Page 37 of Something New

"He asked Neon and Tanner where you were, and they came and asked me. Deadpan asked about you, Shy! That's insane. He said he was hoping you were there, that he wanted you to take his picture!"

"I'm sure I'll run into him again. I'll take his picture sometime."

"How are you being so rude about Deadpan?"

"Rude?" I asked, smiling.

"Yes. I thought you would be screaming right now. From happiness. I thought you would hug me and tell me I'm the best for delivering you this news. It's Deadpan, Shy. Nick Butler? The DJ?"

"That's really cool," I said, smiling. "I’m not not freaking out. I'm happy. I think it's cool that he asked about me."

I got settled into my seat.

"What'd you get?"

"Lavender," I said.

"You're so weird."

"It's delicious."

"It's like soap. Don't put it near my coffee. So why did you stay back this weekend? And why are your brothers being so hard on you? I'm the one who had the accident."

"It's my car. They saved me thousands of dollars. And they helped you, too. Your sentence would have been a lot worse."

"I know, and I'm thankful, but geez, how long are they going to make you work? That's not cool."

"This Friday is my last day doing construction, and even then, I don't mind. It's the least I can do."

"I know they helped you out. But they're taking it a little too far, especially with the babysitting."

"No, it's for someone else."

He stared at me, looking completely dumbfounded.

"What?" I said.

"What the heck are you doing babysitting when you need to be in Atlanta? Deadpan, Shy! I really hope you're going to the party this weekend."

"I wasn't planning on it."

"Girl, what is your problem?" he asked, staring at me with wide eyes and an over-exaggerated expression. "Seriously, are you depressed or something?"

"No."

"What is it? Why aren't you going out?"

"I’m a little into the guy with the kid."

"Y-you, oh, the dad? You have a crush on the kid's dad? You bad girl. Are you trying to be a mistress?" He looked at me with a dangerous smile, teasing me, as if he was okay with the idea as long as I didn't get caught.

"No, she's dead."

"Oh, whoa, the kid's mom?"

"Ethan, yes."

"Ethan is the kid?"

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