Chapter Nineteen
Nina
“I helped out your cousin, and I’m taking my due in french fries.”
“I like you.” West pulled his fries closer like he was defending his territory. “But chili-cheese fries are my favorite food on the planet.”
“Fine.” I laughed. “I’ll order my own.”
“I’ll get them,” Charlie said. “Since apparently, I’m going to talk to Clarissa, anyway.”
“Good for you.” I did a small happy dance in my seat.
West looked at me like I was insane.
“What? I helped and I’m happy about it.”
“No. You stuck your nose in where it didn’t belong,” West said. “And it just happened to work out. What if she didn’t like him?”
“But she did.” I pretended to reach for one of his fries.
He sighed and pushed the container toward me. “You’re lucky I like you.”
Matt pointed at Lisa. “You can sit, if you want to.”
“I was waiting to see how Nina’s meddling turned out before I committed to taking a seat. We’ve had to make some quick exits in the past.”
“Imagine my surprise,” West said.
“That was only one time,” I said. “And I had no idea the guy was dating two girls.”
Charlie came back with a container of chili-cheese fries and a smile on his face.
“Did she give you her number?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
Lisa sat down between Matt and me and reached for one of the fries. “I call dibs on the fries without chili.”
“They’re chili-cheese fries,” Matt said. “That’s the whole point.”
Lisa shrugged. “I prefer the cheese.”
“So you could order cheese fries,” Matt said.
“Allow me to explain,” I said. “If we share fries, then we can pretend we’re eating semi-healthy because we didn’t scarf down a whole order of fries by ourselves. It’s a girl thing.”
“Shouldn’t you be drinking diet soda while you eat the fries?” Matt said. “My sister thinks that cancels out the calories.”
“Makes sense, but no, because diet soda is gross,” I said. “If I’m going to drink the chemicals, I’d rather have the flavor, too.”
We ate our fries and made small talk until the theme song for Harry Potter blasted through the speakers and the television flickered to life. Someone dimmed the lights. “Time to relocate for a better view.”
I tossed my empty fries container. Lisa and I headed back over to the table we’d staked out with our coats.
“Matt is cute,” Lisa said. “And he’s not nearly as moody as West.”
“I think he just likes giving me crap. If this were a novel, the love of a good woman would save West and turn him into a happier person”
“I’m pretty sure that only happens in books,” Lisa said. “In real life, if you’re unhappy, you need to work to change yourself. Having someone who cares about you helps, but it’s not a magic anti-jerk pill.”
“That sounded profound until the anti-jerk-pill part.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw West and his friends approaching. They joined us at our table. West sat next to me.
“I’m sorry. Are you lost?” I asked. He’d given me trouble, so I felt the need to return the favor.
“Clarissa gets off work in half an hour, and she wants to watch the movie with Charlie, which apparently means Matt and I are also watching Harry Potter.”
I leaned over and whispered. “Have you figured out what you’re wearing to the Valentine’s Dance?”
“No. Because we’re not going,” he said.
I elbowed him in the ribs. “Yes we are.”
“I’m trying to watch the movie,” West said. “Please keep your delusional thoughts to yourself.”
I inched my chair closer so my arm was touching his. He looked at me, like he was wondering what I was up to. I batted my eyelashes at him and grinned. He rolled his eyes, but then he put his arm around my shoulders.
Score one for the bookworms of the world. I leaned into him, enjoying the warmth. I ignored reality and watched the movie. It wasn’t long until Clarissa came and joined Charlie at the table. They made a cute couple. The setup could have been awkward for Matt and Lisa, but neither of them seemed bothered by the situation. I envied Lisa’s laid-back attitude about life. Where I liked to argue and wear people down, she tended to flow along with the tide. Nothing really bothered her. Matt seemed fairly relaxed. Maybe they’d make a good couple.
They say opposites attract. West and I were certainly opposites. I liked my life full of dog fur and stacks of books. He just wanted to cut down on things that could collect dust. I still couldn’t believe his attitude toward the Hilmer Library. Maybe I could do something to change his mind.
We watched the movie in silence, but I was hyperaware of his arm around my shoulders and the warmth of his touch. I wanted to turn my face to his to see if he would kiss me.
It had been a few days since he’d done anything but make small talk. The rational part of my brain reminded me that even though West may be a hottie and he might smell good, that didn’t mean he was the guy for me. Somewhere out there, there was probably a guy who owned a massive library, just waiting for me to show up so we could talk books. If I was smart, I’d play it cool with West and be on the lookout for a guy who dreamed of building a house with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
Rather than think big thoughts, I let myself get lost in the magic of Hogwarts. When the movie wrapped up, West moved his arm from around my shoulders. Now what? Why did that seem to be the daily question around him?
He moved his chair away from mine and took a drink of his soda. “Nothing like a wild and crazy Saturday night of watching Harry Potter.”
“Charlie and Clarissa seem to be hitting it off,” I said.
Lisa scooted closer. “Matt asked if I’d give him a ride home so he doesn’t have to butt in on his brother’s date. I figured since West was here, he could give you a ride.”
“What do you think?” I asked him, not wanting to presume anything and jinx the situation.
“It’s not far,” he said. “You could walk.”