Page 95 of I Wish You All the Best

“Ina Garten?” I look at him. In fact, all three of us give him a strange look.

“My dad likes the Food Network, but that wasn’t the point here,” Nathan argues. “You should do it.”

“Maybe.”

“Well, if you decide to do it,” Sophie starts to say, “make sure we get tickets. I’ve got the perfect outfit.”

Meleika eyes her. “You have the perfect outfit for a student art show?”

“Totally!” Sophie says. “Now sit still, I’ve got to finish these nails.”

“And with that, I’m going to get some water.” Nathan taps his knuckles against the table. “Anyone want anything?”

“I’m good,” I say. Sophie and Meleika are too busy focusing on Meleika’s nails. Sophie’s got this new black polish that almost seems blue when you look at it just the right way. It’s so stunning I’m legit considering asking her to do mine. Then it hits me. “Actually, yeah. I’ll go with you.”

Nathan looks a little surprised, but it lasts maybe a split second. “All righty, then.”

I follow him to the vending machine out in the hallway in front of the cafeteria. I guess the line is way too long to wait in just to buy a bottle of water.

“So …” I say, staring at the huge logo.

“So …” Nathan eyes the big blue vending machine.

“So.” I tuck my hands into my pockets and shuffle my feet around. “I wanted to ask you a favor. A big favor.”

“Okay.” The corners of his mouth perk up a little. “No chance I could ask you to do this in riddle form?”

“Yeah, no.” I sigh. “It’s a bit of a weird request.”

“It’s not that hard to make questions riddles,” Nathan says.

“Not what I meant.” I shake my head. “I just need your help.”

“Hide a body, no, wait. You need to get revenge on someone? I’ve got the perfect way to ruin someone’s gas tank.”

“No, it’s not that. Just let me talk, please.” Though the gas tank trick might come in handy later. “My mom sent me a message online, she and my dad really want to talk to me.”

Nathan’s smile vanishes in an instant. “About how they kicked you out?” He pulls a dollar out of his wallet and feeds it into the vending machine.

“That might come up, yeah.” I get in closer. “And I’d just feel better about having someone there.”

“And your sister isn’t an option?”

I shake my head. “I don’t need you to sit in on it or anything, but just like, knowing you’re there might help me.”

“Do I have that effect?” Nathan’s still not smiling, and I’m getting sort of worried.

I really need there to be a cap on how many times cheeks can blush per day. “Kind of. It’d really help to have a friend there.”

“And you really think this is a good idea?” he asks.

“No,” I say. “But I feel like I have to hear them out, listen to what they have to say.”

“Ben—”

“Just … please, just this one thing. Please?”

Nathan lets out a long sigh. “When are you meeting?”