Page 20 of Icing the Enemy

First Date Heist: Car Stolen!

This last headline makes Corbin sound like he’s a victimized virgin.

Corbin Shearer met his date in a jail cell and after a heated discussion, refused to press charges against her. Alone again.

It's the kind of attention I never wanted, and I’m sure he’s furious as I scroll through the site, looking at the photos of him labeled. Alone. Alone.

“We’re going out tonight to celebrate your freedom,” Jennie Rae cackles, tossing her purple hair back.

“I don’t have the money.”

She taps her lips with her pointer finger. “Yet—you don’t have the money yet. I’ll pay, and you can pay me back when you get married and receive your trust fund.”

Handing her phone back, I give her a tight-lipped smile. “Well, that might be a while. Plus, I don’t want to be the third wheel. You and Landon are so in love.”

“Don’t be crazy. Landon loves hanging out with you. Some of his friends are coming too.”

The door chimes and in walks one of her regular customers, Shane. He’s in here every four weeks like clockwork for a fade with it a little longer on top. He rests in the chair, as Jennie Rae checks his hair growth. After she finishes, she asks him, “Hey, Shane! Oakley, Landon, and I are going out tonight. Do you want to come?”

“Sure, where?”

“There’s a new swanky cabaret place on Stark Ave. Meet at nine?” she asks.

Shane quickly replies even though she wasn’t asking him. “I’ll be there. I can’t stay long though. Work is sending me out of town tomorrow.” Before he leaves, he gives her a hug and says, “I’ll see you two tonight.”

Great, now he thinks this is a double date.

Nine isearly to arrive at a bar, but Jennie Rae and Landon want to arrive in time so we can snag a table. We see a four top and a two-person table in the back, so we scoot them together. Landon has two friends coming, then Shane said he would be here.

There are objects from movies all around the bar and behind us is a replica of the leg lamp from theChristmas Storymovie. I know now why it’s called Reel & Rhythm. It’s not tacky like the old signs at a Cracker Barrel. It’s well-placed memorabilia.

Shane makes his way through the thickening crowd and sits beside me. “This place is different.”

“Let’s hope the music is good,” I add right as Landon stands up to shake hands with a guy and a girl.

“This is Bill and Preeta.” Everyone introduces themselves, and now I do feel like I’m on a date with Shane.

I feel a little underdressed compared to Preeta and Jennie Rae. I’m in jean shorts, a deep V-neck t-shirt with my red cowboy boots. I bought them at Goodwill for nine bucks. My mom taught me that you can look nice and have expensive things if you just shop at thrift stores. Jennie Rae and Preeta are wearing form-hugging dresses with heels, looking fantastic.

The waitress takes our order, wearing fishnet stockings, shorts, and a tank top. “Two IPAs, three margaritas and a whiskey sour. Got it.”

Preeta asks, “Do you girls like vintage video games? I noticed a Pac Man and Galaga game in the corner near the bathroom.”

“I do.” I already love this girl. One of my favorite memories is my mom taking me to an ice cream parlor, and she would let me play Centipede and Galaga for an hour.

“Let’s play while we wait for drinks.”

The three of us head to the game area. There are actually three machines, and one has twenty games on it. We huddle around the Galaga machine, deciding to each take a turn and see who accumulates the most points. Preeta goes first, and her plane gets blown up in seconds. She laughs and says, “I guess I’m rusty.”

Jennie Rae tells me to go next. The screen flashes with explosions as I shoot the enemy spaceships down, using the rapid-fire technique. I make it through three levels before a stranger taps me on the shoulder, making me lose my focus and my spaceship combusts.

“Hey, aren’t you the girl from…”

“Nope.” Whatever he’s going to say, I’m denying it. Deflect and deny. I shrug it off with a coy smile, trying to refocus on my high score.

“You’re the girl who stole Corbin Shearer’s truck.”

“Nope. Not me.”

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