Page 47 of The Accidental Text

“Yep,” he says, giving me a small smile. “I’ll be there.”

“Great,” I say. “Are you bringing Robin with you?”

Did I really just ask that? It’s like my mouth didn’t even communicate with my brain.

Dawson tilts his head to the side, the corners of his eyes doing a sort of crinkling thing.

“Uh … no,” he says. “I’ll see her there, I’m assuming.”

“Oh … right … I just thought …”

“We’re just friends.”

My mouth goes dry and I swallow. They’re friends? Really? How did I get that so wrong?

“Right. Gotcha. Good … to know.”

He gives me a tight-lipped smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Now’s your chance, Maggie. Say something flirty. Be bold. Be brave.

“I’ll be there,” I say. Then I wave at him, with the tape (why? Why? WHY?), and walk out of the shop.

Way to chicken out, Maggie.

Chapter 14

To keep up with my chicken theme, I’ve also put all my eggs in one basket.

“I’msosorry, babe,” Hannah says.

We’re on the phone, Hannah is at work, and I’m in the apartment with curls pinned up on my head, my makeup half-done.

“But … Dawson is single. I need you,” I whine. “How can you ditch me at a time like this?”

I wasn’t going to tell her; I was just going to let her find out at the party so I didn’t have to listen to her go on and on about how right she was and how wrong I was. But she didn’t even get a chance to gloat. She’s been so busy at work.

“I’m not ditching you—I just don’t know when I can get there. This case is taking all my time, and my boss is a real witch.”

“She’s your mom.”

“Exactly,” she says.

I breathe out my nose. “Fine. I’ll try and not make a fool of myself.”

I can try all I want, but a fool I will be. Look at my track record.

I don’t know why I want Hannah there so badly—it’s not like she’s going to give me some superpower and I’ll bemagically less of a coward. But I just want her there. By my side. Making me laugh and telling me to get over myself.

I feel like a moron, going by myself now. I guess I’ll have to hang out with Devon and try to keep his paws off all the single ladies. Or I could hang out with my dad and June. I do a very hard swallow at that thought.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll hurry, I promise,” she says. It sounds as if she’s walking quickly somewhere. “I have to go—the boss just caught me on the phone.”

“She’s yourmom,” I say again.

“Exactly,” she says again and hangs up.

I go back to the bathroom to finish my makeup. I chose to go only a little extra with my look, but not too extra.

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