Page 68 of The Perfect Gift

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I felt like a jerk thinking of the truth, but I didn’t really want to date Dan. And now, if things went well, would I be stuck in some kind of awkward relationship that lasted way too long?

Or what? Would we break up, and I wouldn’t even be able to go to class without thinking of him and how dumb I’d been?

“What’s wrong? You’re frowning,” Dan said. “Everything okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Um, I’m sorry. This is the first time I’ve done this,” I said.

“Done what? Had coffee with a friend?”

A friend? What?

I cocked my head to the side. “Um, I’m sorry – I don’t know what you mean.”

Dan laughed, but it wasn’t entirely a happy sound. He sounded a little embarrassed, actually.

“Molly, you’re a nice girl,” Dan said. “You really are, but I’m not interested.”

“What?” I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping. “Then why did you agree to go out with me?!”

Dan flushed and took a sip of his latte, looking truly uncomfortable. “Molly, I’m gay,” he said.

“What?”

Dan gave me a look. “Don’t make me repeat that,” he said. “I know you understood.”

“I did…it’s just…you’re gay? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Dan laughed nervously. “I didn’t mention it because I thought you knew,” he said, shaking his head. “I thought you wanted

to make a friend in your program. So you’re a little shy and awkward – that’s nothing to worry about. Plenty of people are shy and awkward, Molly.”

I sank down low in my seat. “You’re gay,” I muttered. “I can’t believe it.”

Dan gave me an awkward smile and shrugged. I hated to admit it, but the more I looked at him, the more I realized he was right. His hair was too perfectly tied with an Indian leather band, and his skin was flawless – even better than Rebecca’s, and she’s a total Sephora addict.

“Oh my god,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m so embarrassed!”

Dan laughed. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’m just sorry you thought this was a date.”

My cheeks flamed bright red. “Now you probably get why I was so nervous,” I said softly.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Dan said. He smirked. “You should’ve seen me in high school – I had more girls flocking around me than the football players.”

“I can believe it,” I said, although I really couldn’t. At least, not compared with Alex.

“Well, now we can be friends,” Dan said. “Or you know, not,” he added.

I bit my lip. “Do you think I could ask you a favor?”

Dan nodded. “Sure.”

“How…how can I get a boyfriend?”

“Oh, god, if I knew the answer to that, I’d bottle it up and sell it for a million dollars,” Dan said with a laugh. When he saw the look on my face, he pretended to groan. “Look, Molly,” Dan said. “I can’t tell you how to just get a boyfriend. But if you had a specific guy in mind…aside from me, that is,” he said.

I blushed.

“You do, you little slut,” Dan said playfully. He leaned back against his chair and sipped his latte. I wondered how I’d ever mistaken him for a straight man.


Tags: Mia Ford Erotic