12 Dates of Christmas

Chapter 22 - Jennie

"Are you guys going to tell me what you found?" I ask Lucas and Milo as we make it to our table.

Lucas shakes his head. "Sorry, babe. We don't give away information."

I roll my eyes. "Right, well. Did you find anything incriminating?"

Milo shrugs. "I guess you'll have to find out."

Elena takes a seat beside me and Destiny joins her.

"So, Jennie," Destiny says. "When does your date pick you up?"

I shrug, bringing a spoon of broccoli and cheese soup to my mouth. "He said he'd pick me up around seven."

"You don't want to go?" Jake asks, suddenly interested.

I force a smile for Elena, who was giving me a sheepish look. "I do. I mean, I know they've all been absolutely terrible dates so far, but it gets better, right?"

Destiny and Elena nod vigorously while the guys just sat there staring at their food.

"What?" I ask.

Jake clears his throat. "Don't take this the wrong way, Jennie. But why do you need a date? You've been doing fine without one. Why are you suddenly interested in dating?"

This is so not where I thought this conversation was going. "I just think there's more to life than sitting on the couch watching Chic flicks."

"I couldn't agree more," Lucas says with an eye roll. "Because those things suck. But you don't need a guy to get you off the couch."

I didn't feel like telling them again that if I don't get a date my mother would probably find one for me. They all know how my mother is.

"Jennie?" a voice says from behind me.

I can't help but smile as he walks over to our table.

"Hey," Eli says to us.

The guys once again just sit there while me and the girls smile widely. "Hi," I say back.

He smiles at me. "Are we just going to keep running into each other? I literally saw you three days ago."

His smile still makes my heart melt inside. "I just think you're following me around," I say, giving him a smirk.

Eli rolls his eyes. "I see your ego hasn't changed one bit."

I laugh quietly. "Yeah, well, don't you have to order food or something?"

He nods, placing a kiss on my cheek. "It was great talking to you, Jen. I'll text you later?"

I nod. "Okay. You still have my number."

"Wouldn't have lost it for the world." He bids us goodbye before going to stand in line.

Destiny grins at me. "Oh my gosh, he's so hot. "

"And he totally wants you back," Elena adds. "You should ask him out."

I scrunch up my nose. "He just got back."

"And?" the girls ask simultaneously.

"He's hot and he wants you back."

I shrug. "This is only the second time I've seen him. I probably won't see him next time."

Milo takes one of his chips before sighing. "You seem to be saying that every time you see him."

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"Don't you want to keep playing?" Milo asks

I shake my head. "I have to get ready for my date."