Page 3 of Ordinary Secrets

“Anyway, could I help you get a new tire?”

“I don’t want to inconvenience you.” Arella fidgets with the bottom of her yellow T-shirt. The logo on the front readsSunrise Daycare. Javina’s wearing a matching shirt. Seeing them intheir work attire makes it easier to not get caught already knowing that they work together.

“It’s not an inconvenience at all,” I say with a bright smile.It’s the very reason I’m here.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to inconvenience your friends.” Arella gestures toward my car.

Fuck.I was hoping she wouldn’t notice my friends. Like how I didn’t plan for Javina to be here, I didn’t plan for my friends to tag along either. I meant to comealoneduring this part of my assignment. The only reason I didn’t was because Liz guilt-tripped me into having dinner with her and Kevin.

During band rehearsal earlier, I refused dinner three times, until Liz whispered, “We need to cheer him up. You know his mom just got diagnosed with breast cancer. He’s worried about losing her.”

I would’ve been a dick to say no. How could I? I’d lost my mother too. If taking Kevin out for sushi would help take his mind off his mom for a while, I’d comply. As long as my friends didn’t interfere with my plan today.

Just as Arella mentions my friends, my car doors swing open, then Liz and Kevin step out.Dammit.My friends’ energies float toward me, all light and curious. They have the right to be curious. After I agreed to dinner, I volunteered to drive without telling them we’d be taking a detour.

“What’s the holdup?” Kevin shouts on his way over. His jet-black hair is so gelled up, the wind from the passing cars isn’t affecting it at all.

Next to him comes Liz with a peppy bounce in her step. “Everything okay?”

“Just a flat,” I say as a semitruck zips by us.

Liz stops at my side. Her nearness causes the Zordi sense in my chest to tingle. It reminds me that Liz and I are the kind ofhumans who are born with powers and the people around us are not.

Like I did earlier, Liz squats to examine the busted tire. “There’s no fixing this. The hole’s too big.”

“You ladies need a ride to a tire shop?” Kevin asks. “We could take ya, right, Trey?”

“Yeah,” Liz adds through a yawn, covering her mouth with a satin-gloved hand. “There’s probably one not too far from here.”

Why did I think for even a second that my friends would be an interference? Of course they’d want to help. They’re good people like that. Now that I think about it, having a woman with me could increase my chances of getting Arella to accept my help. Women are more likely to trust other women than a man they’ve never met. If I had been smart, I would have planned for Liz to be here from the beginning.

“See?” I beam with a renewed sense of hope. “You’re not an inconvenience at all.”

Arella turns to her friend. “Why don’t you call your brother again?”

Javina rolls her eyes. “I could, but I ain’t seein’ the point of that when we’ve got three perfectly capable helpers standing right here.”

I hold back a grin. Javina just made it to the top of mybefriend nowlist.

Arella thinks, then nods. “Okay. Let’s grab our things.”

On the inside, I jump up and down like a giddy child in a toy store. On the outside, I play it cool. “We’ll be in my car.”

Liz claims the front seat like she always does as Kevin plops into the back behind me. I don’t take my eyes off Arella while she and Javina saunter over with their purses in hand.

Arella slips in first, settling on the middle seat next to Kevin. I’m gifted with a perfect view of her in my rearview mirror. Our eyes lock for half a second before she turns to click her seat beltin. I’m still staring at her as she sets her little purse on her lap and Javina climbs in.

Once everyone is buckled, I force my eyes back onto the busy highway. When I get an opening, I join the flow of traffic.

Liz wastes no time twisting around to wave a gloved hand at our new additions. “Hi, I’m Liz.”

“I know!” Javina’s exhilaration rushes through my head again. “You’re one of the two girls in the band, right? The soprano and dancer?”

“Yep!” Liz’s lips curve upward. Her spirit does the same. Out of everyone in the band, Liz enjoys meeting our fans the most.

Javina leans forward to lock eyes with Kevin. “And you’re the bass guitarist, right?”

He nods with a closed-mouth smile. “Mm-hmm.”

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