Read After Tuesday for Free Online

Doodling is my mindless pastime. While my dad and Jas start talking about some buddy of theirs who’s having a bonfire later, my mind begins to wander to last night.
    Brent. His good looks are undeniable, but I get the feeling there’s something more to him than just that. There seems to be so much life in his eyes. I’m guessing they’ve probably never seen much hardship. Maybe it’s just him. He has a really good nose, strong chin…and those lips! I never thought about them before, but now, I can’t stop thinking about the way they moved when he spoke to me. I think Lexi’s boy obsession might be rubbing off on me. Not good.
    “Tuesday,” my dad says as he and Jas get up and head to the door, “we’re going next door.” He and Jas walk out, leaving me alone in the house.
    ***
    It’s almost eleven in the morning when I get a text from Lexi, asking me about the movie. Crap. I forgot about that, even though we just talked about it before I left her house. Apparently, thinking about Brent inhibits other parts of my brain from working. Then, I remember that he has yet to call me like he said he would. Not that I really expected him to follow through on his word about the tour— whatever that meant —but it seems that I’ve tentatively double-booked myself. Well, there’s no reason to wait around for him to call— not that he will —so I text Lexi back, telling her I’ll meet them for the noon show.
    I head to my room to grab a hoodie for the air-conditioned theater. As I’m slipping my phone into my back pocket, it rings, displaying an unknown number.
    “Hello?”
    A male chuckles on the other line. “Uh, is Ruby there?” he asks.
    “You got her. Who’s this?”
    “Brent Cromwell. We spoke last night at Owen’s. Your tour guide.”
    I can almost imagine the smirk on his face.
    “Ah, yes…Mr. Cromwell.” I grin from ear to ear. Shit! He really called! “How are you doing?”
    “Good. Did you have fun last night?”
    “Yeah, but we left early; we were just beat from the week. How about you?”
    “Yeah, I guess. I was hoping I’d get to talk to you a little more though,” he says.
    I can hear the silkiness in his voice. Is he always like this? With everyone?
    I clear my throat. “Oh…um, that would have been nice.” That would have been nice? What is wrong with me?
    “So, maybe we could hang out today? Like we talked about last night.”
    “Oh crap! Brent, I’m so sorry. I forgot I already made plans to see a movie with some people. I’m actually walking out the door. Maybe a rain check?”
    I could kick myself right now. He probably thinks I’m blowing him off. Who in her right mind would do that though? At this point, I probably just lost any potential date. Do I really think he wants to take me out? He said “hang out,” not take me out. C’mon, I know the difference.
    “Oh,” he says, sounding a little defeated. “What about after the movie? Do you have plans later? Tonight maybe?”
    Really? Maybe Lexi wasn’t kidding with me. Why would she? Although his persistence is unexpected, I have to remind myself about the person I’m talking to. I mean, seriously, it’s Brent Cromwell .  
    “Well, no, I don’t,” I say, leaving it at that.
    “Awesome! Let’s do something later then. I’ll see if Lexi and Owen want to join us.”
    “Oh, okay. That sounds good.”
    I’m unsure how to read this development. Wait, who cares? It’s Saturday night. Why am I overanalyzing any of it?
    “Great. I’ll call Lex and Owen. Wanna plan for around eight?” he asks.
    “Sure.”
    “All right, I’ll text you later,” he says with a rhythmic inflection.
    I find myself smiling a little too much. “All right.”
    ***
    Twenty minutes before the movie starts, I meet Lexi, Autumn, and Casey in the lobby of the theater. We say our hellos, get a few concessions, and then pile into the auditorium. I sit on the end with Lexi next to me, and Autumn and Casey sit on the other side of