The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 3

She rolled her eyes, yet she couldn't hold back a smile. "Shut up."

"Guess you're staying with him tonight after the romantic dinner," he gave her a knowing look, "so even though I don't like the idea of you wearing that dress, but I don't want to spoil your night. Instead, I'm going to advise you to keep a condom or two in your purse. You know, just in case for extra." He shrugged casually, digging into the Doritos bag.

She gasped embarrassedly as she slapped his arm. "Joey!"

Joey chuckled. "What? I'm just saying. Because if he got you knocked up tonight, I'm going to kill him."

Shaking her head dismissively, Kirsten then started again, "So, why haven't you asked Ashley out yet?"

"I will never ever do that."

"Why? She's totally gorgeous and so nice! It seems like you two had a fun conversation last week, too."

He saw her grinning at him teasingly. "Kirsten, that wasn't a conversation, that was what people call 'arguing'. And it wasn't fun, it was annoying."

"But you enjoyed it, didn't you?"

"Nope. But well, it's fun whenever I can win the argument and make her speechless," Joey laughed in evil.

"Aww, you both would make a really cute couple together, believe me!" Kirsten shook his shoulder excitedly.

"You make me want to vomit this Doritos," he said in a monotone. "I was actually thinking to ask you to come to my game tomorrow in Princeton, but I don't think it was a good idea."

"Will Ashley be there, too?" Her voice was still in excitement.

"This is why I said it wasn't a good idea," he responded as he shook his head.

"I'll come! I'll come!"

"No, you're probably just going to shout some stupid things at me, like, 'Go, Joey! Ashley loves you!' or something."

"No, I promise I won't!" Kirsten protested eagerly.

"Yes, you will."

"Okay, I'll stop talking about you and Ashley." She pantomimed to lock her mouth and threw the imaginary key away. "Please let me come, Joey. I really want to watch your basketball game."

Joey didn't get why Kirsten seemed to really like Ashley after only one brief accidental meeting and wanted him so bad to go out with the girl he definitely disliked. It wouldn't happen even if they were the last two people alive on this planet. But when he saw his stepsister staring at him with big doe eyes, he had no choice.

He sighed. "Okay, you can come, but—"

Kirsten instantaneously cheered, her face beaming. "Can Liam come, too? He's still in New York tomorrow."

"Oh, sweet," Joey said sarcastically then nodded. "Okay, but—"

A ding interrupted the stepsiblings.

"Hang on." She grabbed her phone then smiled. "He's here! Joey, I got to go and it's your cue to leave my dorm."

He watched her sitting on a chair and sliding her feet into her shoes in a hurry. Then she got to her feet, made sure her hair was perfectly styled in the mirror, straightened her dress and turned to him. He could tell that she was excited yet—for God knows why—nervous.

"How do I look?" Kirsten asked with bated breath.

"You look great," Joey answered honestly.

Her smile became brighter. "Thanks."