Page 159 of Never Not Friends

“Or you could just stop using it.”

“I can’t. That ten dollars has me in a chokehold.”

He laughs. “Okay, what else?”

“I learned a dance off of Instagram called the Double Dutch Bus. It took me four hours on a Saturday, but I regret nothing.”

“The Double Dutch Bus?”

“Correct.”

“Is this, like, a viral thing?”

“Semi-viral, but it was more about the fact that I thought the choreography was awesome.”

His lips purse as he thinks. “Have you suddenly taken up dance lessons that I don’t know about?”

“No. Still completely uncoordinated.”

He leans back in his chair. “Well, now I have to see this Double Dutch Bus dance. See what was so amazing about it that your uncoordinated self couldn’t resist learning it.”

I push away from the table and stand.

“Wait.” His eyes widen. “You’re actually going to show me?”

“No.” I laugh. “I’m grabbing a napkin.”

His face falls with disappointment.

“Maybe, if you’re lucky, I’ll show you someday.” I get some paper towels, and when I turn back around, he’s smiling at me again.

Not the flirty smile from earlier.

Just Vinny’s regular smile with his cute dimple in the crease.

And somehow, that one gets me more than any other smile he’s given me today.

My eyes narrow as I sit back down. “What?”

“Nothing.” He bites back his grin. “I just like having more info to add to my Emma file.”

“What about me? I need something to add to my Vinny file.”

“I don’t know if you can handle the truth about me.”

“Try me.”

He hesitates briefly before he begins. “I’ve been dabbling in some conspiracy theories.”

“Like we didn’t land on the moon?”

“Before you say anything, there are some compelling arguments against it.”

“You’re Conspira-Vinny?”

He eyes me suspiciously. “I can’t tell if you’re making fun of me or⁠—”

“No, no, no.” I point to my chest. “I’m Emma-nati!”