Free Fateful by Cheri Schmidt

replied
flatly.
    Brianna groaned, and then leaned toward
Danielle. “So how was it? Did you have fun? Tell me
everything.”
    “Okay, after dinner?” Danielle said while
absentmindedly pushing food around the plate. It seemed she wasn’t
very hungry after having a late lunch with Ethan.
    “Deal,” Brianna said.
    They talked well into the night about Ethan
and Will. The way girls normally do—at least when boys are the
topic of conversation.
     
     

Chapter 5
    Second Date
     
    The next day Danielle and Brianna sat
chatting in the library after their classes. They had discovered a
quiet corner where they could whisper without disturbing anyone
else, and Danielle asked Brianna to tell her about Will.
    “Well, he’s a talented rugby player, and he’s
an engineering major.”
    “So he’s athletic and smart.”
    “Yeah.”
    “I’ve never seen a rugby game.”
    “We’ll have to take you sometime.”
    “I’d like that.” Danielle slid her books and
art portfolio into her bag before she continued, “What’s his full
name? I’m guessing it’s William…”
    “Yes, William Matson Kent.”
    A mischievous smirk pulled at Danielle’s
lips. “Brianna Lynn Kent. I like it! Or Mrs. William Kent. Oh, I
like that too!”
    Brianna gasped. “Danielle!”
    “Oh, come on! I’ll bet you’ve written it down
a few times just to see what it looks like,” Danielle accused, as
the smirk on her face grew.
    “Maybe,” Brianna replied sheepishly.
    Danielle snickered. She knew it was
true; her cousin had tested
his name with hers.
    “So, Ethan said he would see you today?”
Brianna asked an obvious distraction tactic.
    “Yes, but he didn’t say when or where.”
    “I see.” Brianna pondered to herself as the
mischievous smirk seemed to creep from Danielle’s lips to hers.
“Well, Mrs. Ethan—” she began.
    “Don’t you even dare go there, Bri! We’ve
only just met!”
    Brianna laughed, and let Danielle off the
hook. “Should we go then? Would you like to do lunch in the city,
or when we get home? Are you feeling peckish now?”
    Danielle assumed “peckish” meant hungry. “Uh,
sure let’s go. I don’t care where we eat, it’s up to you.” She bent
to lift her satchel and slung it over herself. When she sat up, she
was startled to see Ethan standing behind Brianna, wearing a wicked
grin on his Prince-Charming face.
    Brianna had no idea he was behind her, and
jumped when his masculine voice drifted over her head. “I have an
idea for lunch.”
    Her cousin’s head flipped around tossing her
hair into her face. He smiled down at her silently. She turned back
to Danielle with one eyebrow raised.
    Danielle felt embarrassed, but smiled anyway.
She wondered if he’d heard them talking about him right before he
materialize behind Brianna.
    “So, Danielle, how does lunch with me sound
to you?” he asked in a low purr.
    How could she say no to that? But Danielle
did remember Brianna. She addressed her first, “Are you okay with
that, Bri? Now I’m the one ditching you.”
    Ethan cut in, “Bri, you’re welcome to come
too, if you would like.”
    Always the
gentleman , thought Danielle.
    “Thanks, Ethan, but you two go on without me.
Have fun, Dannie, don’t worry about me.” She then flashed a knowing
wink her way. Danielle understood perfectly—Brianna expected a
complete report later.
    “Thanks, Bri!” Danielle finally addressed
Ethan who’d been waiting patiently. “I’d love to, thank you.”
    His smile grew, making it considerably more
heavenly. She wondered how he managed such celestial innocence with
mischief dancing in his eyes like that. But Danielle came back to
earth when Brianna jumped in to tease them. “Don’t keep her out too
late, Ethan. It is a school night.” She made her voice sound stern
and motherly. It was a little unnerving how much she reminded
Danielle of Charlotte at that moment.
    Ethan’s eyebrows rose, his smile transformed
into a smug look. With a hard chortle he