Page 60 of I Don't Need Your Protection

“You good?” Warner asks as he makes a turn. “You’re fidgeting.”

“Oh, um, yeah, I’m good. Just nervous about getting investors.”

He waves his hand. “You’ll see it’s a piece of cake. Powell provided us with a list of approved stores to visit. Like I told you, they do this every year and are expecting us.”

“Yeah, but we have to have a good presentation to convince them to invest in our company. I’m sure Powell told them to be tough with us and treat us as though we’re a real company.”

He winks. “Like I said, I have faith in you.”

“Thanks, but I think you’ll have to present our business to potential investors. All you have to do is flash that charming smile of yours and they’ll invest in our company faster than you can say, ‘Your Dream Plushie.’”

He waggles his brow. “You really think so?”

“Of course. Especially if we’re targeting young women.”

He seems happy with himself, like my complimenting him makes him feel good. I don’t know why it should when nearly the entire female population at the school is obsessed with him. Does that mean he likes me and wants me to like him back?

“Hey, do you want to go to the football game with me on Friday?” he asks.

“Really? I mean, sure. That sounds like fun.”

“Hudson is on the team, you know? I try to make it to every one of his games to show support.”

“You’re a good friend.”

My phone buzzes with a text from my friends’ group chat.

Sophie: Addie, are you and Warner spending special alone time together? Or is it all lame and business-like? Please tell me you guys ran off into an alleyway and snuck in some smooches.

She adds hearts and kiss emojis.

Raven: Addie literally left her room like fifteen minutesago.

Sophie: So? They could have driven off somewhere and kissed.

Carly: Would Warner do that, though? He’s more of a gentleman than many of the guys here.

Sophie: Hmm…good point. But wouldn’t it beso romantic?

Raven: Again with the obsession with romance?

Sophie: Hello! None of us have gotten even close to having a boyfriend. Now we can live vicariously through Addie.

Carly: Is that better than a book?

Sophie: Real life is never better than a book! Well, maybe sometimes…

Carly: Like when a hot rich guy shows interest in your best friend?

Sophie: Exactly!

Raven: Well, there’s no response from Addie. So maybe they did drive off somewhere and are kissing under the moonlight. Not that there’s moonlight yet, but you get my point.

Sophie: Ooh, you think so? I can’t wait until she gets back so we can hear all the details of their date!

Laughing and shaking my head, I type out a response.

Addie: You guys are ridiculous!