“Gran, it’s like literally playoffs right now. I don’t think he can just ‘get’ tickets.”
“Oh, is that why he hasn’t called me back?” she asks.
I sigh. “Yeah, he was home yesterday, but I think he’s gone this whole week. Try texting Tabby.”
“I will.”
“OK, well, you guys have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon,” I say as I wave to them. Mom moves the camera around so everyone can wave at me.
“Bye,” I add as I hang up. Grif and Evan burst out laughing.
“Oh my God. Your family is so fucking hilarious. Like seriously, they are clueless, well, except Nana who clearly has social media skills. It’s awesome,” Grif states as he walks back to his room.
I walk back into my room and flop down on my bed. I have no idea how I’m going to study when all I can think about is Megan and why she hasn’t texted me back yet. Damn it! Did I fuck this up beyond repair?
Megan
I pull down the top for the eightieth time since I put it on.
Kylie sighs. “Nope. Don’t wear that one. You are too nervous, and you keep fidgeting with it.”
“But it looks good,” I point out.
She shakes her head and hands me the second outfit.
I pull on the sweater and cute skirt. I don’t normally wear skirts but something about a skirt with pockets spoke to me. I twirl and a strange girly giggle escapes my lips. I clamp a hand over them. What the fuck is wrong with me?
Kylie rolls her eyes and laughs. “My job here is done. Go win back my baby brother.”
I turn to her. “You think I can?”
She laughs as she walks to my bedroom door. “I think you might be the only one who can.”
“Thanks, Kylie,” I murmur as I look back at myself in the mirror.
“Everyone thinks that Di is the big romantic in the family, but I might be a better matchmaker than she is,” Kylie says with a chuckle. “See you later, Megladon.” She shuts my door, leaving me to pull myself together.
“OK, you can do this!” I say to myself in my most authoritative voice.
“What? You aren’t going to put on a bandana and flex your arm, are you?” Stella asks from my doorway.
“Holy fuck!” I cry out as my hand flies to my chest.
She walks in and makes a lap around me. “Well, hot damn. You look amazing. I need your stylist in my life. Isn’t that Kylie Moore that just left, the blogger that writes for Vintage magazine?”
I nod. “That’d be her. She’s Clark’s sister.”
Stella nods and sits on my bed. “So, what are you going to say?”
I shrug and sit down next to her. “I have absolutely no idea.”
“How about…I’m sorry. I overreacted. You were right. I was wrong. I love you. The end.”
I laugh. “Uh, maybe like a pared-down version of that.”
“Oh, come on, just go for it. For once in your fucking life, just go for it. Win back the guy. Have your eighties movie moment.”
“What does that even mean? Should I like pull up in a red sports car and give him a cake on a dining room table?”
Stella stands up and stops before she walks out of my room. She turns and looks at me. “You don’t need a cake with an outfit like that. Just tell him the truth. That’s always a good place to start.”
I nod. “Yeah. I suppose it is.”
I grab my purse and head out of the house. It’s drizzling out and I decide to take my car. I practice my speech twenty times in my head as I drive the three blocks to his apartment. I just hope I’m not too late.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Clark
I stare at my computer screen, but my vision doesn’t focus on any of the words in front of me. I still haven’t heard from Megan and it’s been all day. I texted her again five minutes ago and said if she doesn’t at least respond with a middle-finger emoji, then I’m coming over there to confirm she isn’t dead. I’m half-joking. I’m two minutes away from calling Stella when there’s a knock at my door.
“Someone get that; I’m showering!” Grif’s voice rings out from the bathroom. I roll my eyes and get up, walking slowly to the door and wondering who the fuck is bothering us on a Sunday night.
I open the door and freeze. Megan. But not just Megan. Megan in a cute outfit, a skirt that shows her legs. Holy fuck, she has amazing legs. I mean, they were amazing in the dresses she’s worn to the bar and club, but damn, I clearly have not spent nearly enough time worshipping those legs.
My eyes slowly follow her skirt up toward her top which emphasizes her perfect breasts and then farther up to her face. I can’t read her. She’s not smiling, but she’s not frowning either.
“Hello,” I manage on a swallow.
“Can I come in?” she asks.
I nod and move to the side, allowing her entry.
She looks around. Evan is at a study group.
“Who is it?” Grif calls out as the shower turns off.
“Megan,” I state while keeping my eyes on her.
A moment later, Grif pops out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. “Hey, Megan. I was just heading out to the library. You two need anything?”
She shakes her head, and he scurries into his room.
I look back at her and clear my throat. “Can I get you something to drink?” I ask because I have no idea what else to say right now.
She shrugs. “Sure.”
I look in the fridge and pull out two beers. “Beer OK?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“It’s at least decent beer. I bought it. If Grif had bought it, you’d probably be turning it down right now.”
“What’s that about my awesome taste in beverages?” Grif asks as he walks into the kitchen.
Megan bites her lip to stop from grinning. “Oh, I think Clark here is jealous of your amazing beer tastes.”
“Typical,” Grif says with a grunt and a wink.
A laugh escapes Megan’s lips and I’m momentarily jealous that Grif got her to smile.
“Alrighty then, I’m off. You two kids have fun and don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do,” he says as he reaches for the front door.
“Great, we’ll do everything, then,” I retort with an eye roll.
Grif shuts the door leaving Megan and me standing in silence. I can hear a clock ticking and the motor of the refrigerator. We both look at each other, neither one of us speaking.
“So…” I start as I stare at her.
“Yeah…so…” she repeats as she looks up at me.
“I…listen, I’m sorry about last night. I overstepped. I just didn’t want you to get hurt. I was worried,” I explain.
She sighs and leans against my counter. “No, you were right. We didn’t know if anyone was in there and I was being too damn independent for my own good. I appreciate that you wanted to protect me, really I do.”
“But?” I ask.
She presses her lips together before she speaks. “No buts.”
I raise an eyebrow.
She laughs and puts up the hand that isn’t holding a beer. “OK. But you do realize that I can take care of myself, right?”