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Mindy was happy to hug him. Even though she probably still smelled like ketchup. Speaking of which…

“Give this back to you-know-who,” she said, shrugging off the aviator jacket. “And tell him that I’ll send the dry-cleaning bill his way.”

“Are you really going to do that?” Anthony asked as he took the jacket.

“No. I’ve never been to a dry cleaner in my life. I just liked how it sounded. I’ll probably throw it in the hamper and hope for the best.”

They laughed, and after another hug, Anthony practically skipped back to the truck. He sure acted like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Mindy felt more at ease too. Her first date was out of the way. At least she’d go into the next one with a little more experience. Although she wasn’t in any rush. Not anymore. She was already looking forward to going upstairs, changing into pajamas, and spending the rest of the evening with a good book.

CHAPTER 15

October 3rd, 1992

As soon as Ricky’s eyes opened, he sat up in bed with a wild grin. He felt like it was Christmas morning! Except instead of a present waiting for him under the tree, he would be unwrapping a different sort of surprise. He allowed himself a naughty giggle. He wasn’t actually planning to sleep with Cameron. Unless everything went really well. But theyweregoing to meet for the first time. Please let him be handsome! They had chatted until late in the night, doing their best to describe themselves. Ricky still hadn’t mentioned his race. Or his glasses. He probably wouldn’t wear them. Although that would make it harder to tell how hot his date was.

So far, all he really had to go on was brown hair, blue eyes, and as Cameron had put it, “I’m kind of stocky, I guess.” What did that mean exactly? Was he overweight? Or built? Ricky hoped he was hot, but he already liked Cameron enough that it probably wouldn’t matter. He got out of bed, checking the clock and mentally calculating how much time he had to get ready. Way too much. Hours and hours, so he trudged downstairs and found his parents standing at the stove in their bathrobes.

“Good morning,” his father said.

“Set the table please,” his mother added.

Ricky was happy to comply. He sat at the kitchen table when finished, grinning as he watched his parents perform a ballet, opening cabinets and flipping eggs as they moved around each other while never colliding. That would be him someday with his future husband. Ricky might be about to meet him for the first time. He realized then that he didn’t know how his parents had met and made a mental note to ask them.

“You’re chipper this morning,” Ami said as she joined him at the table. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah,” he said, even though his excitement had him tossing and turning most of the night.

“I might get back in bed after this,” Ken said with a yawn.

“Don’t you dare,” his wife chastised. “You promised me a day out.”

“Then we should see a movie instead,” Ken said while shaking salt over his eggs, “in a nice dark theater where I can nod off.”

Ami smiled at this before addressing Ricky. “We’re going shopping downtown, if you’d like to join us.”

“Downtown Kansas City?” he asked, sitting upright.

“That’s the one,” Ken replied.

“Perfect!” He had already plotted out a bus route, but this would be way better. “I’m meeting a friend there. You can drop me off!”

“Oh!” his mother said. “Is this the boy you’ve been studying with? Omar, wasn’t it?”

Ricky shook his head. “Not him. I’m meeting someone new.”

“From your school?” she asked, a crinkle of concern appearing on her forehead.

He hesitated but decided to tell the truth. “No. We’ve been talking online for weeks now. I can’t wait to finally see him in person.”

Ami exchanged a look with her husband. “How old is this boy?”

“The same age as me,” he lied.

“Why are you meeting him downtown?” she pried. “Is that where he lives?”

“Umm… I’m not sure.”

She was already shaking her head. “I don’t like this. What’s his name?”