[2022 Wattys Winner] When love cynic Madison Watson starts university, she vows to follow three simple rules.
One: Work out at least twice a week.
Two: Get an internship.
Three: Stay away from men.
But after a chance encounter with th...
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"What did she say?" I mumbled to Noah, shuffling closer to my phone.
"How many girls have you dated?" he repeated.
I screwed up my face, lost in thought while I mulled over how to weave the truth into an appealing response. "Huh. Okay." I cupped my hand around the phone, directing my hushed voice into the speaker. "Say ... um. Say, you went on some dates in high school—"
"I went on a couple of dates in high school," Dex repeated on the other end of the line.
"A couple?" his interrogator—Holly's best friend—queried. "Why nothing serious?"
Noah rocked onto his heels, Dex's bed shifting under his weight. He lowered his face to the phone as I'd done. "Say that you haven't met the right girl yet. That you don't just want to date for the sake of it, you know? You're waiting for someone special."
We heard Dex adjust his AirPods before repeating, "I haven't met the right girl yet, I guess..."
Noah settled back onto the bed while Dex paraphrased his answer, reaching for the popcorn, the plastic rustling loudly as he gathered the kernels. I glared at him. He mouthed a sorry, slowing his movements, then extended me a handful.
I took it. Obviously.
The idea to use our phones and AirPods in lieu of a walkie-talkie had been mine. Naturally. Dex had been in an absolute state about going on a group date with Holly and her friend when I'd arrived in his room with James, adamant that he was going to be interrogated, then judged. Deep down, I knew he was right. My girlfriends and I had all done the same thing once upon a time—cornered each other's new flings and questioned their intentions with our girl.
If only one of my friends had questioned Eli as intensely as Holly's friend was questioning Dex.
"So, you think Holly's special?" Mila prodded, her voice low and flecked with a hint of protectiveness. Even I had to admit that she was a tough nut to crack.
I liked her.
Dex hesitated before answering, and it took us a second to realize that he was waiting for usto tell him what to say.
"I think you've got that one, buddy," James uttered from Dex's gaming chair, his lips curving into a fond smile. He was silhouetted against the closed drapes, the white fabric only making his eyes look all the more blue.
Cobalt? I wondered. Or more of an azure?
"Right," Dex sputtered. We all winced. "I mean ... uh, yeah. Of course I do—"
"Ease up, Mila!" Holly's laugh wafted through the speaker. It was such a sweet sound, like warm syrup on top of chocolate pancakes. "Dex, wou... you e...use us fo... a mo..."
Noah, James, and I sprung forward in unison, hovering over the phone while the sound continued to cut in and out.
"What's happening?" Noah shout-whispered, waving his hands in the air frantically as if that would bring the situation back under control.
