"She did look happy," Matt admitted. "Maybe you were right. I met Rachel for a minute when I dropped Celeste off. She actually seems like a nice girl."
"Will wonders never cease? I would've assumed Rachel was a complete hellion." Julie smirked. "Why aren't you out tonight? Celeste is gone for the first time, so you should be taking advantage, don't you think?"
"Not with my parents gone for the weekend. I wouldn't feel right."
"I'd be here! Where'd they go again?"
"I don't remember. A Harvard retreat in Maine."
"Oh." Julie stopped spinning in the chair. "I'm sorry. You must be fed up with being left in charge?"
"Well, once in a while they get tired of the local takeout and need to venture elsewhere to assess the culinary situation in other cities. I understand that."
"I accept your deflection and raise you another question. How was your date with Dana last night? I haven't heard from her all day. Where did you take her? You should be out with her again tonight."Matt put on a new song. "We had dinner together."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Details!"
"We ate at a Portuguese restaurant in Central Square. I had codfish cakes for an appetizer and then stewed octopus with potatoes and red wine sauce."Julie sat patiently, waiting for him to say more. "That's it?"
"I don't think that I'd order the octopus again. I'm still tasting the tentacles."
"Come on, Matt. Did you like her? What did you wear? Are you going out again?"
"I'm not sure."
"I can see I'll get nowhere fast on this subject. Like most subjects with you. God forbid you spontaneously produce informative dialogue on your own." She glared at him. "Excuse me, I have to make a phone call about a study group."
"At this hour?"
"College students don't go to bed until at least three. It's a college requirement. You sign a contract when you're accepted."She pulled her cell from her pocket and dialed.
Dana picked up right away. "Hey. You calling for info on last night?"
"Of course."
"It was interesting."
"Elaborate."
"What did he say?"
"I don't have my notes in front of me. Sorry."
"Matt is standing right there, isn't he?"
"Absolutely."
"We had dinner. He paid, which was nice. It's true that he's not physically my type, but I couldn't have cared less. You know, there's something rather sexy and mysterious about him. He had excellent manners and was totally sweet and polite. And you were right. He is smart as hell. I don't know why you've never let me come over to the house, because he's not completely abnormal. Fine, he is a little bit, but I liked him."
"So you found the article I gave you helpful. How did the study group end for you?"
"You want to know if we messed around?"
"Yes."
"He is a delicious kisser."
Julie nearly dropped the phone. "I'm sorry. I didn't quite get your interpretation. I've never heard that fact before."
"Seriously. He's totally fantastic. We made out in the car in front of my apartment. He's got great hands, too. He did this cool thing where he slid his fingers under - "
"OK, OK. I get the gist. That's... That's very good to know. When is the next group getting together?"
"Oh, lord, I'm not going out with him again."
"The study group is losing members?"
"Hell, yes."
"Even after the good grades?"
"First of all, he talked the entire time. The entire time."
"Really? About what?"
"That leads into the second issue."
"Which is?"
"And before you say anything, no, it wasn't the Evolution is Following Me shirt." Dana laughed. "Jules, you have a major problem."
"I don't understand."
"You'll figure it out. That's all I'm saying. Look he's a great guy, he's just not for me. Anyway, I have to go. I'm outside Jamie's dorm."
"Are you kidding me? That sounds like a dumb idea."
"Hey, I'm weak. Sue me. I'll call you tomorrow."
Julie hung up. Matt had loaded a new playlist and was tapping his foot. Why had Dana said that thing about his hands? And his kissing? Ugh. How was she ever going to look at him again? She wasn't supposed to know stuff like that about Matt.
"Sorry," she said. "Important stuff about my study group."
"Sounded like it. I'm going to get something to drink." Matt stood up. "And how's Dana?"
"Oh." Julie looked away. His stupid hands seemed to be ridiculously noticeable all of a sudden. "Ahem. She's fine. Sorry."
Julie groaned to herself after Matt stepped out. How mortifying. And now she had to erase the image of him engaging in anything other than pecking at the keyboard, making sandwiches for Celeste, or folding geeky T-shirts.Julie heard the house phone ring, and she quickly sat up.A few minutes later she heard Matt race down the stairs, and then noises echoed up to his room. What was he doing?Julie hurried downstairs.