Trey scoffed. “Between you and me, Brayden’s probably the last guy in the world you have to worry about. I think he’s as clueless as you are. If I didn’t care about your virtue so much, I’d actually probably give him a lecture on how to try something.”

“Well, thanks for keeping my best interests at heart,” I said dryly. “I always wanted a brother to watch out for me.”

He studied me curiously. “Don’t you have, like, three brothers?”

Oh no.

“Er, I meant figuratively.” I tried not to panic. I rarely slipped up on our background story. Eddie, Adrian, and Keith had all been passed off as my brothers at some point. “None of them are really that concerned about my dating life. What I’m concerned about, though, is getting into air conditioning.” I opened my car door, and a wave of heat rolled out. “I’ll talk to you tonight and help you with the lab.”

Trey nodded, looking like he wanted to get back inside as well. “And I’ll help you if you have any more questions about dating.”

I hoped my scathing look told him my opinion on that, but once he was gone and I was blasting the car’s air conditioning, my arrogance faded. Anxiety took its place. The question I’d asked myself earlier repeated in my head.

How on earth was I going to get through this date alive?

CHAPTER 5

WORD OF MY UPCOMING DATE spread fast.

I could only presume Trey had told Kristin and Julia, who had in turn told Jill and Eddie and God only knew who else…. So, I shouldn’t have been surprised when I got a call from Adrian just after dinner. He started talking before I could even say hello.

“Really, Sage? A date?”

I sighed. “Yes, Adrian. A date.”

“A real date. Not, like, doing homework together,” he added. “I mean like where you go out to a movie or something. And a movie that’s not part of a school assignment. Or about something boring.”

“A real date.” I figured I wouldn’t give him the specifics on the Shakespeare play.

“What’s the lucky guy’s name?”

“Brayden.”

There was a pause. “Brayden? That’s his real name?”

“Why are you asking if everything’s real? You think I’d make any of this up?”

“No, no,” Adrian assured me. “That’s what’s so unbelievable about it. Is he cute?”

I glanced at the clock. It was time for me to meet my study group. “Gee, maybe I should just send you a picture to review?”

“Yes, please. And a full background check and life history.”

“I have to go. Why do you care so much anyway?” I finally asked in exasperation.

His answer took a long time, which was uncharacteristic. Adrian was usually ready with a dozen witty quips. Maybe he couldn’t decide which one to use. When he finally responded, it was in that usual sarcastic way of his—though the levity sounded a little forced. “Because it’s one of those things I never expected to see in my lifetime,” he told me. “Like a comet. Or world peace. I’m just used to you being single.”