I glance at the others. Wes is nodding, vigorously, while Olivia and Charlie are shaking their heads and mouthingEvil Joes.
“I guess not,” I mumble, and drop down on the edge of the bed.
Nonna squeezes me quickly and says, “This date can’t last long—that Nativity thing shuts down around nine.”
“And her date’s bedtime is probably close to that,” Charlie says under his breath.
Nonna throws him a look over her shoulder, then turns back to me. “I’ll have some fresh beignets ready and we’ll all meet here after your date. It will give us something to giggle about.”
Awesome. I’m going to be stuck in this getup for up to five hours just so we have something to giggle about over beignets later.
Nonna leaves the room. Olivia and Charlie just keep staring at the blinking lights like they’re mesmerized by them.
“We’ll come through the tour. Several times,” Charlie says once he snaps out of it. “And make sure we get pictures. You do need a new profile pic now that you and the dumbass broke up. Do you think everyone will be lit up or just you?”
I throw a pillow at him. “No pictures!”
Wes picks up the last piece of the costume that I’ve been avoiding: the headpiece. He’s trying really hard not to laugh as he plops it on my head. “Wait, I think this has lights, too.” I hear him flip a button and I turn to the mirror. Sure enough, there’s a ring of light around my head just like a halo.
Wes’s face appears next to mine in the mirror. “This just keeps getting better and better.”
I push him in the chest, knocking him off-balance, and he falls back, laughing.
“All of you suck,” I say as I pick up my robes with as much dignity as I can muster and walk out of the room, trying not to trip.
I check the clock as I walk into the kitchen. I stuffed my phone and enough cash for a cab into the pocket of my pants so I can bail if I need to. And I’m pretty sure I’ll need to.
Papa is in the side yard, supervising a couple of guys as they unload a cord of firewood near the back door, while Nonna is writing a check and talking to another guy who looks my age at the kitchen counter.
I back into the hall to hide. My blinking lights bounce off the white walls and make me feel dizzy.
“Thanks so much for your business, Mrs. Messina.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for getting to us so quickly.”
I peek around the corner. The guy is just about to turn away when Nonna puts her hand on his arm, stopping him.
“How old are you?” she asks.
Oh God. What is she doing?
“Um, I’m eighteen,” he answers, confusion laced in his words.
“Are you single?”
I drop my head back against the wall and let out a groan.
“Um…No, ma’am. I, uh, I have a girlfriend.”
Nonna lets out ahumphand says, “Well, drat.”
I wait until I hear him leave the kitchen before I move away from my hiding spot.
“Seriously, Nonna? Were you really going to set me up with someone you don’t know for New Year’s Eve?”
She shrugs. “I know him.” She picks up the business card he left on the counter and reads it quickly. “His name is Paul.”
“Paul, huh. Without looking back at the card, tell me his last name.”
