“Actually, I have a water bottle in my bag,” Dean says, rummaging through the pack next to him on the booth. “You guys can pour some in under the table and drink out of this. I’ve done it a million times.”

“You’re the absolute best,” Danielle says. “Keely, hold on to this guy. Seriously.” She reaches over toward the wine bottle and, looking around to make sure no one is watching, pulls it quickly under the table. A few moments later, she brings the bottle back up, placing it innocently on the tablecloth. Just as her hands leave the bottle, our waitress walks over, and Danielle snaps her hand back, bringing it up to examine her fingernails.

“Hey, two more?” She hands menus to Andrew and Danielle.

“No,” I say, “they’re sitting at a different—”

“Yeah, we can just sit here,” Andrew says, taking the menu. “Thanks.”

“Great!” the waitress says. “You guys drinking?”

“Not tonight.” Danielle smiles sweetly. “Just water.”

They order some food, and then when the waitress is gone, Danielle takes a long swig from the water bottle and hands it over to Andrew. He clinks it against her knuckles in a cheers before he drinks, and she smiles. I feel an uncomfortable swoop in my stomach and set down my glass, worried I’m going to drink too much before the food comes.

There’s a quick buzzing in my purse, and I pull out my phone to see a text from Danielle.

James Dean on a real date? Nice job. Didn’t think you had it in you

I look up to see her reaching across the checkered tablecloth toward Andrew. A few unruly strands of honey-blond hair have fallen forward over his brow, and she lightly brushes them back into place. I have a quick flash of running my hands through that same hair last night, and flush with heat. Danielle whispers something close to him, and he laughs.

It feels like she’s flirting with him just to torture me, just to throw everything in my face. But she doesn’t know anything about what happened. She doesn’t know about the Plan. I’m the one being ridiculous. I’m sitting across the booth from James Dean; I shouldn’t care about hands in Andrew’s hair—hers or mine.

I narrow my eyes and send her a text back.

Yup, definitely have it in me

Then I text Andrew.

What are you doing?? You don’t even like her

“So, is this the first time you guys have ever been on a double date together?” Danielle asks, motioning to Andrew and me. “Actually, forget that. I don’t want to know about this guy’s dating history.” She slaps him playfully on the arm. “Sophie’s already told me too much.”

“You couldn’t handle it,” he says to her.

“Whatever, Reed. I can handle anything.”

“Is that a challenge?” he asks.