Page 17 of Don’t Love the Boy Next Door (Hotties Next Door #2)

Chapter Fifteen

Katie

Phoenix is out with her family on Saturday afternoon and I’m left alone in this huge house.

Mrs. Ellis offered me to join them, but I told them I had a lot of homework to do.

I appreciated the gesture, but it’s a family thing and I didn’t want to impose.

But now, I’m really starting to regret that decision.

I always have fun with Phoenix’s crazy, fun family.

I guess I have to learn to stop pushing people away.

I finish up my homework and browse social media. But that just makes me feel even lonelier because everyone’s posting how great and busy their lives are. How not lonely they are.

I lower my phone on the coffee table and open Netflix. Maybe I can find a good show to binge.

But after a few minutes, I shut it. I’m not in the mood for a show. I’m not in the mood for anything, really.

I lie back on the sofa with my arms folded and stare at the ceiling. This is pathetic. I’m bored on the weekend. I could try to reach out to some of my theater friends, but I’m not really that close to anyone. I’m sure they have plans, anyway.

So I just sit here with nothing to do and no one to talk to.

Except…

Before my brain knows what my hands are doing, I reach for my phone and click on Eric’s name. My thumbs move over the screen as I type a text.

Me: So Netflix is kind of sucking right now .

As soon as the text is out there in the world, I groan and smash the back of my head against the sofa. Why did I text him? We don’t have a text relationship. We don’t have any relationship, actually. Just castmates. Bandmates.

Maybe he won’t see the text?

I groan again when I see him typing.

Eric: Is it?

Me: I can’t find anything good.

Eric: Hmm, that’s a tough one.

Katie: Lol, so tough. Almost as tough as my math homework.

Eric: Right? I never thought of myself as dumb, but I felt like the stupidest person on the planet when I tried to do my homework.

Katie: I think they do that on purpose. Make us feel dumb so they could feel smart.

Eric: I think you’re on to something there. It’s a conspiracy.

I smile as I take in his words. I usually feel a little…nervous around him. But now I’m so relaxed and comfortable.

Eric: I’d offer to study with you, but that would be a bad idea. Even Ethan can’t stand studying with me. Says I’m really annoying.

Katie: So maybe we can do something else instead of studying.

I was so caught up in the texting that I wasn’t paying attention to what I wrote. Holy…did I just tell him that I want to hang out with him? What if he doesn’t want to? What if he has plans, or worse, what if he’ll feel obligated to say yes?

Why am I obsessing over this?

Eric: What did you have in mind?

My heart is beating so fast it makes my hands shake. I can barely hold my phone.

Katie: No, sorry. You probably have plans.

Eric: Not really. Ethan’s hanging out with his friends.

Katie: Phoenix has a family thing.

Eric: Ah, I see.

We’re both quiet.

Eric: I could use some help with the musical.

Katie: Want to run lines?

Eric: Sure. If you don’t mind?

Katie: Not at all. Come over whenever you want.

Eric: Hmm…let’s see. I’ll have to take into account the weekend traffic…yeah, I think I can be over in five minutes. Three if I run.

Katie: Lol. No rush.

I speed to the kitchen and check the cabinets for snacks. Thankfully, I stopped by the grocery after school yesterday. I place bowls of popcorn and potato chips on the coffee table along with drinks, my heart racing. Eric’s never been in my house before. Why does that make me so nervous?

At least I decided to get dressed this morning and am not wearing pajamas.

The doorbell rings exactly seven minutes later. After taking a few deep breaths to calm my heart, I quickly check myself in the mirror, find myself satisfactory, and open the door.

My heartrate spikes even more when I take him in. His hair is a little messy, like he didn’t bother to put too much work into it because it’s the weekend. He looks great, though. It’s the perfect kind of messy.

“Hey,” he says, flashing the script.

“Hi.” I widen the door. “I guess there was a bit of traffic?”

He gives me a confused look as he steps into the house. “Traffic?”

“You came here in seven minutes instead of five,” I say with a small laugh. Ugh, that was supposed to be a joke, but it came off totally lame. Why do I always say the most awkward things around him?

