My brainn completely froze.
"Do you like me?"
Austin's voice was calm, almost casual, like he had just asked what time it was. But to me, it felt like the entire world had stopped spinning.
I stared at him.
Words refused to come out.
From a few steps ahead, Ethan suddenly coughed loudly.
"Fake cough," he said. "Definitely fake."
I shot him a glare.
"Ethan, stop eavesdropping!"
"I'm not eavesdropping," he said innocently. "You two are just very loud."
Austin chuckled beside me, which somehow made everything worse.
My heart was beating so fast I was sure both of them could hear it.
"Well?" Austin asked.
I blinked.
"Well what?"
"My question."
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"I—"
Before I could finish, Ethan spun around and walked backward in front of us.
"Alright," he said dramatically. "Since this is taking forever, I'll answer for her."
"You will not," I snapped.
"Oh I definitely will."
Austin folded his arms, clearly entertained.
"Go ahead," he said.
"Don't encourage him!" I groaned.
Ethan pointed at me like a detective solving a mystery.
"Evidence number one," he announced.
"Last night she panicked when Austin mentioned kissing another girl."
"That does not mean anything!"
"Evidence number two," Ethan continued. "She buried her face in his chest."
"I was cold!"
"In the middle of summer."
Austin laughed quietly.
"Evidence number three," Ethan said, raising another finger. "Her face turns red every time Austin talks to her."
"That is not true!"
Right on cue, my face started heating up.
Ethan gasped dramatically.
"Oh wow, the timing!"
I covered my face.
"This is a nightmare."
Austin gently pulled my hands away from my face.
"You know," he said softly, "you don't actually have to answer."
I looked at him, surprised.
"I don't?"
He shook his head.
"No."
Ethan frowned.
"Hey! That ruins the drama!"
Austin ignored him.
"I was just curious," he continued. "You looked very serious when you said you didn't want me kissing another girl."
My stomach flipped again.
"That was just—"
"Jealousy," Ethan interrupted.
"Concern," I corrected.
Austin raised an eyebrow.
"Concern?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
I crossed my arms.
"For… general reasons."
Ethan burst out laughing.
"General reasons?! That's the worst excuse I've ever heard."
I pushed him lightly.
"Stop laughing!"
Austin shook his head, smiling.
"You're interesting," he said.
"I'm stressed," I corrected.
We finally reached the small café inside the park. The place was quiet, with only a few people sitting outside enjoying the morning air.
Ethan immediately walked to the counter like he owned the place.
"I'll take three milkshakes," he told the cashier.
I frowned.
"Why three?"
He grinned.
"One for me."
"One for Austin."
"And one for the girl who definitely doesn't like Austin."
I groaned.
Austin leaned against the counter beside me.
"You're never going to escape this, you know."
"I noticed."
Ethan grabbed the milkshakes and handed one to each of us.
Then he sat down at a table outside.
We joined him.
For a few minutes, everything was peaceful. Ethan was scrolling on his phone, Austin was sipping his drink, and I was trying to convince my heart to calm down.
Then Ethan suddenly looked up.
"You know what would be funny?"
"No," I said immediately.
"What?" Austin asked.
Ethan grinned.
"If you two went on a date."
I choked on my milkshake.
Austin laughed.
"Ethan."
"What?" he said. "I'm serious!"
"I'm not going on a date with him!" I said quickly.
Ethan tilted his head.
"Why not?"
"Because… because…"
I had no answer.
Austin watched me carefully.
"You can say no," he said.
"I did say no!"
Ethan leaned forward.
"But you didn't explain why."
I groaned.
"You two are exhausting."
Austin smiled slightly.
"You're still here though."
"That's because I have nowhere else to go," I muttered.
Ethan suddenly looked thoughtful.
Then a slow grin spread across his face.
Oh no.
Whenever Ethan looked like that, something bad was about to happen.
"What?" I asked suspiciously.
"I have an idea."
Austin sighed.
"I don't like that sentence."
Ethan ignored him.
"Let's make a deal."
"What deal?" I asked.
Ethan pointed at Austin.
"You go on one date with him."
"What?!"
"And if you still don't like him afterward," Ethan continued, "I will never tease you about this again."
I stared at him.
"You're lying."
"I swear."
Austin looked just as surprised as I felt.
"You didn't discuss this with me," he said.
Ethan shrugged.
"You're welcome."
I shook my head immediately.
"No way."
"Why not?" Ethan asked.
"Because it's weird!"
Austin leaned back in his chair.
"I'm not against it."
My head snapped toward him.
"You're not?!"
He shrugged.
"It's just one date."
My brain stopped working again.
Ethan clapped his hands.
"See?! He's brave!"
"This is not happening," I said firmly.
Ethan leaned closer.
"Are you scared?"
My eyes narrowed.
"Of what?"
"Of realizing you actually like him."
I scoffed, I do but I'm not ready to admit it yet.
"That's ridiculous."
"Then prove it."
Austin watched me silently.
Ethan smirked.
"Go on the date."
I crossed my arms.
"This is manipulation."
"Correct," Ethan said proudly.
I looked at Austin.
He wasn't laughing anymore.
Instead, he looked… curious.
"Only if you want to," he said quietly.
My heart skipped again.
Why did he have to say things like that?
Ethan suddenly stood up.
"Alright, I'm going to the restroom."
Neither of us responded.
As soon as Ethan disappeared inside the café, the silence between us grew thicker.
Austin tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
"You don't have to agree," he said.
"I know."
Another pause.
"But Ethan will never stop talking about it," I admitted.
"That's also true."
I sighed.
"This is a trap."
Austin smiled slightly.
"A harmless one."
I looked at him.
"You really want to go on a date with me?"
He thought about it for a moment.
"Yeah, of course, I said I'd wait for you, but a date now won't hurt"
My heart did that annoying flip again.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"Because you're fun to be around."
"That's not a very strong reason."
"It's enough for me."
I stared down at my milkshake.
My brain was fighting with itself.
Half of me wanted to run away.
The other half…
Well.
The other half kept remembering the way he looked at me last night.
And the way my heart reacted.
Austin suddenly spoke again.
"If it makes you feel better," he said, "we can call it something else."
"Like what?"
"Just hanging out."
"That sounds less terrifying."
He laughed.
"You're really overthinking this."
"I always overthink things."
Ethan suddenly returned and sat down.
"So?" he asked excitedly. "Did she agree?"
I sighed.
"You're the worst friend ever"
"Thank you."
I looked at Austin.
He was watching me quietly.
Waiting.
Ethan leaned forward.
"Well?"
I groaned.
"Fine."
Ethan gasped dramatically.
"WAIT— REALLY?!"
I pointed at him.
"One date."
He nodded rapidly.
"And if I decide it's weird," I continued, "you will never mention this again."
Ethan placed a hand over his heart.
"I swear."
Austin smiled.
"Deal."
My heart immediately started racing again.
Ethan slammed his hands on the table.
"This is the best day of my life!"
I shook my head.
"You're unbelievable."
Austin leaned closer and said softly,
"So… when's the date?"
I blinked.
"Wait, we have to plan it too?!"
Ethan laughed.
"Oh this is going to be fun."
I had a feeling…
My life had just gotten a lot more complicated.
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To Be Continued