Page 194 of Becoming Us

CHAPTER

TWENTY-EIGHT

BEFORE

Ididn’t know how to quit this fantasy. Some days, it felt like the only thing keeping me afloat. Even though I knew I was bad for him, I couldn’t stop reaching out—wanting more. But it was fine. We could be friends. And that was nice. Enough.

More than you have any right to ask for, so be fucking grateful.

Atty wasn’t the type to make the first move, so even if he was interested in me, he was likely never going to do anything about it. And that was fine by me. I just had to work on my self-restraint—which I was famouslynotknown for—and not hit on him.

Like when I asked him to a party at my house and he actually showed up, and I couldn’t keep my hands off him. That had not been a great show of said self-restraint. But I pulled through, kissed someone else, and kept my distance.

So imagine my surprise when I was half listening to whatever Holly was rambling about, scrolling through my phone, and a text came through.

Atty Love-of-My-Life King

are you doing anything today?

I blinked at the screen. Twice.

Sure, we’d been texting—mostly volleyball talk and whatever else I could coax out of him. But never plans. Never this.

I rolled onto my back, staring.

“Are you even listening to me?” Holly called from her closet, still digging through clothes.

“No.”

A balled-up T-shirt hit me in the face. “Noah, stop being a prick and?—”

“I’m kidding, I was listening. I heard everything you said about class and having to get your designs in, and about the annoying half-witch TA who wanted to screw with you but is also kinda hot. I got all of that. But, Hols—Atticus King just asked me what I’m doing today.” I shoved the screen in her face.

Her lips twitched. “Ugh, okay.” She tried to look serious, then rolled her eyes and dropped beside me. “You get a pass because he’s extra fine and makes you smile like a teenager. Show me.”

Me

nothing set in stone

why?

“That’s fine, right? Noncommittal?”

“Totally,” she deadpanned. “You don’t sound desperate at all.”

I poked her in the ribs. She laughed and pushed off the bed.

Atty Love-of-My-Life King

I don’t know

maybe we could do something

Holy shit.

“Is he asking me out? Is this him asking me out? Is this happening?” I got up and thrust my phone at her.

She glanced down, then grinned. “Looks like it.”