Lacey thoughtit was really sweet that Trevor remembered she liked Palace Pizza, and that he suggested it for their second date. As she got dressed in front of the full-length mirror on the back of her dorm door, Lacey couldn’t help but notice her roommate was suspiciouslyquiet.
“Hey,” she called, gaining Morgan’s attention. “Shouldn’t you be more excited that I’m getting ready for my second date withTrevor?”
Morgan forced a smile andshrugged.
“It’s only a few days after our first date. That’s a good thing,isn’tit?”
“Uh, huh.” Morgan played with the pages of a notebook that rested on her bed. The glasses she sometimes wore were sliding down her nose, but Morgan didn’t bother pushing them back up, her gaze unfocused as she stared at thepages.
“Morgan,” Lacey said firmly, still only earning a small reaction from her friend. “What is going on with youtonight?”
“Just a lot on my mind. Schoolstuff.”
Lacey shook her head as she snorted. “I think you mean Date Maker stuff. School never makes you look like you’re attending a funeral.” She got up and walked over to Morgan’s bed, and sat down next to the pages that were scattered across the comforter. “I know a lot of the dates went poorly, but I don’t think any less of you. You’re my best friend, and I know the only reason everything went sideways was because of the pressure Declan put on you. And besides, that’s why I’ve been trying to tell you about my dinner with Trevor. Things are going really well. Celebrate this small victorywithme.”
Morgan looked at Lacey, her face lacking its usual emotion. “You weren’t supposed to end up withTrevor.”
“I know,” sheanswered.
“He’s too young, and not yourusualtype.”
Lacey didn’t know why Morgan was focusing on the arguments Lacey had made just days earlier. Couldn’t Morgan see this match was actually working out? And shouldn’t she be more enthusiastic about something goingright?
“I know,” Lacey repeated. “But maybe that’s why this is such a good fit. He’s not a jerk like the guys I usually go after. Trevor has goals—big ones.” She smiled involuntarily as she daydreamed about their future together. “Wouldn’t it be crazy if he wastheone?”
Morgan’s head jerked up, her eyes wide. “Do you think he’stheone?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Lacey picked an imaginary piece of lint from the hem of her shirt. “I just said it would be crazy if he was. Why are you being so weird about this? Let me remind you that you were the one who wanted me to be in your Date Maker database. You were the one who begged me to go out with Trevor after admitting he and I weren’t supposed to be together. And now, you are the one upset that things didn’t gohorribly.”
Morgan lifted her glasses and propped them on the top of her head, just inches from her messy topknot. “I just want you to take it slow, okay? Don’t go rushing into it only to have your heart brokenagain.”
“You mean, like with Josh.” It wasn’t aquestion.
Morgan bit her lip, refusing to sayanything.
“Well, he’s not anything like Josh.” Lacey jumped off of Morgan’s bed with a loud sigh. “And Josh wasn’t trying to hurt me. He fell in love with a girl who lives in Iowa. I don’t fault him. I don’t fault her. And I just want you to be happyforme.”
“And I just don’t want you togethurt!”
Lacey jerked back at the urgency in Morgan’s voice. “Do you know something I don’t? Did Trevor say something?” Morgan shook her head, causing Lacey to relax her shoulders. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see. Don’t worry about me andTrevor?”
“Just becareful.”
“Okay, Mom.” Lacey rolled her eyes but gave her roommate a hug. “Now help me pick something to wear please, so I can gomeethim.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”Lacey asked as she and Trevor stood in line at the pay-per-slice pizzeria. He’d looked toward the door at least a dozen times since they'd gotten in line, and had been answering her questions in one-word responses since meeting herthere.
“Uh,huh.”
Never mind. Trevor had now moved ontotwowords. Granted, they were only one syllable each, but that had to be an improvement over the “hi,” “sure,” and “maybe” he’d spoken up until thispoint.
If it wasn’t for the fact that they were next in line, she would have pressed him further. But as it stood, her stomach was growing and the display case with all the pizza pies was so close, she didn’t have the focus to start thatconversation.
As she perused the cases, the garlic knots near the register kept catching her attention, all greasy and doughy goodness. But Lacey really hoped to kiss Trevor tonight, and was not willing to let stinky breath get in the way. She dragged her eyes back to the pies on display, all at eyelevel.
The girl behind the counter smiled at her. “What can Igetyou?”
“A slice of cheese,” Lacey answered, and peeked over at Trevor who was looking at the door—once again. She elbowed him a little harder thannecessary.
