Chapter 14: From Sitcom to Something Else
Chapter 14
Tori's mom appeared in the doorway a little later, purse in hand and car keys jingling. "Tori, sweetie, it's time to go."
Tori stood, brushing imaginary dust off her jeans, and glanced at me. Her expression was somewhere between reluctant and thoughtful.
"Well," she said, walking toward the door with me following behind, "today wasn't half as weird as I thought it'd be."
"High praise," I said with a grin.
When we reached the front steps, she turned suddenly and gave me a quick, unexpected hug.
"We should, like, talk again or something," she said. "Maybe call each other?"
"Yeah," I said, blinking. "Sure. I'd like that."
She smiled and jogged down the steps to where her mom was waiting, leaving me standing there like a kid who wasn't quite sure what just happened.
As the car pulled away, I was still on the porch when Charlie came out with a coffee mug and his usual smug expression.
"Well, well, Romeo," he said, nudging me with his elbow. "Didn't take you long to find yourself a girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," I muttered, rolling my eyes.