It’s Jay. It’s like he always knows when I’m thinking about him.
Are you at work? I’d like to claim my free ice cream.
I do owe him ice cream for helping me get out of that date with Arthur. I owe him more than that for everything else he’s done, but ice cream is a good place to start.
Just to be a pain in the ass, I reply:
But you don’t even like ice cream.
He came in while I was working on Tuesday and Thursday after his sister’s soccer practice and game, but the bakery is always so busy and I was running around, so another worker ended up helping him before I could get there. He only sent me a wink and slid his hand across the glass of the display case before leaving.
That’s not the point. Are you at work or not?
“Is that Emi you’re texting?” Emmett asks from the front, his blue eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. “Tell her we’re almost there.”
“No problem,” I reply, but I don’t text Emi. Instead, I reply to Jay.
I’m not at work, I’m on a group date if you can believe it.
He replies instantly.
I thought you were going to tell your friends you didn’t want to be set up anymore?
It’s a long story. I’ll tell you after.
He doesn’t answer, and I put my phone away in favor of ignoring the strange hurt in my chest and staring mindlessly out the window.
Emmett and Kalani have been talking to each other in the front seat, and I haven’t bothered tuning in to pay attention until I hear my name being called.
“What?” I ask.
“I asked how your date went,” Emmett says. “Kalani told me it wasn’t good, but she didn’t tell me the details other than Chad’s a drug dealer and skipped out on the bill.”
“Again, sorry,” Kalani says, and knowing what I do now, I can’t decide if I believe her or not. She’s saying it sincerely, or as sincerely as Kalani can, so maybe I should give her the benefit of the doubt. Sheismy best friend, after all.
So I tell him about the date. About Chad showing up late, repeatedly getting my name wrong, ordering for me and saying it was all on him, running out the emergency exit, Jay bailing me out, and Jay taking me to Boscoe’s.
Emmett’s frown in the rearview mirror deepens as my story progresses.
“Did you call the police on Chad?” Emmett asks.
The question stumps me. “Um . . . no.”
His frown only grows more serious. “He’s a drug dealer. He was going to skip out on the bill and make you his accomplice.”
“But I didn’t run out on the bill. Jay covered it until I could pay him back. And I don’t actually have any proof that Chad’s a drug dealer. He didn’t pull out a baggie and show me or anything . . .” I trail off weakly, wishing I could sink into the leather seat. Emmett’s disapproving stare isn’t even turned on me but instead reflects off the rearview mirror, and I still feel its full effect.
“I’m sure Chad will do something stupid sooner or later and get himself arrested on his own, babe. Don’t worry about it,” Kalani says, stepping in to smooth things over for me like she normally does.
Has Emmett always been so . . . prudish? I don’t remember him always being such a Goody Two-shoes, but maybe I overlooked it because of my giant crush. I liked Emmett because of how good and nice he is, but is it possible that he’stoogood? It’s almost . . . annoying?
“Anyway,” Kalani adds, and I’m grateful for the subject change, “are you excited, Carina? Make sure to be nice to Wyatt. He’s our last shot at getting you a prom date.”
Now I’mnotgrateful for the subject change. “I’m always nice.”
“Uh-huh,” Kalani says, flipping the sun visor down and using the mirror to fix her lipstick. “I’m just saying, it’ll be the first time there are six of us and not five of us, so you won’t be a . . . you know . . .”
Unlike the other times she’s hinted at it, I don’t restrain myself. “A fifth wheel?” I deadpan, clenching my jaw.