“I mean, she didn’tknowbut she noticed. What he felt for her, even back then.”
“How do you know?” he asks, confusion pulling at his face.
“We texted a bit this week. I needed to talk about it to someone who wasn’t you or Evie, and she said she knew. She was there when I introduced them on Prue’s first day of college. She said she saw something in his eyes that day and that he never brought another girl on a date at the bar she worked at. She also said that Prue and I were probably the only clueless ones,” I grumble.
“I have no trouble believing that,” he chuckles. “So what do you think we should do? Oh, yeah, Evie and I are definitely in on this,” he adds quickly when he notices my puzzled face.
“I don’t know. I thought that maybe if they spend a lot of time together, they could—”
“Fuck, I have an idea!” Ikram says, jolting upright, eyes wide and awicked grin stretching his lips. “They all know we have a date tonight, right?” I nod. “Good. Hear me out…”
22
IMPLYING STUFF
Jack: I’m sorry for ditching you tonight.
Jack: Our date is going really well…
Nate: Good.
Nate: Just try to join them tomorrow. Nuri’sgonna be disappointed if she doesn’t get to see you.
Jack: Don’t worry. We’ll be there tomorrow. I’ve booked us a table in that restaurant with the private beach in Malibu.
Nate: Sounds great.
Jack: I know right?
Jack: You guys should bring your swimsuits just in case.
Nate: We’ll see.
Nate: You should stop texting and focus on your date.
Jack: I am focused on my date.
Jack: Like really focused.
Nate: TMI dude.
NATE
I swear this whole night will be the death of me.
Prue has been asked to dance six times. Six. Fucking. Times. And I’m struggling to hide my relief more and more every time she declines.
All three of us are sitting on comfy armchairs around a coffee table on the edge of the deck, just next to the beach. The bar is busy—as always—and we’re all sipping our drinks and chatting. And Nuri keeps smirking at me with mischief, while Prue is as clueless as ever.
Kill me now.
“So, Nate…” Nuri says, leaning forward, her elbows resting on her knees. Her eyes are narrowed and her lips tilted upward at the corner.She’s up to something, that minx. “How have you been?”
I keep my tone as neutral as possible. Maybe she doesn’t know anything. Maybe she’s just trying to give me shit from blowing her off back then.
“I’m good. Focused on work.”
“Oh, and what do you do now? You wanted to be a—”
