Getting Married to the Bad Boy *REVISED* (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 14

Unknown: Hey

I placed my pencil down in the middle of my chemistry textbook and hesitantly took up my phone from off the night dresser as I peered at the notification. It was 8 p.m., and the house was still as quiet as it was when I entered it hours ago. Another notification appeared.

Unknown: This is Bryan.

I smiled as I unlocked my phone, saved his number then typed a response.

You lost? At this time of the night?

Bryan's response was immediate, catching on to my reference to our last conversation when he had asked me for my number.

Or something.

I chuckled as I got more comfortable in my queen-sized bed, revelling in the company provided to my lonesome, even if it was being offered over the phone.

I didn't see you today.

I bit my lip as I watched the three dots appear, indicating that he was typing, then it disappeared. Saying that I didn't see him meant that I was looking for him, it was quite forward of me. If my best friends saw this, they'd be patting me on the back, wiping fake tears from their eyes as they muttered, "They grow up so fast."

My phone buzzed, and a feeling of guilt washed over me.

I saw you, but you were in your own little world today. Didn't even see me when I called you. I was planning to approach you at lunch.

Why didn't you?

You seemed busy.

Busy? When was I-

The confusion only lasted for a second when I remembered that the table was hogged today by unwanted testosterone, but nonetheless a big crowd.

Not much of a crowd person?

Something like that.

I smiled at the message as I added it to my "Things cute about Bryan" list. It was a mental list that I kept and would just add things that stood out about him at random.

Are you okay, though? Before I could respond, the dotted bubble appeared again.

I know we just met, but you can talk to me. I'm a good listener, you know, being a guardian angel and all.

My heart slightly warmed, and I began to envision a world where instead of Reece, Bryan was the one I would be engaged to.

I'm fine. It was just one of those days. Thanks for the offer. I'll keep it in mind.

And before I could psych myself out, I added a wink and sent it off, immediately regretting it after. If it wasn't obvious then, it was definitely obvious now how inept I was when it came to the texting game. Where in the world was a wink a suitable emoji to add there?

The doorbell rang, taking me out of my growing minor panic attack for what his response would be. Grateful for the distraction, I headed downstairs to the door.

I knew that Rachel and Amanda were coming since they had texted me earlier that they would after I had confessed that I was here alone.

However, I did not get the memo about the others.

My phone safely secured in my back jeans shorts pocket vibrated as I stared at my beaming two best friends and their plus four.

"Uh, Reece isn't here," I said, feeling that could be the only reason for their presence.