This is the third time I'm calling but she just won't answer.

But the third time's the charm, so she did. "What?" she snapped instantly.

"Chloe," I sang. I was lying in bed, upside down, my head dangling off the edge.

"What?" She huffed.

"Why don't you have a phone if you won't fucking answer it?" I asked, still making my voice sound sweet.

"I don't answer the phone to jerks like you who break my best friend's heart," she sang mockingly.

"Chloe," I huffed.

"What?"

"Where is Indie going tonight?"

"Huh?"

"She has a date tonight with Callum, doesn't she?"

"Yeah," she said slowly. "How do you know?"

"She planned it right in front of me. They're going to dinner, aren't they?"

"Uh-huh," she replied.

"Do you, by any chance, know where exactly they're going to dinner?"

"No, sorry," she said quickly. Too quickly. "I won't tell you anything."

"Does that mean you'll only answer with yes or no?"

She paused. "Yes."

I smiled, rolling onto my stomach. "I didn't know you were Team Reece," I chuckled.

"I'll castrate you tonight," she gritted.

"Okay, okay. Um, are they going to the mall?"

"No."

"Are they going to a restaurant?"

"Yes."

"A fancy restaurant?"

"Yes."

"Are they going to The Capital Grill?"

She hesitated but huffed out, "Yes."

"Then will you go on a date with me tonight? Dinner at The Capital—"

"No, what the fuck? Are you crazy? I'm into Caleb."

"No shit. I just need an excuse to be there tonight," I groaned.

"Reece, you already hurt her so bad. Why do you want to ruin this for her too?"

I stared ahead of me blankly.

"Callum is a really nice guy."

"I'm sure he is," I replied. "But do you think he's right for her?"

"Neither are you, you fucking moron. She laid everything out on the table and was honest with you. And you rejected her."

"I didn't—"

"You did!"

I sighed, closing my eyes. "I made a mistake."

"Elaborate."

"I like her, Chlo. I have for a little while."

"Then why didn't you tell her that night?"

"Because I'm not good for her at all!"

"She's like in love with you- not literally, don't freak out- and you like her too but you're just too scared of the future so you won't even live in the present?" She scoffed, "I was right when I said that to her."

"Said what?"

"You're a fucking pussy."

I rolled my eyes. "Will you come with me tonight or not?"

"No. You have girls lined up for you, don't you? Take someone else."

"Who would I... Jessica?"

"Meh." I could imagine her shrugging, unimpressed by my suggestion.

"Indie hates her. Wouldn't that be better?"

"I suppose so."

"Then I'll ask Jessica. She won't say no anyway."

"God, you're horrible!" She exclaimed. "You better tell her why you're really asking her."

"I will. After the date ends."

She scoffed dryly and probably shook her head in disapproval.

"Bye, Chlo."

"Bye," she mumbled.

I hung up and then texted Jessica a simple hey and she replied within a minute.

Hi, what's up?

I typed away and then sent out the text.

I was wondering if you want to go out to dinner tonight?

Sure. When and where, babe?

I rolled my eyes. I had a thing going with Indie for so long and she never called me babe but Jessica is out here calling me babe after a single dinner text. Why didn't Indie ever call me that?

Eight o'clock, The Capital Grille. Sound good?

Sounds great. See you there, baby.

I cringed and threw my phone at my pillow. It's natural to cringe when Jessica calls me these things. But Indie? I kind of want her to call me those things. What is happening to me?

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

I sat in my car, still waiting for Jessica to show up outside the restaurant. Around five minutes ago, I saw Indie coming here. Callum picked her up and drove her here. Jessica suggested I pick her up but I said no and said we should just meet here instead. I saw her car pulling up so I climbed out of my own car, locking it shut, and walked to the entrance, meeting her there.

"Hi," she smiled, linking her arm with mine.

I resisted the urge to grind my teeth and gave her a small smile in response. We walked in and I asked for the table that was reserved under my name. I scanned the restaurant quickly and saw them talking at the table.

Indie was facing me and Callum's back was facing me. She was explaining something. She looked almost guilty. She leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. He leaned back in his chair and nodded. Then she stopped talking and listened.

"Right this way."

I followed the employee and they led us to a table.

She was so engrossed in their conversation that she didn't even notice me. So while I walked past her table, I flicked the spoon off the edge of the table and it clattered to the floor. She turned to me but looked down at the spoon, that's it. Not at the person who dropped it. She went down to pick it up but I beat her to it, crouching down and grabbed it, my fingers brushing against hers.

"Sorry," I said, watching her face.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, still leaning down. "It's okay," she mumbled.

