Page 105 of Not How I Saw That Going

We aren’t so alone after all.

Lisa smiles at him and retrieves a box from the bottom of the garment bag. It’s the exact toy Crew has been eyeing at the store for the last year, the Spider-Man action figure with lots of cool noises and fun accessories and a much too expensive price tag. The one I’ve been saving up for to get him for his birthday.

It looks like we both got something we wanted.

I fasten the locket around my neck, then turn and smile at Maddie.

“Okay, I think I’m ready. Make me beautiful.”

Her face twists at my smeared makeup. “That might take a while.”

I swat at her. “Shut up.”

Thirty Six

Ward

Itakeadeepinhale and rub my sweaty palms down my pant legs. Do all men feel this nervous about picking up a beautiful girl for a fancy event? I’m going to guessyesso my pride doesn’t take a hit.

I straighten my light blue tie in the mirror. My sister talked me out of the black bow tie I wanted to wear, so now I’ll be fixing the same knot five hundred times.

“You got something right there.” Caleb bumps me in the side, and I move out of the mirror so he can adjust his own tie.

“Where?” I ask, leaning back in the mirror to see.

“Wait, never mind. That’s just your face. Can’t fix that,” he says as he skirts my punch.

“Did you actually find a girl willing to go with you?” I taunt in return.

“After multiple compatibility tests, I narrowed the selection down to the perfect woman,” he says, running a hand through his hair, then patting it back down on the sides to achieve his desired look.

“Well, in that case, I’m excited to meet her,” I say smugly. It will most likely be the first and last time I do.

“Stick to your date, and I’ll stick with mine.” He smirks at himself in the mirror then turns to look at me. “Did you ever find anything on the ex?”

My back goes stiff. “Yes. I talked to him today.” I turn and walk to the kitchen, pulling a tiny plastic box and a water bottle from the fridge.

“Yes? That’s all you’re going to tell me?”

I knew he wouldn’t give up that easily. I drop the box on the counter and go to shove a hand through my hair, but stop before I mess it up.

“He’s not a good guy,” I say, I unscrew the cap and down half the bottle. “He sold drugs to kids, but because it was only his first offense after a handful of other minor offenses,” one which had been a domestic dispute, “he received six years. He just got out on good behavior.” I squeeze the bottle in my hand until I feel ice-cold water against my leg.

Shoot.

I grab a hand towel and pat the wet spot.

“Hey, shake it off, man.” Caleb hits my shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about him tonight.”

“Right.” I nod. I will enjoy the night with Lyndi and the plans I have to ask her on a real date. I don’t want this thing to end.

She and Crew are quickly becoming my everything.

I pause just outside Lyndi’s door and straighten my tie, then mentally slap myself for touching it again. It looked fine the first hundred times I tied it.

The door opens, and a woman steps out.

I jump back before she runs into me.