“I’m sixty, and you know it. I’m fine with sixty. Sixty’s the new fifty. Haven’t you heard?”
“I have heard that. I don’t get how it works, but I suppose when I turn forty, I’ll get what you mean. Forty’s the new thirty, right?”
“Right!” exclaims my mom. “Perri, you’re going to be thirty-two next month, right?”
“Yep,” she says, popping thepsound. “Yippee,” she deadpans.
“I think MacKenzie is about your age.” Oh, shit. Why did I just say that out loud? That just gave Mom fodder.
“Really?” she asks with a devious smile on her face. “I thought you didn’t know her very well. Or was it…you just met her?I can’t remember.”
“I don’t know her very well, and I just met her.” There, that should shut her up.
“So, did you investigate her?” asks Perri. “Are you being a creeper?”
I must look guilty, because she screeches, “Jeesh, you must really like her.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not a creeper, Jesus. I don’t know her. I do know about her, though.”
Perri chuckles. “Stalker.”
“I’m not a stalker.”
“Son, calm down. There’s more to this story than you’re telling us, and that’s fine. We know we’ll get it out of you in time.” She turns to my sister. “Won’t we, Perri?”
“We will. We always do.”
“Grrrr,” I groan. “Why me?”
“Because, Samuel, we love you and want you to be happy.”
“Mom, I am happy. Very happy.” That’s not really true. I’m notveryhappy. I’m just sort of happy.
I hug them both as we exit the restaurant. I hand the valet all three of our tickets. They bring Mom’s car first. I open her door and help her inside. “Happy birthday, Mom. I love you,” I say as I kiss her cheek.
“I love you more, sweetheart. See you soon.” She shuts the door and drives away, leaving Perri and me to wait.
As soon as Mom is gone, Perri turns to me and says, “Call me. I want the whole story, big brother.”
I nod. She’s going to want to know everything about MacKenzie Parker, and I’m the idiot who’s going to tell her. She’s my kryptonite, my little Perrianna.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MAKE ME OVER
The days leadingup to Friday feel like they’re a million hours long. I’m excited and nervous to see Sam again. Lauren is staying overnight at my place tonight so she can do my hair and makeup and approve my outfit for the day. I shouldn’t let her do it, but I’m weak when it comes to her. She’s been with me for my best and worst days.
We met when we both took a dance class at the same studio. I was seven; she was just eight. Even though we lived worlds apart, literally and figuratively, we bonded right away when a mean girl in the class started to pick on Lauren. I promised to punch the bully in the nose if she hurt Lauren’s feelings “ever, ever again.” Emphasis on theeverwas critical. After that, we were BFFs. We had slumber parties at Lauren’s house at least once a month. She wasn’t able to stay over at our house because of our neighborhood, but Pops didn’t take offense, so neither did I. He knew she was my only friend, and he wasn’t going to do anything to prevent our friendship.
She did come over for playdates now and then. That’s how she got to know and admire Pops. He was funny and charming. Even her mom liked him, and she’s pretty snobby. He had a wayabout him, and Pops was a handsome man, even in his seventies. The term silver fox described him to a T.
“What are you going to do to me in the morning?” I ask Lauren as she slides into my full-size bed.
“Nothing too outrageous. Don’t worry. You’ll look beautiful.”
“I trust you,” I grumble. “I’m beat. Going to sleep.” I’ve been up late every night, trying to finish Sam’s necklace. I finished last night at one forty-five in the morning. I roll back to face her. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you.”
“What?”
