Page 78 of Broken Grump

“So, you’ll do it?”

“I—I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not even sure if he was serious about any of it.”

“Only one way to find out!” She takes my phone and swings it back and forth in her hand.

“Give me that.” I snatch it from her and unlock the screen. “What should I say?”

“Well.” She runs her fingers through her long hair. “If I were you, I’d make a bold move and just agree to the date. Kidding or not, where can he go from there? I mean, either than to come pick you up for the most romantic night of your whole entire life?”

“Fine.”

She’s making me feel empowered, perhaps, unreasonably so.

But nevertheless, I type out:

We’re on for dinner tonight. 8:00 p.m.

Before I can second guess myself or change my mind, I hit “send,” and then show her.

“Damn girl!” She collects the fingers of her right hand together and kisses all of them. “I couldn’t have done it better myself.”

But after a few seconds pass, and Hayden is calling me, I start to panic.

It was all good and well when I was being cocky via text. But on the phone? I’m not sure I can pull that off.

“What do I do?”

I try to pass the device over to her, but she treats it like a hot potato and flings it back.

“Answer it!”

“What do I say?”

“That you’re excited about the date! Keep up with this new persona you were working with. It’s hot, and I’m sure he thinks so too.”

To capitalize on her point, she reaches over and honks my tit.

Then, her tongue comes out of her mouth and rests on the side of her upper lip, while her eyebrows dance up and down. “Trust me on this.”

“Ugh!”

My heart is still beating, and my hands are shaking, but I gather all the courage I have in my body and answer.

“Hello?”

“Addie, hey!” His voice sounds optimistic and hopeful. “How—how are you?”

Sam encourages me by spinning her hand.

“I’m good. You?”

He chuckles lightly. “I’m good. So, are we really on for eight tonight?”

I hold the phone away as I gulp, but then say, “Uh-huh. If you still wanted to do that . . . Of course.”

Sam closes her eyes and slumps back dramatically.

“What?” I mouth.

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