“Thanks for the tacos,” she said, ignoring my question and grabbing her bag from the other side of the booth. She threw it over her shoulder. “Friend.” She spun around, a flurry of black and pink and light as she left in a hurry.

I sat motionless and smiling at her back.

“Guess we know who the other member of Code Club is now,” Tessa said, sinking into the seat where Amber had just been.

I straightened, switching my goofy grin to something much sharper. “Your point being?” I asked. I’d already told Sean; there wasn’t really any mystery anymore.

“You’re in so much trouble.”

I furrowed my brow. “What are you talking about?”

She motioned to me with an opened palm. “If you could see yourself right now, you’d understand. It’s the same way you were the other day after the club.”

“No idea what you’re talking about.”

But I did. I could feel it. Sense it in the way my heart raced. The way I wanted to keep smiling but choked down the action.

“The brother who swears up and down that relationships are nothing but an unnecessary distraction. The brother who gives me shit constantly for having a boyfriend. Just had a date.”

“I did not,” I said. “We’re friends.”

Tessa just looked at me, unbelieving.

“We are.” I shrugged. “She’s cool. I can be happy about that without wanting to marry her.”

Tessa laughed. “I never said anything about marrying the girl.” She laughed. “But it’s great to know where your head is at.”

I smacked my palms on the table, shoving out of the booth. “Good talk, sis.”

She followed me all the way to the exit, still wearing that grin.

I paused with my hand on the door. “Colt picking you up or do you want a ride?” It didn’t matter how much she was currently annoying me, I would always ask if she needed me.

“Colt,” she said. “He texted a few minutes ago. Already on his way.”

I debated waiting until he showed up, but Tessa was already shoving me out the door.

“I’ve got to do closing duties in a few anyway,” she said. “Go home. Sleep. Dream about taking a hacker girl to prom.”

I flipped her off as I walked out the door, not sure if I was angrier at her being totally off-point or voicing thoughts I didn’t dare acknowledge.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Amber

After a quick check-in with Mom and Dad, I raced up the stairs and cracked open my laptop.

Newly fueled with tacos and green tea, I was ready to see if I’d gotten any questions on the site that Sabrina had plastered all over social media.

I tried not to let myself hope, but even if I had one question, it would be a success.