Page 9 of Zero Chance

“I finally finished that book you recommended,” she announced as she slapped said book down on the counter in front of me and arched her eyebrows in reprimand.“And you totally failed to mention that basically everyone in it freakingdies.”

I shrugged as I slipped the tome closer so I could scan it with my barcode reader and check it back in for her.“I told you it was written from the point of view of Death.”What did she expect was going to happen?

“But evenRudy?”she insisted, pressing an impassioned hand to her chest.“I was sure he and Liesel were going to end up happily ever after together.”

I lifted one eyebrow in confusion.“Really?”At no point had I gotten the sense that the World War II story, which took place in Nazi Germany and began with the death of the main character’s brother and abandonment of her mother, would end in any kind of sunshine or rainbows.

“I mean, he didn’t even get the kiss he’d been begging for throughout the entire book.”

“Yes, he did,” I countered, blinking in surprise and beginning to wonder if she’d actually read any of it at all.

She had no idea a trio of guys had paused to check her out or that they scattered when she wailed, “Yeah, after he wasdead!Oh my God, Frankie.Just tear my heart to shreds, why don’t you?This shit was sad as fuck.”

Actual tears began to swim in her eyes, and they sparkled like crystals.I kid you not.She even looked pretty when she was on the verge of crying.

“I can’t believe you recommended something like this to me.”

I set my hand on the hardback and slid it protectively closer.“I’m sorry you didn’t like it.”I tried to ignore the sting of rejection as she dared to bash one of my favorite books.

“Oh, Ilovedit,” she assured.“The story was freaking amazing.It just broke my soul, that’s all.Now you have to recommend something a little morelightheartedwith an upbeat ending that could patch me back together.”

I winced.“I don’t really read feel-good, happy books.”

“Well, you should try one,” Xander told me before brightening.“Ooh.Start withWhere the Heart Isby Billie Letts.You won’t regret it.”

I doubted that.Happy, pretty, everything-ends-well books usually only left me feeling more depressed and worthless.

I mean, all the characters just seemed to have their lives so…put together.They instinctively knew what to say and do and how to make friends.They didn’t just survive in their little fictional universes; they freakingthrived.And there were always, like, two or three different guys completely in love with the main girl.

I could relate tononeof that crap.Not a single guy on this campus fanciedme.

Death, however, was simple and familiar.It made your heart pound.

It was all the junkbeforedying—all thelivingbusiness—I had never managed to grasp with much success.

“So anyway…” Xander tapped all ten of her fingers against the countertop and grinned excitedly, obviously already over her irritation with me for recommending an amazing book.“Are you coming to the big party tonight?”

It took everything I had to keep from snorting in her face.But seriously, why would she think I would evenknowabout any party that happened in this town, much less attend it?People didn’t invite me to parties.

But she was watching me for an answer as if she thought I was normal.So I said, “Which party?”

“Oh!Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.”She laughed and fluttered out a hand as if apologizing for her forgetfulness.“Has no one told you about it yet?Well, I’m officially inviting you now.We’re throwing this big bash tonight at Archer House to celebrate Foster’s win.Everyone’scoming.”Rolling her eyes, she started off on one of her tangents.“We were going to have it last weekend, but Oaklynn thought more people would make it if we waited until after the semester started, so now I bet the place is going to be flooded.I’m going to have to stand guard at the door to my bedroom so no one tries to use it as their own personal baby-making haven.”

“Or you could just lock your door.”

Xander blinked then pointed at me.“Or I could just lock my door.See.This is why I need you there.Someone clearly needs to produce rational thoughts for me.”Smiling encouragingly, she waggled her eyebrows.“So what do you say?Will you come?”

“Uh.”I cringed.“I don’t know.Probably not.”

Her encouraging eyebrows deflated into a furrow.“What?Why not?”

“I’m not really a party kind of person.”

Head tilting, she hedged, “Because you’ve actuallybeento some and didn’t enjoy them?Or because you’re just too hesitant to even try one?”

She was going to make an issue of this, I could tell.

But I already knew with all certainty I didn’t need to try a single party to know I wouldn’t like them.Parties meant people, mingling, socializing,crowds, and just basically everything that made me panic and perspire.

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