Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
I study Dex for the first time and notice his worn, holey jeans along with something familiar. “Nice hoodie.”
“Thanks.” He smirks. “It belongs to a guy who uses some sort of apricot shampoo.”
My eyes spring to his because he’s never mentioned my toiletry scents before.
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
He gives the lapel a quick sniff. “Obviously good because I haven’t washed this thing yet.”
“Ew,” I reply and move away an inch.
He laughs as he scoots close enough that our thighs touch.
“I didn’t know you were coming to the movie,” I say because I can’t help myself.
“Neither did I until the last minute.” Dex hitches a shoulder. “Ian mentioned how fun last month’s movie event was on the beach, so I tagged along to see what all the fuss is about.”
“Kael said the same thing about watching Jaws, except Angelica freaked about being so close to the water.”
“Uh-oh, I heard my name,” Kael says, tuning in to our conversation.
“I was just telling him about the last movie.”
“Hey.” Dex leans over to get his attention. “Would you be interested in coming to a student government meeting regarding the need for more gender-neutral restrooms?”
Kael’s eyes light up. “I would absolutely be willing to do that.”
“Thanks. Have there been any issues in your dorm?”
We live in one of the newer buildings, which already provides one, but Kael has confided he sometimes walks across campus to avoid the gendered restrooms for fear of someone complaining or making a fuss. The idea that you have to constantly consider where to take a piss is not a concern I’d ever thought about before. Kael has definitely opened my eyes, and I’m so glad Dex thought to invite him and also get to know him better.
“Not that I know of,” Kael replies, then looks at me. “Unless someone has complained to you?”
“Nope, not one person.” Everyone in our dorm seems super cool, no matter which restroom Kael decides to use, especially if one or the other is occupied.
Dex blows out a breath. “Okay, glad to hear it.”
The movie credits begin rolling, and everyone quiets down.
Dex thumps my knee. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to this thing?”
“Honestly?” I ask, and he nods. “I didn’t want you to think we can’t have other friends. But also, Kael didn’t invite Angelica, so I thought it was just going to be the two of us.”
“Damn, sorry. I shouldn’t have called you over—”
“Nah, it’s all good. Not like it was a date.”
“True,” Dex mutters, but there’s something in his eyes I can’t read.
When the main characters appear on the screen, I make sure not to miss the opening dialogue and try to remember if it’s the same as in the book.
Kael opens a bag of trail mix and offers me some.
As the scene changes, I whisper to Dex, “If I knew you were coming, I would’ve brought you some Milk Duds.”
“But there’s no popcorn to mix them with.” He mock-frowns. “Maybe this should’ve been our second date.”
I shake my head, the idea not sitting right with me. “Let’s just be me and you tonight.”
His grin reaches his eyes. “I like that.”
Soon enough, we’re lost in the movie, even though it’s not very good. Sort of campy and with thin character development compared to the book. Maybe I missed my calling as a movie critic.
After a while, I decide to lie back, bracing my hands behind my head to act as a cushion, but it makes my neck hurt. Kael has the same complaint when he follows suit. “We should’ve thought this through better.”
“Here.” Dex removes my hoodie, rolls it up, then urges me to prop my head on his knee. “All better.”
“Thanks.” I sneakily sniff at the material to catch a whiff of the so-called apricot scent, but I don’t smell anything.
“Sorry, Kael,” Dex says. “I only have one hoodie.”
Kael smiles as he adjusts to a more comfortable position on his side. “No worries.”
I end up being so comfortable that I nearly nod off. Especially when Dex starts running his fingers through my hair. But my stomach is all fluttery too, which only confuses the issue. This is nothing new for us, but after our date night, things seem to be blending together.
“Are you asleep?” Dex lightly shakes me. “Isn’t this supposed to be your perfect kind of movie?”
“The book was better.” I clear my froggy throat. “They cut out the quirky coworker who was a funny side character.”
Dex shares a look with Kael, and they burst out laughing.
I huff out a breath. “Now you’re just making fun of me.”
Dex trails his fingers across my back. “No, we think you’re adorable.”
I roll my eyes. “There’s that word again.”
“You sure you two shouldn’t date?” Milo asks. “You’ve already got a built-in back-scratcher.”
I don’t know who says no more loudly—Dex or me.