“Oh.” He laughs. “I had to change. That took up two minutes.”

I gesture for him to follow me to the living room. “Make yourself comfortable. My dad’s not home, by the way.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I mean, I just wanted you to know…in case, I don’t know.” My cheeks burn. “I just thought you should know.”

Ugh, again. I’m acting like I’m twelve years old and am alone for the first time with a guy.

Actually…it’s true. This is the first time I’m alone with a guy.

I don’t have much experience with boys, never been on a date.

Not that this is a date or anything. And the comment about my dad not being home?

I only told him so he should be aware and not feel uncomfortable.

I wasn’t…alluding to anything. Ugh, I should just disappear.

“Well, thanks for telling me,” he says as he lowers himself on the couch. “I don’t really see your dad around.”

I drop down next to him on the sofa, keeping some distance between us. “He works a lot. He’s a lawyer.”

“Ah, I see. So…” He glances around the room. “You’re home alone often?”

“Sometimes. It helps that Phoenix is over a lot. I think part of the reason she sleeps here is so I shouldn’t be alone.”

My cheeks flame again. I didn’t mean for that to slip.

“I mean, her house is a little crazy,” I quickly say. “Nine people live there. Can you imagine? I stayed over there a few times, and it’s a lot of fun, but also a madhouse.”

He smiles. “Must be fun to have so many siblings. I can see how annoying it can be, too, though.”

“Did you want to have any more siblings or were you okay just with Ethan? What’s it like to be a twin, anyway? Sorry, you probably get that question a lot.”

“Yeah,” he says with a laugh. “But it’s not so bad anymore because we don’t look so similar anymore. Some people don’t even realize we’re twins.”

“Really? Your faces are identical.”

He shrugs. “Everyone sees things differently. And to answer your question about how I feel about being a twin…the truth is, I can’t really answer that.

Because I don’t know what it’s like not to be a twin.

Just like you can’t fathom having a twin, I can’t fathom not having one. If that makes sense.”

“No, it does,” I assure him. “I never thought of that. Of course you don’t know what it’s like not having a twin.”

“Right.” He leans forward to grab a few chips. “Did you wish for siblings?”

“Of course. Sometimes I was so mad at my parents for not having more kids. I used to be very jealous of Phoenix when I was younger, but her family is kind of my family, too. Her mom feels like a second mom to me.”

“That’s great.”

I take some pretzels. The only sounds in the room are our chewing.

“So I brought the script just in case,” he says. “I think I know all my lines.”

“Okay, good. What scene do you want to start with?”

He chooses the scene where Belle explores the West Wing, Beast’s private area that is off-limits to her. We climb upstairs and pretend one of the upper rooms is the West Wing. I run my hand over an imaginary red rose floating in a glass case.

And then Eric pounces into the room, and I nearly shoot to the ceiling.

“Sorry,” he says as I clutch my speeding heart. “That was a bit too much, wasn’t it?”

“Maybe a bit. Try toning it down a little.”

“I knew I’d struggle with the scene. I don’t know how to play an angry scene. Either I’m too angry or not angry enough. I can never find a balance.” He laughs sheepishly. “I guess that’s because I try not to get angry in real life.”

There’s something in his eyes, a kind of story. Like he’s spent his whole life not getting upset with someone for disappointing him or something.

“Did you try practicing in front of the mirror?” I ask.

“Miss Diaz suggested I do that, but I found the whole thing a little weird, to be honest. One time Ethan even walked in and asked who I was talking to.” He laughs awkwardly.

I laugh, too. “I know what you mean. But it helps a lot.”

He nods. “Okay.”

“Let’s take it from the top.”

He’s definitely toned it down, but a bit too much.

I can see the frustration in his eyes, but he seems disappointed with himself.

Like he desperately wants to get this right because he doesn’t want to mess up.

Or maybe…it seems like something more. Like he wants to impress me or something.

But I doubt that’s true. Why would he want to impress me?

“You’re too much in your head,” I say as I walk over and take his fisted hand, trying to flatten it out. “And tense. You have to take a deep breath and just let go.”

His gaze dips to our hands.

