Page 54 of Meet Cute Reboot
“Why not? You love earning money.”
“The love of money is the root of all evil.”
“Nice. Sitting next to Granny at church for two years rubbed off on you. You actually listened to Pastor Ellis.”
“How could I not? He screams.”
“He doesn’t scream. That’s just his preaching style.”
“Trying to scare me straight, I guess.”
She swipes up on her phone and taps her Instagram icon. “Scoot closer.”
We’re almost touching already, but I’m happy to oblige. I close the gap between us and reach my arm around her, allowing our bodies to touch. A second later, we’re live, which means I don’t have time to calm my excitement before the internet is staring at me. I’m basically hugging Cassie, and she hasn’t shoved me away.
We stare silently at the phone for a moment. I open my mouth to break the awkwardness, but Cassie jumps in first.
“Hey everyone. It’s date number three.” She holds up three fingers. “Luke is already drooling at the waitress, so I’m not sure how this is going to go.”
I gape at Cassie. “I am not.” I lean closer to her phone. “I’m not.”
“Hey SugarSquirrel. Good to have you back.”
I watch hearts float up Cassie’s phone screen while the audience count continues to grow. Don’t people have anything better to do on a Thursday night than live vicariously through me and Cassie’s third date? More like two hundred and third date, or more. But this is Cassie’s gig. I’ll keep playing along if it means I get to scoot in close and wrap my arm around her.
Sonja comes back. I have to duck so her boobs don’t hit me. Kidding.
I order my crab legs and fried green tomatoes. Cassie orders the shrimp three ways.
I can see why Luke was drooling, Hammer_Time says.
“I was not drooling,” I repeat into the camera.
Cassie swipes at me and laughs. “I was just joking. Luke is cool.”
My muscles relax. I settle against the booth and scan the comments as they pass.
Thanks for taking us along.
So great to see you two together again.
Bring back drunk mom.
Grabbing my popcorn. Can’t wait for the encore.
“Encore?” Cassie asks.
The kissing, making out...
I can tell Cassie wants to say something, but she holds back. She has to keep up the charade that we’re still feeling each other out, still trying to decide if we’re soulmate material. That means, at least for the Instagram audience, she can’t nix the possibility of an “encore.”
“How do you know we haven’t already kissed?” Cassie says.
An unexpected play. A little truthfulness tucked in with the lies. I like it.
OMG. Have you kissed???
Why didn’t you tell us?