Page 120 of The Dixon Rule

“That’s it!” I’ve never heard Brenda lose control, but she’s yelling at the whole room now. “The meeting is canceled today! I don’t know why we can’t get through one damn HOA meeting without a dire incident! Everyone, go home! Veronika, get off the freaking table!”

Shane and I shuffle outside. I have to hold on to his arm for support because I’m laughing too hard.

“I can’t believe that just happened!” Tears leak out the corners of my eyes.

“I never want to move out of this complex,” he says between deep, shuddering laughs.

Once we calm down, we step outside into the sunshine. The other neighbors are also scattering, pouring out of the Sycamore and disappearing down the path.

“I think you should blow off work,” Shane says. There’s no mistaking the heat in his eyes.

“No. That’s not how jobs work.”

“Fine. Do you want a ride?” he offers.

“Thank you, but I think I’ll walk. It’s such a nice day.”

“All right, catch you later.”

He leans in and I lean back.

“What was that?” I demand.

Shane blinks. “Oh my God. I was gonna kiss you goodbye.”

“Yeah, no. We’re not doing that.”

I’m giggling to myself as I leave for my shift at Della’s. On my lunch break, I check my phone to discover some activity in the neighbors’ chat. Niall, the traitor, followed through and added Shane, who’s already sent a few messages. Aw, look at him participating!

I work my magic.

ME:

Guys, Shane dropped his phone in the pool and it’s completely dead. And somehow he also lost all his messages and contacts and we don’t know if he’ll ever get them back.

YOU HAVE REMOVED SHANE LINDLEY FROM THE GROUP NEIGHBORS.

I instantly get a message from Shane.

SHANE:

Why won’t you let me have this!!

ME:

Because you want it too bad.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

SHANE

Omigosh

“THANKS FOR DOING THIS,” DAD SAYS AS MARYANNE BOUNDS INTO MY condo. She has a purple rolling suitcase in tow. Not a carry-on but a full-size one an adult would take on a European vacation for a month. It’s covered with stickers brandishing ridiculous science slogans, like: UP AND ATOM!

And: SCIENCE IS MY SUPERPOWER.

And my favorite: STEMINIST IN TRAINING.

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