Page 20
Chapter 20
Julia
After the movie ends, Nathan announces that he’s going to stick around and play some video games. Josie and Chloe leave way faster than necessary, and it’s so obvious they want to give us some time alone because they are sleeping over at my house. Graham fiddles with my hand while we stand by the open door.
“Thanks for the cookies,” I say, trying to break the tension a bit. Although, maybe I should stop. It turns out that I do quite like the tension.
“Ha, anytime you want to come over and make cookies, you are more than welcome. My mom is going to be so excited for the leftover cookie dough.” Graham grabs my hand, pulling me a step closer.
“Oh yeah, about that. Guaranteed that every time Chloe got up to get a drink, she ate at least two cookies worth of dough. I’d be surprised if there is much left.”
Graham smiles, not at all bothered. “Well, what my mom doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“Maybe I can come over next week and we can make her some more?” I ask shyly, glancing up at him through my lashes. I’m not exactly asking to recreate the kiss, but I’m also not not asking. And Graham definitely knows what I am thinking.
“Yes.” He leans forward, giving me a gentle kiss. “So, are we to the level in this relationship that I can kiss you anytime I want?”
“Ew. No. Warn a guy,” Nathan says, stopping short at the corner of the living room. “I give you my blessing and all that stuff, but seriously, if you are going to just be making out with my sister all the time now, you need a new best friend. That’s so weird.”
Graham gives me one more quick kiss before turning me toward the door and smacking my butt, as if sending me on my way. “Better?” Graham asks cheekily. Nathan groans.
“I’m not sure I was sold on that one, but I think I could get behind some repeat kissing,” I joke.
“So, can I tell everyone that you’re my girlfriend now?” Graham asks, the hope shining in his eyes.
“I don’t know. You didn’t finish The List. Isn’t there a bet or something going on here?” I tease.
“I can do both, right? Tell everyone and their dog that I’m dating the prettiest and smartest girl ever, and finish The List by taking her on adorable rom-com level dates. Besides, you told me betting on being my girlfriend was gross. So that’s not relevant.”
I shake my head and laugh at him. “I’m not entirely ready for the label. But that doesn’t mean never, just not yet. Be patient, please?” I look down, hoping that he can’t read the worry on my face.
“I can do that. Tomorrow we are going to the haunted house, right? There will be people there. Will you hold my hand so I don’t get too scared?” He tangles his fingers with mine and pulls me close.
“Absolutely. Now go hang out with my brother so you don’t need to get a new best friend. This is way too convenient for me.” I lean up to kiss his cheek and give him one last hug. “See you tomorrow.”
I walk across the side yard to my house and see Chloe and Josie standing on my front step with matching Cheshire grins.
“Tonight is going to be so much fun,” Chloe says, her grin never leaving her lips.
“So, do we all get to talk about boys or only Julia?” Josie asks.
“Does that mean you have a boy to talk about?” I ask excitedly.
“Specifically, no, but generally, yes. You probably don’t realize it because you’ve been going to school with these guys forever, and you’re in love with Graham,” she says, pointing at us in turn. “But there are some seriously hot guys at Desert Valley.” Chloe narrows her eyes at Josie and I give her a curious look. Why would Chloe care if Josie was looking around?
“What about you, Chloe? Do you have anyone to discuss?” I ask, walking up the stairs to my room.
“Ha! Nice try. We are 100 percent focusing on you and Graham tonight. Tell us everything.” She punctuates the sentence by swinging my bedroom door open, quickly checking her phone before switching the screen off.
“Well, I’m not totally sure where to start because you two know stuff already, but I think I’ll start with Miss Mabel.”
“Miss Mabel?!” They shout in unison, clearly confused and maybe even irritated.
“Yeah, she said something to me the other day: ‘No one gets out alive, but don’t you want a great story to tell?’ I’ve been thinking about that a lot, and I decided that I want at least part of my story to include Graham.” I tell them about Pride and Prejudice (the movie and the book), spending time with him when he was sick, him telling me he wanted to kiss me, and about cookies and Twisters . I go into way more detail than I planned to about our first kiss, but I can’t help it. It was perfect, and I’ve been reliving it for the past few hours. I tell them about the flirting, the good night kisses, the plans for tomorrow, and him asking if he could call me his girlfriend.
“Oh, be still my beating heart!” Chloe clasps her hands over her heart and falls backward onto the bed. “I’m getting a toothache.”
“What?” Josie asks, a little confused.
“It’s from a 90s movie. She quotes them all the time,” I explain.
“I think I am a little in love with Graham. I mean, I always was a little. Who wouldn’t be when he has that face and that personality? But now I’m in love with him for you, J. This is the greatest origin story,” Chloe says.
“Origin story? Like for superheroes and villains?” I ask.
“No.” Chloe shakes her head.“ Well, yes, but also for the beginning of an epic story, like your love story with Graham. It’ll be forever. I know this. I’m never wrong.”
“You’re seventeen. How are you never wrong? How do you even have any experience in this?” Josie questions.
“Trust me, new girl. I am all about that romance. I might not have a lot of depth in my own experience, but I know things. Like, how I know that you and Nathan are going to have something good.”
“Me and Nate? I don’t think so. I mean, he’s hot and sweet, but I’m not sure that’s my thing.”
“Eww.” I gag.
“Deal with it, girlie.” Chloe shoves my shoulder. “Nathan just had to watch his best friend be draped all over his sister; you can hear us say he’s hot. Everyone thinks it. Really, everyone says it too. Now, back to you, Jo. Nathan. Let’s discuss.”
“I just want to go on record again—this is weird,” I interrupt.
“Noted and dismissed,” Chloe says. She turns to Josie, raising an eyebrow, indicating for her to talk.
“What do you want me to say? There’s nothing there. He texts me, we hang out, we have a few classes together, but there’s no spark. He’s funny though. I like hanging out with him. I thought there was something between you two.”
“I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a crush on him a few years ago, but now we have these weird frenemy vibes and not the good ones that lead to passionate kissing in the kitchen.” Chloe shrugs.
I put my head against the wall and plug my ears. I know I am being silly, but after having a delicious little make out of my own, I really need to not hear about my brother in that way. Unfortunately, my hands aren’t that effective at soundproofing.
“I drive him crazy. We are too different; we would fight all the time.”
“And then have passionate kisses in the kitchen.” Josie winks.
“Please. No more kissing talk,” I say, my hands still covering my ears.
“Unless it’s about you and Graham?” Josie teases.
“How about we talk about Halloween? I’ve barely seen you guys. What are you going as?” I ask.
“A witch,” Chloe and Josie respond at the same time. “Seriously? That’s awesome,” they continue in sync.
“What about you, J?” Chloe asks.
“I was going to go as a unicorn because I have that onesie, but maybe tomorrow we could go get stuff, and we could all be witches?”
“Yes. Let’s do it,” Chloe agrees. “Now, let’s find Buzzfeed quizzes online and ask Nathan to bring us the rest of the cookie dough.”
My phone chirps with a text and I glance down, biting my lip as my face flushes pink.
Graham
Good night, almost girlfriend. Have good dreams and if they are full of me, tell me everything tomorrow.
Also, do text messages count as love notes?
We hear the front door swing open, and Nathan yells, “Julia. I have more lollipops and another freaking note for you. And Chloe, go get your own cookie dough. I’m not your errand boy, just Julia’s apparently.”