The Romeo Club

I walked Carver into the living room. He stopped next to the couch, his fingers looped in the sides of his pockets. “So, I’ll see you this summer, right?”

“Yeah. Take care. And if you need someone to talk to while you’re at school, give me a ring.”

He took a step forward and drew me into his arms. “Take care, Del. You really don’t know how much you’ve done for me this week. And I’ll never forget it.”

“You’d have done the same for me.” His cologne wafted in the air. Holy yummy. Gah, wait until I told Kenadi that the King of Shirtless Car Washes hugged me. Again. With that, he pulled back and I watched him and his dad pull away.

When I got back to the dining room Mom had already finished her food. Dad was nowhere to be found. Neither was my brother. So I did what any good girl would do, I picked up my breakfast, went into the kitchen, and opened the trash can. Inside, I saw one of my dad’s rolled up newspapers. I shoved it aside so I could hide my biscuit egg crap. Inside the newspaper, I spotted the remains of Dad’s food.

That sneaky bastard. All these years, he’d encouraged Mom’s food making. And all along he’d been hiding it in various newspapers he read during meals. Here we suffered through Mom’s experiments and he threw his out.

Maybe I ought to take more of an interest in the news too.

***

My legs pressed against my chest, I rested my chin on my knees and stared at the rose bushes. Drake dropped into the swing next to me.

“So, do you want to tell me why you and Trey aren’t talking anymore?” he said.

“It’s complicated.” I played with my shoelace.

“Try me. Because it sucks not being able to have my sister and my best friend in the same room, especially when we have the same circle of friends.”

With a sigh, I glanced at him. “I-I did something stupid.”

“As in?”

I went on to explain the whole kissing thing and my muddled attempt at trying to win Trey. When I finished, I wiped tears from my eyes.

Drake chuckled.

“It’s not funny.”

“No. But the extremes you went to try and chase Portia off are. Any guy would be lucky to have a girl like him enough to do that.”

“Except the guy I was doing it for.”

“Well, it explains why he hasn’t been over much lately.” He put an arm around me and kicked the swing into motion. “You know, you could still go to prom. You could hang out with me, Kenadi, and Chloe.”

“I’m not really feeling it. Plus, I’ve got Dwarves of Iconia II to traverse through.”

“The Delyla Denson I know would show up looking hot and dance with everyone. She’d show all the guys that she doesn’t need them.”

I smiled. “Thanks. But I’m serious. I’d rather just stay home.”

“Okay. Thought I’d at least try.”

“Kenadi put you up to it, didn’t she?” My brows raised.

“Nope. This was all your big brother.”

When he left, I went back in the house and up to my room. Inside, I found Jimbo with my pillow.

“No. Bad dog.” I grabbed it from him. My nose wrinkled as I took my pillow case off. “You are not allowed to do that to any of my stuff.” And like that, Jimbo was back to his old self.

Chapter 35

Mom and Dad went with Drake over to Chloe’s house to get prom pictures, since this would be both my brother’s first and last prom. They’d invited me to come along, but I kind of wanted to let them have their moment.

Besides, I didn’t want to listen to everyone telling me how I could still go to prom. Even if I didn’t have a date. I bet prom was overrated anyway. My flannel PJ pants tucked under my feet as I went into the kitchen to grab a bowl of chips. I set my video game case on the counter, poured a glass of pop, then snagged the bag of chips from the cupboard.

Jimbo’s nails clicked on the hardwood as he came in to see what I was doing.

“Don’t worry, boy. I’ll share.” With my goodies in one hand and my new game in the other, I headed toward the stairs. Before I could descend into the nether regions of the family room, a knock sounded on the door.

I groaned, set my stuff on the coffee table and rushed into the living room. “Come on. I just want to play my game.”

Jimbo barked as another knock sounded.

“Coming,” I hollered. When I jerked the door open, my mouth gaped in surprise. C.C. stood on my stoop, in a tux. His lanky frame looked more filled out. His red hair was styled in a faux hawk. The blue in his vest brought out his eyes. He actually looked nice.

“Get ready. You’re going to prom with me,” he said, pushing inside.

“Um—what?”

“Liza got sick and I’m dateless. Please don’t make me go alone.”

“But I had plans.” I waved to my bowl of chips, which at the moment Jimbo was getting into, and the video game on the coffee table.

“Yeah, I see that.” He wrinkled his nose as he stared at my pajamas. “But I’m serious. I can’t miss senior prom. I’ve already missed out on every other dance.”

Geez, he was good. Guilt set in. Here I’d been the one pressing the guys about prom and now he might miss his. “Fine. But, just so you know, we’re not kissing or anything.”

“Promise.” He raised his hand.