Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama, #2) (73)

He frowns. “Do what?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“That sounds…very suspicious.”

“Just wait before texting,” I plead. “I have to do this first and then we’ll talk again and come up with a plan to tell everyone. Okay?”

His eyes flicker over my face and I can see the worry in his expression. “Are you hesitating because this is all happening too fast? Are you secretly freaking out right now?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Logan, this has been anything but too fast. Are you freaking out?”

His arms come around my waist. “Only that I’m going to lose you. I wish you would tell me what you need to do so I can help.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’ll all work out,” he whispers. He pulls me closer. “I’m going to make it work out.”





Chapter Twenty-Nine





I’m so exhausted from the insanity of yesterday that I sleep in longer than usual on Saturday morning. But as soon as I’m coherent, I force myself to text Kashvi to ask if I can come over to talk.

Kashvi: I’m out right now, but can you stay after the game?

Quinn: I really need to talk to you before. It might not take long.

There’s a pause as a text bubble pops up to let me know she’s writing back.

Kashvi: I should be done in an hour or two. I’ll text you when I’m home. There’s a pause and then another text pops up. Is everything okay?

I bite the inside of my cheek.

Quinn: Yeah. See you soon.

I take my time getting ready and finally go downstairs to find my parents still in their pajamas, whispering over their coffee cups.

“Late night?” I ask, surprised. Usually they’re up early.

Dad takes a long sip of coffee. “Yesterday was a rough one.”

“Yeah, I slept like death,” I reply. “Have you talked to Grandma this morning?”

“I called when I got up,” Dad says. “She sounded good. Almost contrite, though that won’t last long, knowing my mother. How are you feeling?”

“No pain if that’s what you mean.” I sit down on the couch.

“Are you heading out immediately?”

I check my phone, but there’s still no word from Kashvi that she’s ready. “No.”

“Would you mind picking Andrew up from Brennans Cafe?” Mom asks. “I dropped him off this morning, but I have some work I need to catch up on. It would be a big help.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. What’s he doing there? Is it a fundraiser for soccer or something?”

Dad and Mom exchange an amused glance. “Andrew’s on a coffee date.”

I laugh. “A coffee date? He’s fifteen.”

“I guess the girl was hesitant and this is all she’d agree to,” Dad says with a chuckle.

Interesting. Andrew has to put some work in with this girl. I like her already.

I grab my keys. “Well, you’ve piqued my interest now.”

“Hey, Quinn?”

I turn to find Mom studying me. “We’ve watched a few of your livestreams. I hope you don’t mind.”

My shoulders hunch forward. Ugh, there’s too much on my mind right now to get into a big discussion about this, particularly if they’re about to remind me of other extracurriculars I could be doing on the weekends or that they “don’t get” why I spend my time on D&D.

Dad puts his mug on the coffee table. “I can’t say I understand it—”

My shoulders slump.

“—but you certainly seem happy doing it. It’s pretty funny watching your group fight monsters.”

“Yeah?” I shuffle my feet hesitantly. “You didn’t hate it?”

“Of course not,” Mom says. “How could we hate it when you love it so much?”

I glance back and forth between them as the tension drains from my body. “Um, well, thanks for watching. Though it’s kind of mortifying too.”

They smile and shoo me away. “Try not to tease Andrew too much when you pick him up!” Mom calls as I head out the door.



* * *





I spend the drive trying to imagine who this girl might be. I don’t know many people in Andrew’s year, so I doubt I’ll recognize her, but regardless of what my parents say, I’m totally teasing him on the way home. He doesn’t even like coffee. I bet he got the sweetest mocha whipped cream concoction they serve.

When I pull into the crowded parking lot at the coffee shop, my stomach does a flip-flop. I recognize one of the cars. But I push the suspicions from my head. There’s no way.

Absolutely zero way.

I jump out of my car and hurry to look in the cafe window.

Omigod, it is Andrew and Kashvi.

I gasp so loud that the harried middle-aged woman walking into the shop flinches as she passes me. The two of them are at a booth, each with a drink and a smile on their face. They aren’t holding hands or kissing, but the way they’re leaning over the table toward each other looks more than friendly.

Another customer walks in, but I stay in place staring at them like a stalker. How is this possible? Is Andrew actually on a date with Kashvi right now? This is where she was this morning when I texted? The rational part of me says that I need to calm down and not jump to conclusions. Maybe his date fled after two words with him, and Kashvi happened to be here and came over to comfort him? Maybe Dad misunderstood and this isn’t a date, just a…weird, secret friendship hangout?