about it.”
“My hair color is of no consequence when it comes to collegiate admittance,” Celeste stated. “I shall wait outside.”
“I don’t think Justin is taking you out for collegiate—” Roger started.
“Good night!” Erin cut him off, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him from the room. “Have fun!”
“But then we can’t see when… Oh, fine… Have fun!” he called when he was out of sight.
It was Celeste’s understanding that girls of her age were to be filled with the utmost annoyance and disdain for their parents. Her parents’ behavior tonight was indeed making her understand why. Their frenetic energy was not helpful right now because—as much as she was not overtly making a big deal out of this situation—she felt very uncomfortable and edgy. She was not in the habit of dining out socially, especially on a busy Friday night, and certainly not with someone her own age. And especially not with a boy.
Well, it didn’t matter that he was male, she reasoned. College liaisons might as well be genderless. Although Justin probably wouldn’t appreciate that thought. He likely worked at achieving his mesmerizing masculine look, what with the fashionably swept hair, appealing physique, shirts that gripped his biceps quite wonderfully without being too tight or showy, but just naturally draped in such a way that…. Celeste shook her head and ordered herself to knock it off. The hair dye must have seeped into her brain and was causing neurons to misfire or something.
Headlights pulled up to the house, and Celeste flew out the front door before her parents could swoop in again. This was essentially a business dinner, she reminded herself., and she would treat it as such.
Justin was out of the car and standing by the passenger door when she reached the end of the walkway.
“Look at you, blondie.” Justin opened the door, but kept his eyes on her. “It’s hardly pink at all. I didn’t know you were blonde. I thought maybe a brunette. Dark brown. Like, a chestnut color. But now that I see the blond, I can’t imagine anything else. Okay, maybe the bright red, which was cool, too.” Without warning, Justin stepped in and put his arms around her in a quick hug.
Celeste did not know what to do. His arms were over hers, pinning them against her body, so she couldn’t exactly hug him back. Not that she would. They did not have a hugging relationship. Maybe Barton College was an exceptionally touchy-feely, new-age school where students and staff all hugged each other constantly. There had been nothing about this in the brochures.
“You are kind, but my hair is very much in the pink family. still.”
“I don’t care. It looks good.” He moved back and rested his hand on the top of the car window. “Ready to eat? I’m starved. The recruiting event tonight turned out to be filled with alumni, and they had it at some stuffy lounge that looked like an eccentric billionaire’s study. The appetizers looked about as appetizing as—Oh, see what I did there? Anyway, the point is that the food was boring and I haven’t eaten—Sorry, I’m rambling.” Justin stopped himself and took a long, slow breath. “Hi. How are you?”
Celeste slid into the seat of the Prius and smiled. In that moment, she didn’t care if her parents were staring through the window at them. She was not nervous anymore.
#ITSNOTADATE
JUSTIN GULPED DOWN half a glass of ice water. “Told you they were spicy. Whaddya think?”
“I think that the Camptown shrimp very strongly exceeded their already glowing reputation.” Celeste rested her elbows on the table and put her chin in her hands. “And I’m surprised that you hadn’t mentioned the crusty bread that is served alongside. I do believe that I am drunk on a flavor rush, if that is possible.”
“Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “I like girls who eat, and we went through three orders. Seriously, there’s nothing more annoying than taking a girl out and
“My hair color is of no consequence when it comes to collegiate admittance,” Celeste stated. “I shall wait outside.”
“I don’t think Justin is taking you out for collegiate—” Roger started.
“Good night!” Erin cut him off, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him from the room. “Have fun!”
“But then we can’t see when… Oh, fine… Have fun!” he called when he was out of sight.
It was Celeste’s understanding that girls of her age were to be filled with the utmost annoyance and disdain for their parents. Her parents’ behavior tonight was indeed making her understand why. Their frenetic energy was not helpful right now because—as much as she was not overtly making a big deal out of this situation—she felt very uncomfortable and edgy. She was not in the habit of dining out socially, especially on a busy Friday night, and certainly not with someone her own age. And especially not with a boy.
Well, it didn’t matter that he was male, she reasoned. College liaisons might as well be genderless. Although Justin probably wouldn’t appreciate that thought. He likely worked at achieving his mesmerizing masculine look, what with the fashionably swept hair, appealing physique, shirts that gripped his biceps quite wonderfully without being too tight or showy, but just naturally draped in such a way that…. Celeste shook her head and ordered herself to knock it off. The hair dye must have seeped into her brain and was causing neurons to misfire or something.
Headlights pulled up to the house, and Celeste flew out the front door before her parents could swoop in again. This was essentially a business dinner, she reminded herself., and she would treat it as such.
Justin was out of the car and standing by the passenger door when she reached the end of the walkway.
“Look at you, blondie.” Justin opened the door, but kept his eyes on her. “It’s hardly pink at all. I didn’t know you were blonde. I thought maybe a brunette. Dark brown. Like, a chestnut color. But now that I see the blond, I can’t imagine anything else. Okay, maybe the bright red, which was cool, too.” Without warning, Justin stepped in and put his arms around her in a quick hug.
Celeste did not know what to do. His arms were over hers, pinning them against her body, so she couldn’t exactly hug him back. Not that she would. They did not have a hugging relationship. Maybe Barton College was an exceptionally touchy-feely, new-age school where students and staff all hugged each other constantly. There had been nothing about this in the brochures.
“You are kind, but my hair is very much in the pink family. still.”
“I don’t care. It looks good.” He moved back and rested his hand on the top of the car window. “Ready to eat? I’m starved. The recruiting event tonight turned out to be filled with alumni, and they had it at some stuffy lounge that looked like an eccentric billionaire’s study. The appetizers looked about as appetizing as—Oh, see what I did there? Anyway, the point is that the food was boring and I haven’t eaten—Sorry, I’m rambling.” Justin stopped himself and took a long, slow breath. “Hi. How are you?”
Celeste slid into the seat of the Prius and smiled. In that moment, she didn’t care if her parents were staring through the window at them. She was not nervous anymore.
#ITSNOTADATE
JUSTIN GULPED DOWN half a glass of ice water. “Told you they were spicy. Whaddya think?”
“I think that the Camptown shrimp very strongly exceeded their already glowing reputation.” Celeste rested her elbows on the table and put her chin in her hands. “And I’m surprised that you hadn’t mentioned the crusty bread that is served alongside. I do believe that I am drunk on a flavor rush, if that is possible.”
“Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “I like girls who eat, and we went through three orders. Seriously, there’s nothing more annoying than taking a girl out and
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