Page 82 of You're To Blame 2

“She... Never mind.”

“What’s on your mind, Tate.”

I leaned in. “Sir, I’ve told your daughter several times we are just friends, but she threatened me.”

The burly dude laughed. “What? You feel threatened by a girl?”

“No, Mr. Bright, but she behaves strangely at school. She has a voodoo doll that looks like me in her locker. Regina said if I didn’t join your family for dinner, she’d kill me. Sir, obviously the doll isn’t real. But if the principal finds it. Let’s just say she’ll get kicked out,” I whispered.

“Several students are afraid of her random outbursts in class. After tonight, the drooling and itching. Sir, I’m concerned for her well-being. I don’t mean to overstep but she should probably be in a mental hospital. You don’t want her inflicting harm on an innocent person.”

“I assure you my daughter is just fine,” he grimaced.

“Is this the first time she’s behaved this way?”

He clenched his fist and didn’t answer.

Her parents were in denial. Regina was a bomb waiting to explode.

“Tate.”

I peeked at Mrs. Bright standing in the archway.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“I do apologize. Regina’s under the weather. We’ll have to have you over another time.”

“Thanks, for having me over.” I stood, shaking Mr. Bright’s hand. He was deep in thought about what I said. If her parents didn’t institutionalize her, we would.

I kissed Mrs. Bright’s cheek on my way out. My eyes darkened the moment I stepped over the threshold.

The perfect way to start off our night out was watching the new Marvel movie at the theater. We arrived early and ordered our meals. Our group occupied the first row off the stairs.

Grease dripping from my cheeseburger never looked so good. I picked up the piping hot sandwich and devoured a mouthful of all my favorite toppings. “Oh god, the lettuce and the patty together never tasted so good,” I moaned.

Our friends stared at me.

“Starving Forrester,” Matt snickered.

I whipped the back of my hand across my mouth wiping away the mayo.

“Dude, did you see those half-cooked peas on my plate?”

“Yeah, and you almost ate them,” Matt snickered.

Everyone laughed.

I pointed past Chelsea. “Rocco, those button cams are the best.”

“Thanks. It was fun pulling out all my gadgets for a good cause. To save my friend,” he grinned at her.

I swear he still held a torch for my girl.

“Yeah, you all came through for Chelse.”

I bumped her shoulder.

“We stick together,” Connie smiled.

---