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“And, I think I can tell him I got something special in, offer to make him a deal before prom. Then you can come with me.” He flipped the turn signal to get out of the park.

“Then I’ll be a felon too, hooray.”

Darius looked over at me as he turned. “You think all this hacking you’re doing’s legal? Just because you don’t know how you’re doing it, doesn’t make it okay.”

“Heh. True. I guess.”

“No ‘I guess’. I’m sure the NSA would love to crack your head open and see what makes you tick.”

“Pixie dust and bottomless rage?”

He laughed, and I decided to press my luck.

“Soooooo, about prom….”

“I’m gonna get tickets today.”

“Thanks.”

“I’d say you’re welcome, but I fear the price of being my prom date is probably meeting my uncle, so he believes you exist.”

“As long as you’re okay not meeting my mom. Because the less she knows about everything, the better.”

“Fine by me.”

We drove along and I thought about what this might be like if it had a chance to be real, and then swatted that thought from my mind. “Do I want to know what prom tickets cost?”

“Roughly the same amount as a new battery.”

“In that case, I solemnly swear to always charge yours for you.”

“Deal.”

I leaned back into my seat. This was really happening. “Shit,” I whispered. “I have to get a dress.”

Darius laughed again and I liked the sound of it, it made me smile. “Whatever you wear is fine with me.”

CHAPTER 37

“So you’re going…with Darius.” Sarah repeated back to me, like she hadn’t heard me correctly.

“Yep.”

“What about Liam?”

“He’s a sophomore, he can’t go.”

“But Darius—I thought you hated him?”

“I did until recently. It’s complicated.”

“Uh-huh.” She made a face. “I don’t suppose I can get you to wait until you’re a junior and you can go on your own without a boy anyhow? I mean, this seems sort of desperate.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“He has a reputation.”

“Who doesn’t, these days?”