“It was good to get out of the house, at least until Maleah’s sitter said something came up and she needed to leave early.” She sighs, likely thinking about returning home, before she perks up. “But I managed to get in some time with the girls in the STEM club and almost all the seniors on student council. I’vedefinitelygot their vote for prom queen. I’m going to need to find some time to talk to the athletes. They’re probably all planning to vote for Yasmina since she’s dating the captain of the basketball team, but I’m sure I can convince them to vote for me. You talked to all the art kids, right?”
I nod, confirming what I’ve told her three other times this week. “They’ve all said they’ll vote for you.”
Her smile is wide. “Good. Oh, and I’ve got some great news. I got you another date!”
I’m so taken aback I miss the pothole in the ground and stub my toe, making me stumble. Kalani catches me by the arm and rights me.
“What?” I ask, reeling, searching my mind for who she could’ve possibly set me up with between the car ride here and now. “What are you talking about?”
She smiles at me. “Remember, I said I’d set you up with someone better for next week? I found someone! He’s hot, and he graduated last year so he doesn’t go to Oakwoods. I spent a while talking to him tonight, so you guys will get along. Definitely doesn’t give me clingy vibes like how you described Arthur or jerk vibes like Jay. He’s a perfect in between.”
She seems proud of herself as she opens the front door of Emmett’s car and gets in. I rack my brain as I slide into the leather back seat with Emi and Daphne, thinking about who Kalani was talking with tonight.
I gasp. “Sunglasses at night guy?” She can’t be serious. I don’t want to go on a date with a guy who thinks it’s normal to wear dark sunglasses as an accessory to a party at night.
“Wait, what?” Emi asks. “What happened to Wyatt? Why can’t we set Carina up with him?”
“On the car ride over we agreed no one else from Oakwoods,” Kalani answers. “Weren’t you listening?”
Emi grumbles about being on the phone as she shuts the car door.
Kalani waves her hand like it doesn’t matter one way or the other. “His name is Chad, and he’s cool, I promise. He has my number, and he said he’ll text me when he makes reservations. Figured you wouldn’t want me giving out your number.”
She should’ve figured that I wouldn’t want to go out with a random boy she just met who doesn’t know how to appropriately dress himself, but then again, I don’t really want to go out withanyone, so I guess it’s an irrelevant point anyway.
“It’s on Friday night. You’ll have fun on this one, I promise.” Kalani turns the volume up on the radio as Emmett starts the car. “I feel like I’m getting better at this. Maybe I should start a matchmaking service! MeetCute by Kalani. Or maybe Cupid Kalani.” She gasps like a thought just occurred to her. “Or Kalani’s Connections. I could spellConnectionswith a K too, but that may make discoverability on Google a bit harder.”
She’sreallyexcited about this, and she seems really proud of this next date. I can’t crush her by saying I don’t want to go out with this new guy, especially not after agreeing to another date only a few hours ago on the drive here.
“Seat belts?” Emmett checks from the front like he does every time. Then, probably trying to be supportive, he exclaims, “Don’t worry, Carina. Third time’s the charm!”
I put my seat belt on and sulk to myself as Emmett pulls away from the curb. At this point, if Sunglasses Guy—Chad—shows up on time, doesn’t insult me, and doesn’t bring his mom, I’ll consider it a win. If I have to go out with him to convince everyone I’m not secretly in love with Emmett, like they probably suspect, then I’ll make the best damn effort I can with Chad. It just seems like an extra shame, after tonight, that I’m going to go on a date with someone else, but I won’t let myself think too deeply about the reason why.
“Great,” I say when I realize everyone’s looking at me. “So excited.”
Twelve
It’s Friday, and the week flew by without any incidents. I aced a history test, had a great shift at work, and threw myself into a janitor’s closet to avoid running into Arthur in the halls, but other than that it was business as usual.
On Thursday, Chad messaged Kalani to inform her that I should meet him at Delphine Chophouse at seven o’clock on Friday, and I haven’t been able to think of an excuse to get out of it. It’s the fanciest restaurant in town, and people from towns over flock to get a table, so the fact that he chose that restaurantandmanaged to get a Friday night reservation means there’s no way I can bail. I’d much rather stay at home with Kevin and my paints, or have a sleepover with Kalani and Emi like back in the day, or even check out Boscoe’s pop-up exhibit since tonight is the last night it’s open before they pack up, but instead I’m shoving my feet in strappy heels that are half a size too small for me and caking my face to perfection.
“Where are you going all dressed up?” Mom asks when I emerge downstairs in a navy minidress covered with tiny white polka dots. Kevin trails down the stairs behind me.
To meet a guy namedChadwho wears sunglasses to a party at night and somehow hope against all obvious signs that it’ll be a good date.
“Delphine,” I tell her, fixing my lipstick in the mirror. Technically not a lie.
She shuts her laptop. “Fancy. With Kalani and Emi?”
I freeze for only a brief second before nodding at her. “Yes, with them.” Totally a lie.
Mom’s smile is wide. “Good! See, honey, everything works out once you’re honest with your friends.”
“Uh-huh,” I reply nonchalantly, taking my time with my lipstick so I don’t have to look directly at Mom.
My stomach hurts from the lie, but I push past it. Better this than have her mind-trick the truth out of me. The last thing I need is her disapproving stare venturing deep into my soul and ferreting out that I’m going on dates so I don’t fifth wheel my friends anymore and don’t throw off the numbers or whatever it is they’re worried about at prom. Plus, I don’t want Mom to find out I’m going on a date in general, because then she’ll grill me about his name, age, job, home address, and social security number, and that’s information I either don’t have or don’t feel like sharing.
“All right, have fun,” she says, opening her laptop again. “Dad and I are going out with Sam and Yolonda soon, so don’t wait up if you get in before us.”