The Romeo Club

Oh, my gosh. They were right. If I did this, I could get my dress. And I wouldn’t have to resort to begging my parents for more chores, or babysitting the monsters down the street. Yeah, but look at them. This won’t be easy. They reminded me of the old men’s clothing ads in Sunday Press. Not to mention they had no idea how to interact with the human species. Other than their moms, I was certain I was the only girl they’d ever talked to. But I can get my dress. Gah. Please don’t let me regret this. “So what kinds of things would I need to help you with?”

Trey cleared his throat and adjusted his stylish, square glasses. “How to talk to girls. Ask them out. How to shop. That kind of thing.”

‘That kind of thing’ was right up my alley. “Okay, here’s the deal. If I help you with this, you have to do what I say. No questions asked. And we’ll have to work out some kind of payment plan. What were you guys thinking?”

“Fifty a week. Each,” Kevin said.

“Plus extra payments if we need extra suggestions or help,” Trey said.

My heart thudded in my ears. This was awesome. It’d be easy. But I’d need to lay some ground rules. “Okay—if I agree then we’ll have set up a schedule for you guys. This means you’ll show up at our house for lessons. You’ll agree to at least one trip to the mall and the hair dresser.” My gaze flitted to C.C. “And you have to keep things reasonable. Don’t expect to become the most popular dudes overnight.”

“So you’ll do it?” Drake leaned against the wood paneled wall, his arms crossed at his chest.

Good lord, I must be crazy. I smiled. “Yes. The first meeting of the Romeo Club is now in session boys. Your first assignment is I want each of you to make me a more specific list of what you’re looking to get from this. That way, I’ll know better what to focus on.”

“Romeo Club, really?” C.C. snorted.

“Would you rather be called the Nerd Herd?” I rolled my eyes.

“No. But maybe something cooler like Phantom Warriors of the Underworld.” He propped his feet up on the coffee table.

I reached over and knocked them down. “How about I’m the one heading this so I get to name it.”

“Just so you know, I’m not offing myself for any girl,” C.C. muttered.

Trey laughed. “Yeah, don’t think that’ll be a problem, Romeo.” He glanced at me. “We’ll take your deal.”

“Then it’s official. We get started right away.”

Chapter 4

I sat on the couch, mashed between C.C., Kevin and Trey as they filled out their lists. Drake threw back a pop, watching the guys, while I scoured my practice schedule on my cell.

“Okay, so I have Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday evenings open. We can meet here after my soccer practices. Then if you need a more private lesson or one-on-one session, we can do those on Sundays.”

C.C. grinned. “Private lessons?”

Trey rolled his eyes and slugged him in the arm. “Yeah, don’t think that’s gonna happen.”

I put my finger in my mouth in a fake barfing motion. “Um—so not in this lifetime.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing.” C.C. winked. He flexed his gangly, freckle covered arm as if to impress us.

“I’m betting it’s not much.” Trey nudged me.

Several minutes later, when the guys finished, they handed me their papers. “Okay, I’ll go over them tonight and talk with you tomorrow.”

Kevin groaned. “So we have to wait?”

“Hey, how am I supposed to help you if I’m not sure what you need or want from this?”

“Give the lady some room. I don’t want her screwing this up for us.” C.C. stood, grabbing his corduroy jacket from a nearby chair. “I’ll see you tomorrow, my dear, sweet Julietish girl.”

The boys climbed the steps and headed out of the family room. My brother plopped down next to me with a sigh. “You know, I owe you one. I think you just made their night by doing this.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t go thanking me yet, I’m not sure how reasonable their lists are gonna be or if I can help them.”

He chuckled, resting his head against the back of the couch. “Actually, I think you underestimate yourself. Look what you did for me and Chloe.”

“Yeah, but I think she already had you on her radar. This is starting from scratch. I mean, have you seen what I have to work with? C.C. can be ridiculous at times. And Kevin is so shy, he barely talks to people.”

He patted my leg. “Trust me. If anyone can do this, it’s you.”

I hoped so because I sure needed the money. But even I admitted that sometimes things were out of my hands.

“Dinner,” Mom hollered from upstairs.

We trudged to the dining room, like two soldiers heading to war. My fingers brushed against the side of the china cabinet, which at the moment had no dishes in it. Rather Dad’s antique toy trucks cluttered the shelves beside Mom’s bazillion cookbooks. Blue and white curtains billowed in the breeze that snuck in the opened window. Maybe now would be a good time to crawl out.

We slid into our chairs, the brass chandelier twinkling above.