Page 141 of Bookworm

"Two marshmallow fluffs on tap, please," Meech said.

"You got it."

It took only moments for him to fill two small bowls, add spoons, then pass them over to us.

"Thanks," I said, and he nodded before leaving to help someone else.

Meech turned to me with a grin. "You're going to love this, Lottie."

"I bet," I said then added, "Hey, Meech?"

"Hmmm."

Running my spoon along the top of the fluff, I asked,"You don't mind that Bo brought me tonight. Do you?"

"No, why would I?You're his girlfriend."

I let out a sigh. "Oh good."

"You sound relieved. What's up?"

After taking a bite of marshmallow fluff, I nearly groaned in delight. It was sweet and smooth and oh-so-good."Honestly?" I said."I thought you guys might be into each other."

Meech nearly sprayed marshmallow everywhere. "Seriously?" she gasped. "Me and Bo? You thought…"

I shrugged.

"No way," she said with a laugh. "I would never go there.Not even if you paid me."

"Why not?" I asked a tad defensively. "Stryker's a wonderful guy."

She nodded like that was a given. "Yeah,it's just I'm into someone else—not that it's ever going to happen," she mumbled.

Her gaze, I noticed, had moved back to our table—or to one person in particular.And it wasn't Bo.

"Shin?" I asked and smiled as she nodded. "I can totally see that."

Her eyes met mine, and they were filled with hope. "You can?"

"Oh yeah, he'd be crazy not to want you, Meech."

"Thanks, Lottie.I've been in love with him since we were kids." She sighed, gazing at Shin across the space as if he was the only one she could see. "I've dropped tons of clues, but when that didn't work, I just ended up arguing with him.Shin's such an idiot sometimes."

My smile only widened. She'd said idiot as if it was an endearment.

"So, it's a definite no to Bo then?" I repeated.

"Absolutely," she said then grimaced. "I mean, it's Bo. Even the thought grosses me out.Blech."

Someone behind me cleared their throat, and when I turned, my eyes widened as they landed on a familiar face.

"Mrs. Lee," I said, "I didn't see you there. How's it going?"

"Hmm. You should pay better attention to your surroundings, Charlotte-Lottie-Lotte," she said, and her eyes turned cold as they shifted toMeech. "So Mi-Cha, you think you're better than my grandson?"

Meech paled. "I didn't mean—"

"You called him gross."

---