” Yazz asks. She’s back to lounging on the floor.

“No. I was with Priya and Donny.” I study her. “Why’d you ask?”

“Oh, Bryson posted a picture on Instagram, and the comment section is blowing up. Everyone wants to know who bought him the bracelet,” Yazz says. She looks up at me. “It’s a mystery.”

Yazz is smart—sometimes too smart for her own good. But it’s impossible that she’s figured it out, right? No one in this room knows what’s happening between Bryson and me.

“Bryson is who you’re going to the concert with, right?” Mom asks. She’s flipping through channels. I watch as she settles on the Food Network. Someone needs to change it before Mom gets inspired again. These are dangerous times.

“It’s truly hard to believe that Kai is friends with Bryson Keller now,” Yazz says. “The world as we know it is upside down.”

“Is he popular?” Dad asks.

“Very,” Yazz explains. “He’s the ‘it’ boy of Fairvale Academy.”

“Then, what’s he doing with Kai?”

    “Hey!” I say. “I have my charms.”

“That may be true, honey, but you’re also incredibly awkward,” Mom says. Her words are matter-of-fact.

“So awkward,” Dad chimes in.

“It’s embarrassing just how awkward,” Yazz adds.

“Well, there goes my self-esteem,” I mutter. “Thank you very much.” I turn to leave my family behind. They laugh in my wake.

“You know we love you, Kai,” Mom calls out as I climb the stairs to my bedroom.

What picture is Yazz talking about? Behind closed doors, I pull out my phone and open Instagram. It’s a selfie of Bryson, and he’s showing off the bracelet that I bought. Call me lucky 24/7, the caption reads. I smile at how cheesy it is.

I open a text to Bryson and type: Nice pic, Mr. Cheese.

He responds a while later: That’s Mr. Grilled Cheese to you, sir.

I laugh and put my phone on charge. I walk to the bathroom and shower. It doesn’t take me long to get ready. I settle on black jeans, a band T-shirt, and my leather jacket with a black beanie. Soon it’s ten to six. I head downstairs and find Mom putting on lipstick.

“Where are you off to?” I ask.

“Choir practice, Kai,” Mom says.

“Oh, right.”

“I have a solo this Sunday.” She looks at me expectantly. “Will I see you there?”

    I groan. “I don’t know.”

Mom sighs. “How did I end up with a son who hates church?”

Before I can respond, the doorbell rings. I use that as my excuse and go open the door. Bryson is standing there. He’s wearing black jeans with rips at the knees, boots, and a bomber jacket. There’s a backward cap on his head, too. Effortlessly hot.

Bryson must catch me checking him out because he smiles. I blush and stand aside to let him in.

“Cute,” Bryson whispers as he passes me by the door. He stops to take off his shoes, and I lead him to meet my parents and Yazz.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Bryson says to my parents. He offers Yazz a wave and a smile that shows his hidden dimple.

“So this is Bryson Keller?” Dad asks.

“Wow. He’s handsome,” Mom muses.

“You do know he can hear you, right?” I ask my parents, even though I can’t help but agree with Mom’s comment, at least silently.

“Our parents can be somewhat embarrassing,” Yazz says. She pushes her glasses up. “Forgive them.”

Bryson laughs.

“We should head out,” I say. They’ve seen him, they’ve met him. It’s time to escape before Sherlock and Watson take over.

“You have your phone, right?” Mom asks.

“Yes, Mom,” I say.

    “Is it fully charged?” Dad asks.

“Yes, Dad.” I pull it from my pocket and show them. The battery’s at 98 percent. They both nod.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Mom says.

“Or reckless,” Dad adds.

“I won’t. I promise.”

“No drinking or smoking.”

“You can trust me,” I say, holding in my exasperation.

“It’s not you we don’t trust. It’s everyone else.” Mom follows us to the door. “I love you. Call me if anything happens.”

“Nothing will. But I promise.”

“Drive safe, Bryson,” Dad says.

“I will, Mr. Sheridan.” Bryson smiles at my parents, his dimple on full show. He’s genuinely enjoying this…meeting my family. “It was great to meet you both.”

My secret boyfriend and my parents having just met is almost too much to wrap my head around.

Kai Sheridan, what has your life become?





20


As we drive out of Fairvale, Bryson tells me about the game he coached after school today.

“So did you win?”

“No, but we improved by a lot. So I’m happy.”