Page 32 of Bad Boys Don’t Date Clumsy Girls

“Why didn’t you just call him Josh, then?” Bek stares dreamily out the passenger window.

Sam and I make eye contact in the rearview mirror, and I laugh when Sam’s eyes bug out.

“Where did you go?” I attempt to get Sam back on target.

“First, he showed up with a single rose.”

I sigh. “How romantic!”

“Then we went down to the Riverwalk for dinner. Afterward, we wandered across the street to the park and watched a jazz band that was playing.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Wow, that’s a great date!”

“I know!” Sam grins. “It helps that he works down there and always knows what’s going on.”

“When do you see him again?”

Sam sighs. “Tomorrow afternoon.”

“So soon. Must be serious.” I wink at Sam when she glances in the mirror.

“Don’t be silly, Ava,” she says, pulling into the parking lot at Philly’s. “I’ll never get serious.”

An unexpected thrill races through me at the thought that Dylan might show up again. I immediately scold my errant thoughts. I do not need to see him again so soon. Then I grimace. I hope Rex Diller doesn’t show up either. If he does, he’ll probably stay far away from me.

We claim the same three seats we sat at last week and order the same three dinners. We really are creatures of habit.

“I’m thinking about getting a job,” I blurt. I hadn’t planned on telling the girls anything about my potential job search until after I’d secured one. I’m not sure why it suddenly spilled out of my mouth.

“Are you sure?” Sam looks concerned. “Won’t it be hard to work and go to school?”

I shrug. “Joel does it and he was in soccer.”

“Why do you want to work?” she asks.

“I want to be able to move out right after graduation. Joel is moving out with a couple of friends on July first, and it made me realize he’s been working toward this goal for a year now.”

“You could always move into my house,” Sam says. She looks at Bek. “You both could! Mom and Dad wouldn’t mind. Heck, they probably wouldn’t even know.”

“That’s nice of you to offer, Sam. But you’re planning to go to college, and I’ll be lucky if I can squeak out some classes at the community college.” I pick at the corners of my napkin. “Whatever I do, I’ll have to do it on my own. I want to do it on my own.”

Bek’s usually distracted air suddenly becomes laser-focused on me. She does this from time to time, but it’s always unnerving. “I admire that you’re thinking so far ahead. You’re so strong, Ava.”

I blush. “Thanks. I’m thinking about trying the pet store down the street from my house. I can walk, which is better than having to figure out a bus schedule, and my experience at the shelter should help.”

Sam’s smile looks despondent.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

My beautiful, amazon friend shrugs and looks between Bek and me. “I guess I’m just sad that we are moving into this phase. You two are my world and I’m not really good at the whole “sharing” thing.”

Bek reaches across the table to clasp Sam’s hand. “We may have less time together as we start working and dating, and stuff, but we’ll always be best friends.”

“Dating?” I bark out a laugh. “Sam’s the only one who does that. I don’t see that changing for me in the future.”

Sam waggles her eyebrows. “Bek, is there something you want to tell us?”

The poor girl looks mortified as we wait expectantly. “No! I’m not…I don’t…No.”

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