“And?”
“And the time for playing hard to get is over because I have been gotten.” Drew looked so pleased that the tips of his ears were turning red. “Kevin stayed over after the party last night.”
“You had sex with Kevin?!” I dove for my phone, ready to text Caro.
“No, no, not that. God, calm down. I just . . . we kissed and . . . you know, we actually cuddled.”
“You do like to snuggle.”
“I am a first-class snuggler, let’s be real. And so is Kevin.” Drew held up his hand, made a V with his index and middle fingers, then brought them together. “Compatible.”
“Is he a good kisser?”
He signaled to turn left out into the main intersection. “Do you think I’d be this excited if it was like making out with a mackerel? He was amazing. He is amazing. And he”—Drew honked at the person in front of him to move—“said he likes me back. What is the holdup here?” He honked again.
“You literally look like you’re starring in a romantic comedy right now,” I said. “You’re almost glowing. I need sunglasses to look at you.”
Drew handed me his and I put them on. “Do I look stupid?” I flipped down the car’s visor to look in the mirror, but there wasn’t one.
He glanced at me. “No, you’re adorable.” He honked again. “I mean, seriously. How hard is it to press a gas pedal?”
“You know Caro and I still have to vet Kevin, though. He needs to be group-approved for our official seal of approval.”
“Caro already gave him the thumbs-up last night, even though she was so drunk, she couldn’t even spell her name. Which is more than I can say for you and your disappearing act. Why are we just sitting here?” Apparently, Drew had no problem keeping two conversations going at the same time, one with me and one with the traffic jam.
“Well, I was a little busy last night,” I said, suddenly feeling my ears turn as red as Drew’s.
But he was too distracted by the traffic jam to notice. “Are you kidding me?” he cried, sticking his head out the window. “The sign says STOP!” he yelled. “Not GIVE UP!”
“I thought making out with someone was supposed to lower your blood pressure,” I mentioned as he settled back in the driver’s seat.
“You know I have road rage,” Drew replied, like it was the simplest answer imaginable. “Now, sorry. What?”
“What what?”
“You were saying?”
“Oh, just that I was busy last night.” I tucked my hair behind my ear.
“Nervous tic!” Drew cried. “Tell me everything. Especially because we’re not going anywhere anytime soon.” He glared at the traffic jam.
“So, um, me and Oliver sort of made out last night.”
“Shut up!” Drew slapped the steering wheel in delight. “You did not!”
“Oh, but I did.”
“Okay, can I just say? Oliver is way cuter than the last guy you kissed.”
“Ethan was totally fine, dude, I—”
“Rabbit teeth. There, I said it.”
“He was going to get orthodontia eventually,” I protested. “But I don’t want to talk about Ethan.”
“Yes, okay. Redirecting back. Thank you!” he suddenly screamed at the cars in front of us as they began to crawl forward. “I was starting to worry that I should have packed a snack and a canteen just so I could drive three miles to Starbucks. So where did you make out?”
“The gazebo, of course.”
“Naturally. Did you initiate?”
I hesitated just long enough for Drew to say, “It’s totally fine if you did, you know. You have to be a take-charge woman, Emmy. No one likes a doormat.”
“No, I’m just trying to remember,” I told him. “I think . . . I did? Or maybe it was . . . ?” I frowned and tilted my head, like it would dislodge the stuck memories and send the correct one to its rightful place in my brain. “I think we sort of just met in the middle.” I brought my hands together. “Like this. But, you know, better.”
“And he’s a good kisser?”
I nodded, blushing again. “He’s no mackerel.”
Drew gave my shoulder a gentle shake. “You’re so cute!” he said. “You and your childhood love, back together. Someone needs to call Oprah. Or Ellen. Whoever has a daytime talk show that will get you a movie deal.”
“He’s not my ‘childhood love,’” I told him, making air quotes around the last two words. “He’s Oliver. He’s just a dude—”
“—that you made out with last night. You’re welcome, by the way, for throwing that party.”
“Thank you, Drew,” I intoned. “Best friend ever. You’re the best.”
He nodded approvingly. “I think you and I should stick together more often,” he said. “We can make out with half of California if we play our cards right.”
I just laughed and moved my hair again so it would stop blowing in my face. Drew’s car was amazing, but it had no air-conditioning, and all the windows were down. “He still hasn’t texted me,” I said.
“Did you text him?”
“No. That’s why I wanted to hang out with you. Because I wasn’t sure what to do.”
Drew patted my hand. “You’ve come to the right place.”