Page 32 of See You in Your Dreams

If my cheeks weren’t red enough before, they definitely are now.

Cat and Robbie laugh at my reaction, and even Alexis cracks a smile before she can smother it beneath a stern look directed at Cat. “Stop teasing him.” Her lips twitch. “You’ll make him run away from us again.”

“I wasn’t running away!” I play with the mushy green pile on my tray that I think is supposed to be peas.

“If you like it than you should’ve put a ring on it,” Robbie announces.

My fork skitters on my tray, splashing green mush as I look up at him sharply. “What?”

Robbie shrugs. “The early bird gets the worm.”

Cat grins wickedly, nudging Robbie with her shoulder. “Hey, some of us are trying to eat here. Let’s not start talking about Dylan’s worm.”

“Cat!” Alexis shakes her head. “You have a dirty mind.”

Cat pops a grape from an open baggie into her mouth. “Fair. But that doesn’t make what Robbie said any less true.” She eyes me. “Have you asked him out yet? Bad enough you’ve been avoiding us at lunch. I swear, if you actually have a secret boyfriend, I’ll—”

“I already told you, it’s not like that!” I stab my meatloaf surprise a bit too aggressively, fighting not to gag as I choke the mystery meat down. “Ash is my friend, nothing more.”

Cat scrutinizes me before shrugging and eating another grape. “Good. If you ask me, the guy’s a grade-A asshole. He pretty much refused totalkto us, let alone consider eating with us lesser mortals. You deserve better.”

“He’s not an asshole. He’s just had a rough life.”Even if I still don’t know how or why.“It left him a very private person. But once you get past his outer shell and all the walls he puts up, he’s incredible!”

Cat smirks at me “Incredible, huh? That’s a pretty ringing endorsement for yourfriend.”

“Lay off him, Cat,” Alexis sighs. “If he doesn’t want to talk about it, he doesn’t have to.” She gives me a warm smile. “Just know that we’re here whenever you do.”

“Like flies feasting on a rotting carcass,” Robbie agrees, straight-faced.

Alexis blanches. “Ugh, thanks for that lovely image.” She glances down at her half-eaten turkey sandwich and shudders, setting it aside.

Glancing between the three of them, I grin fondly. “I missed you guys. And I reallyamsorry for being so distant lately. I promise I’ll do better. Even if I’m still…distracted.”

An image of that distraction’s face, with his long bangs, stern eyes, and narrow jaw flits before my eyes, and my stomach somersaults. No matter how much I don’t want to admit it, Cat’s right—I’ve got it bad.

“Let’s say, hypothetically, I was…” I swallow. “Interested in being more than friends with Ash. What should I do?”

Cat leans forward. “Hypothetically? Stop chickening out and tell him how you feel.”

I blanch. “You’ve met the guy. He’s not exactly open with his emotions.” I glance down, unease rippling through me. “Besides, we’ve only just started getting close. I don’t want to scare him off. I have no idea if he’s interested. Hell, I don’t even know if he’s into guys!”

Cat cocks her brow. “Well, here’s a crazy thought—you couldask.”

“Cat’s right,” Alexis chimes in. “Honesty is always the best policy. Open communication is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship.”

“Like Jenga,” Robbie says with a nod.

Alexis’ expression falters. “Er, um…right.”

I bury my face in my hands. “That’s all great in theory. But I mean, if he was, um,interestedtoo, wouldn’t he have said something by now?”

“Setting aside the blatant hypocrisy of placing all the burden of speaking up onhisshoulders,” Cat says, rolling her eyes, “have you given him any reason to?”

I blink. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,does he knowyou’regay?” Cat presses.

I take a moment to consider our past conversations. “Yes. No. Maybe?” The topic hasn’t explicitly come up, at least not that I can remember. And while it’s not exactly a state secret, I don’t go around advertising it either. It’s possible Ash has picked up on my sexuality or heard others mention it. But given how little time he spends interacting with anyone but me…