Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting, #1)(46)

Ugh, I was about to mess everything up for a guy who only thought of me as a friend. A guy who’d actually balked when I’d asked him to touch my knee for a joke. In fact, almost every time he touched me, he jerked away like my skin had burned him.

Except for hugs—he ruled at hugs and seemed to be good with those.

Friends hug.

Occasionally we hold hands… Usually it’s more of a supportive gesture, one I need…

If he liked me as more than a friend, there was no way he’d be doing so much to help me land Mick. That was as much proof as I needed right there.

“…my house?” Mick asked.

My mind tried to replay his question, as if I had that sort of power. “I’m sorry. What about your house?”

“I asked if you wanted me drop you off, or if you could hang for a while at my house.”

I bit my lip. His gaze dropped to my mouth, and he swallowed, that kind of swallow guys did in the movies when they were thinking about the girl in a more-than-friends way. Did I really affect him like that? Did he expect more than kissing at his house?

“With school tomorrow, my mom expects me home,” I said, a strange mix of relief and disappointment going through me that I couldn’t simply let go and see what happened if I went home with him. “Maybe we could hang out at your house some other time?”

“Of course. You could come over after school tomorrow.”

“I’m supposed to go rowing with Cooper. I’m helping him train.” And with the Spring Festival race less than two weeks away, he’ll want to hit it hard, no doubt.

Mick reached across the console of the car and took my hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Maybe you could skip a day?”

A tingle worked its way across my skin. See? There was something there. I was just overanalyzing as usual, psyching myself out. “I’ll see what I can do.”

His signature smirk spread across his mouth.

“So, you said you were hanging out at the lake yesterday,” I said as he turned down my street. “Do you do that often?” I was fishing for information. So sue me. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself by asking him to prom, and the more intel I had, the better.

Of course he probably wouldn’t tell me if he had a date unless I brought it up. And I wanted to add that I’d seen a picture so my question didn’t seem so random, but then that’d make me look psycho, and I figured random was the better option.

“Now and then. Paris asked me to go, but honestly, the entire time, I couldn’t stop wishing you were there.” He pulled up in front of my house and put his car in park. His eyes met mine. “More and more I find myself thinking about you. There’s something about you, Kate. I can’t get you out of my head.”

Stuttered breaths fell from my lips, one after another, leaving me dizzy. “I’ve, uh, been thinking about you more and more, too.” Truthfully, I’d been thinking about him less than I used to, but I’m sure that was just because I was super busy.

He leaned closer, and thoughts about the many girls he’d kissed swirled through my brain, pushing my stupid insecurity about not measuring up to the forefront. If I sucked at kissing, would he still go with me to prom?

So I gave him the quickest peck ever, more an ambush than a kiss, and reached for my door handle. “My mom’s watching out the window. But, uh, see you tomorrow? And thanks for the movie and the snacks and everything.”

His mouth hung open, and the way he blinked at me made me think no other girl had left him hanging like that.

I’m so, so stupid. Why couldn’t I just kiss him? I blew it. I blew it, and now I’m not going to get to wear that pretty dress I put on hold.

I slammed the car door and rushed up the sidewalk to my house. Once I was inside, I leaned against my door and bumped my head against it a couple times.

My dream bubble bounced out of reach, headed toward sharp rocks that’d pop it for sure.

I’d already put half down on that amazing formal gown, money I couldn’t get back. But I didn’t want it back. I wanted to wear the dress. I didn’t want to wear it on a pity date, either. Senior prom was my last big high school event, and after a pretty meh experience, I wanted one night of big, dramatic romance, even if it took fancy expensive dresses and decorations to facilitate it.

I spotted Mom’s keys hanging next to the door—her friend Nadine had picked her up earlier for some dinner party they were going to. I had permission to drive the car in emergencies, and this was definitely an emergency.

After a quick check to make sure Mick’s vehicle was gone, I climbed into the car and took off, hoping a drive would help me untangle my thoughts.

Earlier I’d let my overly analytical side get in my way. My anxiety had mixed in with the thoughts of failure I experienced yesterday, and I’d gotten all confused and turned around. Friends were the people you were most comfortable with, so of course being around Cooper was easier than being on a date with the guy I’d crushed on forever and dreamed of taking to prom.

I couldn’t let my dream go without a fight. I’d let too much pass me by. I’d put so much time into it, too. I thought about the missions Dad and I used to do. We’d never failed one, not even when the package with Mom’s funky Scooby Doo salt and pepper shakers got hung up in Springfield, Massachusetts. We’d hopped in the car and driven two hours each way through a rainstorm so she’d have them on her birthday, not the day after.