I’ll be crossing my fingers in the hope he’s awesome about the situation and that you two find a great common ground to walk together on.

In the meantime,

Stay Sexy. Stay Healthy.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Amber

“I can’t believe you’re going on a date!” Hannah practically burst my eardrum she squealed so loud. I jerked the cell away from my ear, shaking my rattled brain as I stood in front of my bed.

I’d hit publish on my latest post an hour ago, and I was behind on the non-date prep.

“It’s not a date,” I said once I felt safe enough to draw the cell back. “We’re friends. He’s totally on board with my whole no guys for at least a few years mission statement.”

“Dude,” she said. “That only makes him that much more adorable.”

I laughed. “Dean isn’t adorable. He’s—”

“Sexy af,” she cut me off.

“Hey!” I heard Jake chide in the background. “You’re sitting in my lap.”

Hannah shushed him before there was a good long smacking of lips from her end of the line. I rolled my eyes as I stared down the two outfits I had laid out.

“You’re sexier,” she said once the wet smacking sounds were finished. “Anyway,” she said, returning her focus to me. “Amber. This is huge.”

“It’s really not,” I said, trying to convince us both.

“It is. You haven’t even wanted to speak to another male since Douchenozzle…outside of Jake anyway. Friends or more or whatever in between. This. Is. Awesome.”

The butterflies swarmed my stomach, swirling and spinning until my heart raced.

“Thanks for the added pressure.” I groaned.

Is this as big of a deal as Hannah says?

She wasn’t wrong about me shying away from every single boy at Wilmont after Brandon…but then again, I’d never stopped talking to Dean. It was simply different between us now.

“Sorry not sorry,” she said over the line. “Look. Forget everything. Please. I know it’s hard, but let go of all the bad ish from the past and have fun tonight. For me?”

“Yes, Mother,” I teased despite the hollow feeling in my chest. I loved Hannah like a sister, but Jake was one of the good guys. She had no clue how hard it was to let go of things.

“Someone say mother?” Mom asked, rapping her knuckles on my opened door.

“Got to go,” I said to Hannah.

“Text me all the details! Before, after, and during!” she yelled.

I chuckled. “Yeah, yeah.” I ended the call, spinning on my bare feet toward my mom.

“Help,” I said, and she strode into the room, her eyes already on the outfits on my bed.

“What’s the occasion?”

“Kept from me.”

She grinned. “A surprise? Who’s the guy pulling out the stops?”

“Dean.”

“Oh, the second best hacker at Wilmont?”