The Romeo Club

I laughed. “And I doubt we’d get any studying done. We’d wind up watching a baseball game or making out or anything other than homework.”

He chuckled. “Well, it’d be fun.”

When we parked in my driveway ten minutes later, the Nerd Herds’ vehicles were already there. “I’ll talk to you soon.” I gave him a kiss then opened the door.

“Don’t those guys have their own houses?” He eyed their cars. “They’re here all the time.”

“Jealous?”

“Hell yeah, they get to spend time with you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, I’d rather be snuggled up with you.”

When I climbed from his vehicle, I shut the door and waved goodbye. Juggling Rex, The Romeo Club, and soccer was about to get real interesting. With a sigh, I went inside. I took the stairs two at a time to find the guys in their usual video game playing positions.

“Just to let you guys know, don’t make any plans for Saturday.”

C.C. looked up with a smile. “Oh, are you taking us on a date?”

I snorted. “Um, try the mall. We’re going to get you guys a wardrobe update, some cologne—and C.C. you’re getting a haircut.”

“What’s wrong with my hair?” He tried to run a hand through his curly red afro and got his fingers tangled in it.

“You look like a clown who stuck his fingers in a light socket.”

Trey laughed. “She’s got a point.”

“How about you stay out of this?” C.C. flipped him the bird.

They bantered back and forth for a few minutes. How in the hell did I get roped into this? At the rate we were going, they’d have to buy mannequins and pretend they were their dates.

“If you’re finished arguing now, I just wanted to warn you that when we get home from the mall, you’re getting your first lesson on how to talk to girls.”

“This should be fun.” Drake glanced at me. “Too bad I won’t be around to witness this catastrophe.”

Trey kicked his chair, sending him tumbling to the floor. With that, I left the family room. When I got upstairs, I found Kenadi had messaged me a list of things she knew about Portia. I added them to my notebook. Saturday would definitely be interesting. Hopefully, I survived the Nerd Herds’ introduction to the real world. But if what transpired downstairs was evidence, we were in serious trouble.

Chapter 6

C.C’s station wagon bounced over the potholes as he took the curve too fast, sending me sliding into Trey, who sat beside me in the backseat.

“Geez, are you trying to kill us?” I attempted to reposition myself, thankful that I had a seatbelt. The, circa 1960, car smelled like his dad’s spicy aftershave. The olive green interior reminded me of baby crap and squashed peas. Not a great combo. But he’d volunteered to drive, which saved the rest of us gas money. Although, at the moment, I regretted not footing the bill and taking my car, if only to prolong my life an extra day.

“You can walk if you want,” C.C. said. “Or maybe you’d like to come sit on my lap and help me steer.” He grinned in the rearview mirror.

“I know where I’m about ready to shove that stick shift,” I said.

Trey nudged me. “Do you really want to go there?”

“Good point.”

At last, the mall came into view. The most glorious thing I’d seen in the last half hour. C.C. slowed down and attempted to pull his boat of a car into a narrow space.

“We’re not gonna fit,” Drake said from the passenger seat.

My fingers dug into the seat as I braced myself for the worst. Please don’t let us crash.

“Yes, we will. Besides, I don’t want to have to park in the back lot. You know how far of a walk that is?” C.C. attempted to cram the station wagon in. When he realized how close we were, he backed up and tried again. This time he managed to get between the yellow lines.

Trey opened his door a crack and that was as wide as he could get it. “Um—was it your intention to hold us hostage in your car?”

C.C. threw his door open, hitting the car next to us. But he couldn’t squeeze out.

“Okay, everyone will have to crawl out the back tailgate door,” he said.

“Or we could find another spot,” I said.

When C.C. made no move to start the car, I sighed, undid my seatbelt, then spun in my seat and crawled over. With my midsection up in the air, I felt something hit my butt.

“Ow, watch it,” C.C. said.

“That better not have been your hand.” I glanced over my shoulder to see his head by my backside.

“Nope, it was his face.” Drake laughed. “Now would be a great time to let one rip.”

I hurried over the seat and landed in the back with a thump. Not wanting anyone else to touch my butt or any other part of me, I threw the back door open and practically rolled out. “I sure hope no one I know sees me like this.”

Trey plopped out next and wiped off his khaki pants. “Yeah, this probably isn’t doing much for our image. We would’ve looked better riding bikes.”

“Keep complaining and you’ll walk home.” C.C. crawled from the green beast, followed by Drake and Kevin.