Page 110 of How To Tackle A Crush
At the thought of joining Alfie and Jack for dinner on Thursday.
At the thought of Jack’s hand at the back of my neck.
At the thought ofus.
Chloe watches me for another second, then mutters, “Yep. Definitely serious.”
I don’t even try to deny it.
Chapter 19
Jack
There is a veryserious negotiation happening on my bedroom floor.
“I don’t need three hoodies,” I say.
“You do,” Alfie replies immediately.
“I really don’t.”
“What if you get cold?”
“It’s Madrid. It’s warm.”
He considers this carefully.
“You might still get cold.”
I glance over at Ava. She is sitting cross-legged on my bed, watching this like it’s the most entertaining thing she’s seen all week. Barefoot. One of my pillows behind her back. Like she’s been in our life forever instead of three weeks.
“Are you going to help me here?” I ask.
She smiles. “I think Alfie is making some very strong arguments.”
“Ava agrees with me,” Alfie says.
“Traitor,” I mutter.
My suitcase is open on the bed. Shirts on one side. Training kit on the other. Alfie has appointed himself Official Helper, which mostly involves bringing me things I absolutely do not need.
And Ava is watching us. When we first met she would have been perched carefully on the edge of the bed.
Now she just reaches over and refolds one of my shirts.
“Corners,” she says gently to Alfie. “Otherwise it wrinkles.”
He watches closely, then carefully copies her.
Three weeks.
Three weeks of dinners that were supposed to be once a week turning into whenever she’s free. Of her knowing where the mugs are. Of Alfie askingis Ava cominglike it’s obvious she would.
Of me already missing her when she’s not here.
“You need this,” Alfie says, bringing me a book.
“A dinosaur encyclopaedia?”
