GAME ON

Chapter 29 ~ I Know.

JASMINE'S POV

The restaurant downtown is warm and too bright. Strings of fairy lights hang over the patio, and the smell of garlic and grilled meat makes my stomach flip. Not from hunger. From nerves.

"So," Rosie says for the tenth time, bouncing in her seat across from me, "you good? You look like you're about to get interrogated."

"I'm fine," I lie. "I just didn't expect to be on a blind date on a Saturday."

"You're not on a blind date," Rosie says. "We're on a double date. With Xavier. Who I like. So behave."

Before I can reply, Xavier's voice cuts through the noise.

"Speak of the devil. Hey!"

I look up-and my brain short-circuits.

Xavier's walking toward us, all smiles, and next to him is-

Connor.

Connor in a black button-up with the sleeves rolled up, hair actually combed, looking unfairly calm for someone about to ruin my life. He stops when he sees me, and his expression shifts from confident to... caught.

Jasmine.

My name on his face like he didn't expect this either but I bet he planned this.

"Uh," Rosie says. "Jassy? What's Connor doing here?" She whispered beside me while we both stared at Connor and Xavier.

"I should be asking you. Didn't you say Xavier and his cousin were coming?" I whispered in reply

Xavier looks between us, then grins like he just won a game. "Oh. I'm sorry for the late introduction"

"Huh?" I say, voice way too high.

Xavier gestures to Connor. "This is my cousin Leo. Leo, this is Rosie's friend Jasmine. Leo, say hi."

Connor rubs the back of his neck. "Hey, Jasmine."

"Leo," I repeat flatly. "Leo? Seriously?"

"Yeah," Connor says. "Long story. It's... my middle name. Mom thought it would be less confusing if I used it around Xavier's friends. Guess that backfired."

Rosie gasps. "Wait! You're Xavier's cousin?"

"Hey," Connor says defensively. "I have other qualities."

I stare at him. Two weeks ago he was using my diary to mess with Chris. Few days ago he was apologizing in the hallway. And now he's sitting across from me as a 'blind date' I didn't agree to.

"What are you doing here?" I ask. There's no point pretending I'm not shocked. "Why would you be here?"

"Because Xavier told me Rosie would be here and I decided to third wheel with a fifty percent chance that Rosie would persuade you to be here because she would want to be with Xavier all night." Connor says honestly. "And I needed to see you. Without the hallway and Jake and the whole circus."

Xavier claps his hands. "Okay, well. This is awkward in the best way. Rosie, you okay with a switch-up?"

Rosie looks at me, then at Connor, then back at Xavier. She catches on fast. "Yeah. Actually. Xavier, want to grab a table over there? Give these two some space?"

Xavier nods. "Connor said we should go ahead and have fun. He'll cover the bill. Be back in an hour."

"Wait, what?" I say.

But Connor's already standing up, pulling out the chair next to me. "Come on. If you're gonna yell at me, do it where it's quieter."

I hesitate. Rosie gives me a _go for it_ look. Xavier's already dragging her toward the other table, grinning like a matchmaker who just pulled off a heist.