"You sure?" I asked, tilting my head to one side.

She blinked once then twice and then lifted her eyes to mine. Her eyes widened and she stilled.

I smirked, lifting my brows at her in amusement.

"You—" she began.

I stood up, turning to the employee. "Could you please get her a new spoon?"

The employee nodded, taking it from me. "Table twelve is yours," she smiled and then walked away.

"Reece, right?" Callum asked.

I turned to face him. I nodded.

"Callum," he smiled. "Do you guys want to join us?"

Indie's eyes widened and she slightly shook her head at Callum.

He looked at her, smirking. "Why not?" he mumbled.

"Callum, please don't—"

He turned to me, ignoring Indie's request. "Would you like to join?"

"Sure," Jessica answered chirpily before I could.

"Great," Callum smiled.

Jessica moved over and sat beside Callum.

I heard Indie sigh, looking through the glass window they were sitting behind. I moved into the seat beside hers and a waiter walked over.

"What can I get you tonight?"

I realized Callum and Indie hadn't even ordered yet. Must have been some intense conversation. Callum slid a menu over to Jessica and then told the waiter his order. Indie handed the menu to me and said her order, and then Jessica and I did the same.

I turned to Indie after the waiter left. "We're sorry to interrupt. This looks like a date," I said, trying to get her to look at me but she wasn't even glancing my way.

"You did interrupt a date," she mumbled under her breath.

"I offered, it's okay," Callum chuckled.

"I feel like I've seen you somewhere," Jessica said, turning to Callum.

"I work at Candy's. So, probably there."

"Oh, right, right, right," she laughed. "You're that one cute wait—" She stopped talking mid-sentence, blinking a few times and then looking away, pulling her lips into a thin line.

"Cute waiter?" He smirked, watching her with a single lifted brow.

I blinked in confusion and opened my mouth to say something but held it back. Are they... flirting?

She chuckled, turning to look at him. "Did I say that?"

"Almost," he nodded.

"Take it as you will," she smiled. I don't think I've ever seen her smile and blush so much.

"I think I remember you too," he nodded.

Indie let out a very soft chuckle, I don't think they heard it but I did. "Un-fucking-believable," she mumbled, covering her laugh with her hand.

"Do you?" Jessica asked, turning her entire body to face him.

He nodded. "You're the girl with the smudged lipstick, aren't you?"

She blinked in confusion.

"That one time you were touching up in line and got knocked over and—"

"Okay, okay, okay!" She waved her hands around quickly. "Yeah, yes, yup. I remember. Why do you remember that?" she whined.

"It's hard to forget," he chuckled.

She grabbed his arm. "Please, erase that memory of me," she whined.

I stared in surprise. Already?

Indie and I slowly turned to look at each other knowingly. I leaned closer to Indie and she backed up quickly. I rolled my eyes and grabbed her chair, pulled it against mine. "What?" she hissed.

"Did Jessica and I interrupt a date?" I glanced at them and she followed my gaze. "Or did you and I just interrupt a date?" I turned to look at her.

She was still watching them in confusion. "How does someone like her... work with someone like him? Isn't he—" She turned to me, freezing and her eyes going wide when she realized how close we were. Our noses almost touched.

"Isn't he?" I whispered, smirking.

"Nice," she whispered.

"I'm sure he's real nice. Here on a date with you, while he flirts with my date."

She stood up abruptly and I grabbed her wrist.

Jessica and Callum looked up. His eyes flickered from Indie's face to my grasp on her wrist, my face, and then back to Indie's face. He lifted his brows ever so slightly, which confused me.

What exactly did they talk about before I got here? Did she tell him what we did?

She rolled her eyes and waved a dismissive hand. She turned to me, her gaze hard. "Let go."

"Indie—"

"I'm going to the bathroom, I'm not leaving. Let go." She nodded reassuringly.

I hesitantly loosened my grip and then let go. She stepped away and then strutted off to the bathrooms. I noticed her dress when she stood up. I kept staring until she was out of sight.

Jessica and Callum were still just staring.

I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes on them. "You," I said to Jessica. "You came here with me and you're flirting with him?"

She shrugged sheepishly. "You seem to be more into Indie."

I rolled my eyes and turned to Callum. "And you. You came here with Indie but you're flirting with my date?"

"Your date seems to be more into me than Indie," he shrugged.

I blinked in confusion.

"My date seems to be more into you," he said, shooting me a pointed look. "Go," he nodded toward the bathrooms. "She's probably waiting."

"She's not," Jessica said. "But she probably wants you to go after her." She nodded encouragingly.

I huffed and then stood up, walking to the bathrooms.

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