Call the Shots (Swim the Fly #3)(89)

“My room, don’t you think? It’s quieter and more private. That way you can take your time and get a good look.”

“Sure.” My voice is all shaky. My head dizzy with excitement. “Sounds good.”

“My little Muff-Muff’s looking pretty cute.” She smiles proudly. “I spent the last hour doing some primping and trimming.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Got her all gussied up for your visit. I even clipped on a little pink bow.” Leyna laughs. “I know, cheesy, right?”

“No,” I say. “It’s nice.” My jeans feel like they’ve shrunk two sizes. Lord Vader, I can’t believe this is about to happen. Just stay chill. Just stay chill. Forget Captain Kirk. Think Han Solo all the way. I cock my head, try on a bit of swagger, and say, “All righty, then. Let’s see this little muffin of yours.”

Just then a tiny brown-and-white corgi with a pink bow in its hair trots into the room.

“She must have heard you.” Leyna pats her leg. “Up, Muffin.”

The dog leaps into Leyna’s lap and starts to pant.

“Muffin?” My stomach plunges. “Your dog’s name . . . is Muffin?”

“Muffin, Muff-Muff, Muffy. And all the variations of.” Leyna giggles. “Sometimes my brother calls her the Muffinator.” She laughs and scrubs at the dog’s neck.

“And the picture you sent me?” I point at Muffin. “Was that of her?”

“Well. Of her butt.” Leyna turns the dog around and lifts her tail stump. “The rash I was telling you about. Way back when. Remember? It seems to get better for a while and then just comes back again. See?”

I blink hard, my entire fantasy world melting away. The dog looks back at me over its shoulder. “Yeah. I see.”

Leyna furrows her brow. “Why, what did you think the picture was?”

“Nothing.” I turn away. “I just . . . I didn’t know what . . . part of her it was. That’s all.” Oh, my God. I feel nauseous. “It’s probably mites.” I gesture at the dog, unable to look it in the eyes. “The rash. You were right. You should take her to a vet. She can prescribe some ointment. It’ll be gone in a week.”

A rash. A rash on a dog’s butt. Son of a Sith.

“So that’s all this ever was?” I attempt to clarify. “You just wanted my . . . veterinary expertise?”

“I hope you don’t mind,” Leyna says, a small shy smile dimpling her cheeks. “You just seem to know so much about animals, and I was really worried about little Muffy here.”

“No, yeah, of course,” I say, shaking the disappointment from my head. “I definitely don’t mind. It’s just that . . . I guess what I mean is . . . I’ve been thinking . . . about you and me, right? . . . And how we have such a strong connection and everything. In drama class. And when we talk and stuff . . .”

“Yeah.” She smiles and gives my knee another squeeze. “It’s great, huh?”

“For sure.” I nod. “Really great. Which is why . . . I — I thought maybe . . . when you texted me . . . on Valentine’s Day . . .” My face flames as I see the words in front of me, just waiting to be blurted out. All ready to make a bad situation infinitely more awkward. But my brain’s right. I need to grow some balls. So it’s either say what I want to say or skulk off with my tail between my legs. Yet again. “I thought maybe you might want to go out? With me? You and me? Going out.”

Leyna smiles again, but this time it seems kind of forced. Like acting. Bad acting. “You mean, like, out to coffee?”

“Uhh.” I gulp. She’s gonna make me say it. “No . . . Not like that. Like, you know, something . . . more than coffee.”

“Like coffee and a donut?” she says. Is it just me, or is that a hint of hopefulness I detect in her voice?

“No, I mean, like going out. Like, dating.”

“Oh, Sean.” She leans away. Not a good sign. “I’m really confused. I thought . . . God, this is . . . I mean . . . I thought . . . I thought you were . . . gay.”

I jerk backward like she’s just smacked me in the face with a sock full of oranges. “What? Why would you . . . Did my sister tell you that?”

“You have a sister?”

“A twin sister. Cathy. Yes. She thinks I’m gay too.” Every muscle in my body has tensed.

“Yeah, well, aren’t you?” Leyna asks. “I mean, you’re sweet. You’re sensitive. You’re in drama. I don’t know. You seem gay. I guess I just sort of . . . assumed.”

“Well, you assumed wrong. Way wrong. Like . . . completely wrong. I’m not gay. I mean, I’m a guy and I can barely tolerate being around myself. I like girls. A lot. I like you. A lot. Okay?”

“Yeah. No. I get it.” She cocks her head. “I like you a lot too. But . . .” And there it is. The but we’ve both been waiting for. “Just . . . not in that way. I’m really sorry, Sean, I didn’t mean —”

“Sorry? Why would you be sorry? There’s no need for that . . . for you to be sorry. It’s not —” I give a loud lip fart. “Sorry. I mean, what’s that about?”

Leyna laughs nervously. “So you’re not . . . You’re not upset?”