I drop it and step away. “Want to try again?”

It takes a few more tries until we’re both satisfied with the scene. Eric’s really grown into the character. I used to sense a lot of anxiety and fear when we first started, but he’s gotten so much better. The fear and nerves are still there, but he’s more confident than he was a few weeks ago.

We take a break and settle down on the sofa.

“I think I’ll miss the musical when it’s over,” he admits as he takes a swig of his Coke.

“You can always try out for the next one.”

“No way. As much fun as I’m having, it’s way too stressful. I’d really like to focus on the band and see where I can take it.”

“You don’t have to worry. I know you’ll be a famous musician one day.”

“Thanks,” he says. “And you’ll be a famous Broadway star.”

“Well, I don’t know about that,” I say with a laugh. “But I definitely want a career in musical theater.”

“Your dream will come true. I know it.”

“Thanks.”

We’re quiet as we eat and drink.

“I heard about that thing with you and Harper in the cafeteria on Thursday. Everyone was talking about it.”

“I know it wasn’t cool to call her out like that, but she was really getting on my nerves. I mean, I know she cares about theater, but her whole attitude is just wrong.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” he says. “I’m glad someone put her in her place. I thought I was the only one who did. Everyone here seems to worship her.”

I roll my eyes. “She is the most popular and prettiest girl at school.”

His eyebrow rises. “Most popular, sure. But prettiest? Definitely not. There are many girls at school who are much prettier than her. Both inside and out.”

The look he gives me…it’s almost like he’s hinting to me. But nah, that’s probably all in my head. Wishful thinking.

I shift in my seat. “I don’t really want to talk about Harper.”

“Yeah, me either.”

We pick a few more scenes to practice, and the hours fly by so fast it’s already past lunchtime.

I was so absorbed in the world we created together that it takes a second for me to get back to reality.

I think Eric feels the same because he drops down on the couch with a heavy huff, like that took up way too much energy and emotions.

“You were really great,” I say as I settle down near him. I didn’t mean to sit so close. But I don’t want to move away. That’d be rude.

He sends me a grin. “Thanks. I think you bring out…like the fire in me.”

“What?”

He shifts a little like he didn’t mean for that to slip out.

“I guess I felt…I don’t know, like not confident.

Discouraged. In over my head. But acting opposite you makes me like…

confident.” He shakes his head, laughing.

“Sorry. I’m not making any sense. I don’t think Harper cared too much how I felt.

She focused on herself and how she portrayed the role or played out the scene, but she didn’t care if I was nervous or anxious. But you do. So thanks.”

That causes a warm feeling to enter my heart and spread to all parts of my body. “I can’t imagine someone else playing Beast. I’m glad Miss Diaz and I walked in on you in the music room. You’re the perfect Beast.”

He waves his hand. “Doubt that.”

“I mean it. You should give yourself some credit, Eric. It’s not easy being the lead in a big production like Beauty and the Beast . And Beast is very complex. The audience needs to sympathize with a character who kind of is the villain, at least in the beginning. And you do that really well.”

He lowers his eyes to his lap for a few seconds before slowly lifting them to me and giving me another smile. “Thanks. It means a lot coming from you.”

We both sit there quietly. I’m normally okay with the quiet, but it’s so awkward now. I feel like I should say something, but I have no idea what. If I don’t talk, will he leave? I don’t want him to.

“I have some good news,” he says as he reaches for his Coke and guzzles some down.

“What?”

“I didn’t tell Ethan or Cody yet because I want it to be a surprise and I don’t want to jinx it, but I need to tell someone.”

“The suspense is killing me,” I say with a laugh.

“Okay.” He twists on the couch until he faces me completely. “I’ve been in contact with a few people…long story short, someone reached out to me about The Rock E’s putting on a concert.”

Both my eyebrows fly up. “Our own concert?”

He’s beaming so hard his whole face lights up. “Yeah. But don’t tell anyone, not until it’s final. I just hope it works out, because this could be a real game changer for the band.”

“That’s so exciting!” I say. “It’ll be so much fun to put on our own concert.”

“I know. Fingers crossed that it comes through.”

“Fingers crossed.”