Page 6 of Bad Boys Don’t Date Clumsy Girls

The kitchen is dark and cavernous, so I flip on a light to avoid tripping over a chair leg or clipping the counter with my hip. It’s still a little strange to me that we are so often the only ones in the house these days. Sam has four older siblings. The Jones’ house has always been the hang-out house, so it wasn’t just her brothers and sisters who were around—it was their friends as well. There was a constant stream of noise and activity. Lots of laughter, which I miss the most. But, of course, one by one the siblings left home. The house didn’t feel truly empty until about six months ago when Sam’s next older sister moved out, taking her creative energy and flamboyant friends with her. I look around the empty kitchen and sigh. Soon my house will have a more deserted feel to it as well.

Within five minutes, we’re back in Sam’s room.

I hand Bek a can of soda. “Let that settle for a bit. I dropped it.”

After I crawl back onto the bed, Sam shakes out a napkin and tucks it into my collar to catch the inevitable food I’ll drop on myself.

“Do you think Lily will discover the talisman?” Sam asks about the show, just before sinking her teeth into her slice of pizza.

“She has to, right? That talisman is the only way she’ll see all the ghosts that surround her.” I pick up the piece of sausage that rolled into my lap and pop it into my mouth.

Bek shakes her head. “She won’t find it. That would be too easy. But Edward will figure out a way to communicate with her. He’s totally got a thing for her, so he has the most incentive.”

When we continue streaming the show, we learn that, as usual, Bek is right. Sam and I almost never figure out plots, but Bek has a knack.

Sam finally turns the T.V. off in the early morning hours when she notices Bek has fallen asleep curled up like a cat in her favorite chair.

I get up and cover Bek with a blanket, then change into pajamas. When I crawl into the massive bed, Sam lets out a huge yawn.

“Are you volunteering at the shelter tomorrow?” she asks.

“You mean today?” I snicker. “Yeah, I am.”

“Do you need a ride?” Sam yawns again.

“Only if it’s convenient. Otherwise, I’ll walk.” I flip onto my side and pull the covers up under my chin.

Sam shakes her head. “Like I would let you walk. Nine o’clock?”

I blink sleepily, admiring how Sam’s white-blond hair practically glows in the dark. “Yeah.”

“Perfect. Bek and I can stop by that boutique I’ve been wanting to check out after I drop you off.” Sam turns onto her side so that she faces me. “Or should I wait so that we can all go when I pick you up?”

I shake my head. “No, that’s fine. You guys can go in the morning. I could never afford anything from that store.”

“You don’t know that. You’ve never been there.” Sam arches an eyebrow, making me giggle.

“If you find they have five-dollar specials, you can set me straight afterward.”

“Fair enough.” Sam curls into a tighter ball. Her eyelids droop over her pale blue eyes. “Good night, Ava.”

I let a contented smile spread across my face as my own eyelids flutter closed. “Good night, Sam. Thanks for another fun evening.”

As my mind slows before sleep, I think how lucky I am to have Sam’s amazing house and the animal shelter to escape to. I can’t wait to see the animals tomorrow. I can almost hear the barking and feel the wet sweep of tongues. The shelter’s Instagram page announced that they took in a chinchilla, and I’m eager to cradle its soft little body in my hands.

I drop off to sleep with thoughts of romping dogs on my mind.

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