Page 81 of End Game

If this dude minds being called a white boy, he doesn’t show it.

“Fine,” Diana sighs, sounding less than thrilled. “Coffee. Tuesday.”

Trey’s grin makes my stomach ache. “Great. It’s a date.”

Chapter 24

Diana

I can’t concentrate on my abnormal psychology professor’s lecture. All I can think about is the fact that in a few short minutes, Trey and I will be going on another date. And why? I’m not sure. It’s clearly not love at first sight. Maybe he had a better time than I did, but that’s not saying much.

A shadow falls over my desk. It’s Trey, wearing another stupid flannel. “You ready for this?”

Well, I was, but I didn’t exactly want the rest of the class to know we were going out. Now they’re going to gossip about it. I hate being the center of attention, especially about something that is nobody’s fucking business.

“Sure.” I give Trey a fake smile. He isn’t perceptive enough to know that it’s fake, which kind of irritates me. Barrett knows my fake smile from my real smile. He knows when I’m being sarcastic and self-deprecating or actually looking for pity.

The walk to the nearest coffee shop is silent. Neither of us are talking, and I’m not in a hurry to start a conversation.

When we reach the Freudian Sip, Trey opens the door and ushers me inside. Okay, he gets points for that. We order our drinks and each pay for our own. I’m not trying to take anything from him, especially not something that would lead him to believe there’s going to be a third chance for him to shoot his shot.

“I didn’t realize your dad is Black,” he says.

I give him a tight smile. “Yep.”

“So you’re half-Black.”

“Yeah.”

“And half…”

“Chinese.”

“Oh. That’s cool.”

“Yep.”

“I’ve never known anyone that was half-Chinese,” he says.

“Well, now you’ve met me. Hi. I’m not a circus animal.”

He flushes. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I’m sure.”

“Where is your family from?”

“Amherst.”

“Cool. Cool. I’m from Shelburne.” He names a town about half an hour northwest of where I grew up.

“Practically neighbors, then.”

“Yeah. We might have gone to some of the same parties,” he says.

“I doubt it. I spent a lot of time in Winchester.”

“Oh? That’s kind of out of the way.”