“What time do you need me to pick you up?”
“Uh.”
She raises her hand, stopping me. “Don’t tell me you’re going to take the bus home. The route is ridiculously long. It only takes ten minutes.”
“I was actually going to say that you don’t need to worry. Scotty is going to pick me up.”
“Wait. He’s picking you up?”
I nod, holding back my smile.
“Wow. Okay. So I’m guessing the broken porch swing brought you together? You’re welcome…I guess.”
“Thanks. We’ll fix it. I promise, and thank you for the ride.”
“No problem, Laura. I’m always here to help, but when you get back tonight, I want to hear everything.” She pauses and squints at me. “Actually… not everything. If anything happens with you and Scotty, I don’t want to hear it through the walls. Please spare me that trauma.”
“Okay. I’ll see you back at the house.”
I lean over, give her a quick kiss on the cheek, and make my way out of the car. Admittedly, in this dress, it takes me longer than usual.
When I have my bag hauled over my shoulder, I shut the door and head straight to the rec center doors.
My feet pound against the concrete, my heels doing little to protect them.
Note to self: Get new princess shoes.
Once I’ve passed through the front desk, I head straight to the hall where the birthday party is being held.
When I open the doors, I freeze.
“Uh…”
Nothing. There’s nothing in here at all.
Where are the balloons? And the parents, for that matter?
There’s only a single chair sitting in the middle of the room.
“Hello?” My voice echoes—it's that empty in here.
The double doors to the catering kitchens open and a guy wearing a baseball cap enters, freezing when he sees me.
Then he just stares. So much that it’s a little awkward.
“Hi,” I say in my perfectly pitched princess voice, and smile. “I’m here for Junior’s birthday party.”
He clears his throat and shakes his head, letting out a little laugh. “Of course. I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to look so realistic. I'm Junior, the birthday boy’s brother.” I shake his hand, and he gives me a wide grin.
My brows furrow. “Do I know you from somewhere? I feel like we’ve met.”
He drops my hand. “Ah, I’ve lived in Covey my entire life. You’ve probably seen me around.”
When he shrugs it off, so do I. I’ve done so many parties since I started here and have met so many people that I’m probably just mixing him up with someone else.
“I just got here.” He looks around the room. “My parents told me to set up. They didn’t tell me that nothing had been done.”
I let out a small laugh. “Explains the lack of decorations. Do you want me to help?”
