Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama, #2) (74)

I step closer to the window. Oh no, he just laid his hand palm-up on the table. And—it’s like watching a train wreck—she’s putting her hand in his with a shy smile.

Knock, knock.

I lurch away from the window. The guy on the other side of the glass shakes his head and gives me a hard look. I wince with embarrassment. I practically had my face pressed into the glass. I’m such a creeper.

I march into the coffee shop, mindless and freaking out.

“Andrew?”

I stand at their booth, hands on hips, and wait for his reaction. Dimly, it occurs to me that I’m acting a bit like he did when he found Logan and me in the kitchen, but this is totally different. This is Kashvi.

Andrew’s face morphs into an almost comical horrified expression. “What are you doing here, Quinn?” he asks. “Did you tell her about us?” he asks Kashvi.

Kashvi’s eyes grow round. She looks busted.

“Mom sent me to pick you up.” I look between them. “Are you two…together?”

“I—”

“We—”

They both stop and stare at each other. “Maybe you should sit down.”

I don’t know who to sit next to, and I want to be able to see the expressions on both of their faces, so I pull an empty chair over to their booth. We all sit in silence for a few seconds, and then Andrew chuckles. “This is awkward.”

“I mean, I knew you liked her, but—”

“Quinn,” Andrew says sharply.

“You told her you liked me?” Kashvi asks in a soft voice.

Andrew’s neck is pink and blotchy. “It wasn’t that hard to figure out.”

I glance between them, dumbfounded. My stomach feels like it’s been tossed around in the dryer for a few hours, but I guess I have no right to be angry given the confession I need to make to Kashvi. The way they’re looking at each other…Oh wow. I don’t think this is going to be over after a coffee.

Kashvi turns to me. “This is our first time hanging out. I know I should have said something to you before, but I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. I decided it was better to wait and tell you everything after today.”

“And how’s it going so far?” Andrew asks with a cocky smile. His eyes are sparkling in a way that some girls (who are not related to him) might find, well, charming.

“I’m still here, aren’t I?” Kashvi replies, returning the smirk. “But let’s see how the next twenty minutes go.” She turns to me, her expression changing to worry. “Are you mad? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“I’m not mad. I’m…trying to process.”

Honestly, I want to be angry. I can almost see the red at the edges of my vision—because how could she meet my brother like this and say nothing—except I don’t have a leg to stand on. Kashvi and I are more similar than I ever realized. We’ve both been silent when we should have talked to each other, but my behavior has gone way beyond an overpriced coffee.

“Cool,” Andrew says. “Can you give us another twenty minutes, then? Or forty-five?”

“Nice try. I need to talk to Kashvi. Now. Go kill time in Walmart until we’re done.”

“So you can talk her out of going out with me?” Everything in Andrew slumps. His expression is so dejected that it cuts right through me.

“No. I’m not going to do that. You two shocked me, but…maybe you’re a little bit cute together.”

They both look surprised, and it makes me laugh.

“Are you serious right now?” he asks. “You aren’t trying to lull me into a false sense of security just to get Kashvi alone and tell her how I drew horns on your Calico Critters when I was six?”

“Oh, believe me, if this situation between the two of you goes anyplace, then Kashvi will be hearing every childhood horror story I have to share. I need to watch her back. But I won’t go there today.”

He studies me for a moment and then stands. “I’m trusting you.” His expression softens as soon as he looks at Kashvi. “I’ll go see if I can find those cookies.”

I frown in confusion as he walks out the door, then take his place in the booth.

“I mentioned those dark chocolate cookies I like that Mom never buys,” Kashvi says, her voice tinged with surprise. “Please don’t hate me, but your brother is pretty cool. And hot.”

I shiver in disgust. “Those words are never to come out of your mouth again.”

“All right, let me have it. What makes Andrew such a monster that I should never speak to him again?”

“I was serious before—I’m not here about that. Andrew can be good when he wants to be. There’s something else I want to talk about.”

She waits expectantly.

“Okay.” But the words don’t come. I lick my dry lips and clear my throat. “So, I’m not sure how this thing with Andrew might change what I’m about to say, but either way I want to start by saying that I’m sorry it took me so long to talk to you about this. I love having you as a friend and I didn’t want to jeopardize that, but that’s no excuse. I’ll never forget the way you welcomed me that first week.”

She grows still. “Quinn, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”