Page 25 of It's a Date (Again)

“I will help you figure out which of these guys you love before your birthday.”

I squint. “And what’s in it for you?”

“I don’t have to go through with the old pact.”

We stare at one another for a moment, like we’re in some sort of a showdown.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

He nods and says, “I’m sure.”

Finally, I extend my unsteady hand toward him. “Good,” I say.

And we shake on it.

CHAPTER6

Robbie and I are seated on opposite ends of the couch while a rerun ofFriendsplays on the television. For me it’s a first-time viewing, but he said it was one of my faves. His nose is buried in his laptop, and he takes notes on a pad of paper, flipping his attention back and forth. I thought he was working. But he’s not. He’s doingresearch, as he put it—going through social media profiles, searching Google, and even pulling background reports on each of the guys in an effort to help me pick the right one. Robbie’s already taking the new pact too seriously. But I find it kind of cute ... in a Robbie way.

The front door opens and closes.

“Hello,” Maya calls out in a singsong voice as she climbs the stairs.

“Hey,” I say.

Robbie’s too focused and doesn’t say anything. Maya sets down her backpack and several shopping bags. She’s dressed much differently from when I saw her at the hospital. Instead of sweats, she’s in ripped skinny jeans, an off-the-shoulder sweater, and high-heeled boots. I like her style. It matches her sassy, outgoing personality. She pulls a box from one bag and tosses it to me.

“This was on the front porch.”

It’s from Verizon, so I know it must be my replacement phone Robbie mentioned. I quickly rip it open while Maya sorts through items from her shopping bags, a mix of groceries and stationery. Robbiehasn’t even looked up from his laptop yet. He’s in a whole other world full of new pacts.

“I ran into Debbie on my way in.” Maya looks to me. “She doesn’t know about the accident, does she?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What? Why wouldn’t you tell her?” Robbie asks, finally pulling himself from hisresearch. I figured he already knew that based on how Debbie was acting toward him this morning, but I think the whole pact thing distracted him.

“Well, I didn’t know who she was at first. By the time I realized we clearly knew each other, it felt too late.” I busy myself, looking at my new shiny iPhone.

“You should tell her,” Maya says.

My eyes flit between them. “Why didn’t you guys tell her when I was in the coma?”

“Because neither of us had her number. Apparently, she recently changed it because of some online-dating fiasco, and we never got the new one. Plus, your phone was broken, and she wasn’t home. Trust me, we tried. If she had Instagram, she would have known. The only reason I was able to find you was because I was on the phone with you when it happened. I called all the hospitals in the area over and over until you were admitted into one of them.” Maya puts her hands on her hips. “You have to tell her.”

“Maya’s right,” Robbie says. “She’s going to lose it if she finds out you didn’t tell her.”

“I don’t want to,” I say defiantly. The phone screen lights up with a welcome greeting.

“Why?” Robbie and Maya ask in unison.

“Because I like the way she looks at me.”

“What do you mean?” Robbie asks.

“She looks at me like I’m not broken. If she knew, she’d look at me the way you two do.” I point at both of them.

Maya’s mouth drops open. “That’s not true. We look at you how we’ve always looked at you.”