Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1)(42)
“I think I like this boy already.”
“And then you wonder why I never tell you anything.” I looked up at her and frowned.
“I’m too young to have grey hairs and your sister has already given me a few. Please don’t add to them. You’re supposed to be the easy daughter,” she said.
Of course I was the easy daughter, the one born without social skills. “I’ll try harder to be boring.”
“That’s all I ask.” She stood and reached out to gently smooth my hair. “But I’m happy you’re happy.”
“Thanks.”
“And I’m happy that you like a boy who isn’t going to be in our time zone. Any chance he’ll stay there?”
“I’m really, really never telling you anything again.” I tossed a ball of yarn at her as she snatched up her book and ducked out of the door.
Alone again, I fell back onto my bed and stared at the ceiling, my heart dancing in my chest as I thought about Dev and the concert. I couldn’t turn into a useless block when I saw him again. And, even though common sense screamed at me for dreaming about something that might not happen, I couldn’t help but imagine the possibilities. Maybe he’d pull me out into Marrano’s summer patio and kiss me under the twinkle lights, just like Daymeon and Taylor in Starbound.
Fireflies—a December miracle would make that happen, of course—would fill the air around us. A light breeze would pick up, swirling my dress around me. Our eyes would meet, and neither of us would be able to look away. He’d look a little nervous, like he was trying so hard to make the moment perfect. I’d drop my eyes and start to walk away, saying something about going home, and he’d grab my arm, tugging me to part of the patio furthest from the streetlight.
“Wait,” he’d whisper, “Don’t go.”
He’d step closer and his free hand would come up to push back the strand of hair that had come loose from my updo. Note to self, do hair in an updo and tug a piece of hair free right after the concert. Daymeon—um, Dev—would then cup my cheek with his hand, his thumb almost skimming the edge of my lips. “You were amazing tonight. A real shining star,” he’d whisper to me. He’d slide his thumb down to touch my bottom lip again and I’d visibly catch my breath,
I would look up at him, my eyes reflecting the twinkle lights. Maybe not as prettily as Taylor’s golden brown ones, but at least I’d do Grace’s bronze eyeliner trick tonight. “I couldn’t do it without you,” I’d say, reaching up to wrap my arms around his neck.. “I—” But, before I could say anything else, he’d close the space between us, sweeping me into an epic kiss as the wind picks up and fireflies and leaves swirl around us. He’d pull me closer, close enough that I could practically hear his heartbeat, and then…
I giggled, burying my face in my knitting. The cool silk fabric made my cheeks feel even hotter.
“Oh holy hotness,” I said. That probably wouldn’t happen, I reminded myself, but it was nice to imagine.
I put aside my knitting and pulled my copy of Starbound out of the pile of books next to my bed, as well as my notebook. Nothing like any of Taylor and Daymeon’s epic makeout scenes would happen, but a little bit of advance research definitely wouldn’t hurt.
25
The last notes of English Folk Song Suite died away and I dropped my flute to my lap, waiting for Osoba to take her bows and for the curtain to close before getting up.
“Move.” I nudged Em, who purposely took her sweet time gathering up her sheet music.
She gave me an impish look and stood. “What? In a rush?” She nodded at something over my shoulder and I turned to find Dev standing right beside me.
“Meet me in the lobby?” he asked in a backstage whisper as he passed my music stand.
“Sure,” I said, trying to look like I was interested in the order of my sheet music when what I really wanted to do was latch on to him like a rabid fangirl at a book signing. I bumped Em impatiently with my hip. “C’mon. You’re so slow tonight.”
“Dev’s not going anywhere.” She finally started walking off-stage. “And the goal here is to get to the lobby a little bit after he does so you don’t have to do that whole awkward standing-around-checking-your-cellphone-or-looking-atthe-awards-on-the-wall thing. Some people can pull that off and look good, but you really kind of suck at that.”
So, I moved slowly, carefully packing up my flute. I tugged some strands of my hair free and Em forced some of her lip gloss on me. And, with one final check, she shoved me out into the lobby and headed off to find her ride home.
I searched the crowded lobby for Dev. As soon as I caught sight of him by the offices and started making my way towards him, a bright blue streak zipped across my line of sight, focusing into a girl in a way-too-short blue dress who threw her arms around him. For a minute longer than anyone would consider a friendly hug, the dark-haired girl hung on his neck while Dev bowed his head low to talk to her, all smiles. Maybe it was a sister or a cousin…
They turned slightly to let someone pass and I saw Lexie’s unmistakable profile. I froze midstep and a wave of dread washed over me. I was an idiot of epic proportions.
Of course Dev didn’t want to date me. I was a geeky book nerd who dressed up like her favorite characters and read too much into everything. I bit back my embarrassment and irrational urge to cry. Not in public. If I could just duck down one of the hallways, I could call my parents for a ride, or maybe see if Em hadn’t yet left. I started backing up towards the language hallway when those too-familiar hazel eyes caught mine. Crud.