Page 84 of Zero Chance

“Oh, hell, yes.”

He tossed it over, and I caught it with one hand before trapping my tongue between my teeth and studying the sheet fervently.And all the while that I tried to figure out who’d given me that world-class blowjob last night, my grandmother mixed up batter for bread rolls ten feet away, humming gospel hymns under her breath.

I swear, Nana was so clueless.It wasn’t any wonder how my father had turned out to be the no-account asshole that he was.She probably still thought he’d only had sex once in his life on the night I was conceived.Bless her heart.

“Well, it’s not Tish.I remember coming back inside afterward and checking her wrist.No tattoos.”I marked out her name.Then I slashed a line through Oaklynn and Xander as well as Hope, Raina, and Faith.Glancing up, I explained, “None of them were the right size.”

He lifted his hands.“Plus, no tattoo.”

I pointed the end of my pen at him in agreement.Neither of us bothered to mention the most important detail—that four of them were dating our best friends.That was just too obvious.

“Let’s see,” I said instead, plugging the end of the pen into my mouth and studying the names.“Andee Valencia’s too short.Riley Patel’s too voluptuous.Farrah Jude’s hair is too curly.Erin Bana’s too tall.”I went through the rest of the names methodically until I was done.Sitting back, I looked at who remained, only to discover I’d crossed off every fucking chick on Alec’s list.“Well, fuck.”

“Language,” Nana sang happily from the counter without even glancing over.

“Sorry, Nana,” I called, only to send Alec a sour glance.

He shrugged.“So I guess I didn’t see her.”

“But I was with you basically the entire time before running into Makayla and then immediately heading outside.Ifyoudidn’t see her, I doubtIsaw her.”

“I don’t know,” he countered, rubbing his chin in contemplation.“You went inside after the beer pong match a few minutes before I did.Maybe…”

He shrugged and sent me a hopeful glance.

I sighed.“Except I ran into Makayla almost immediately after heading in.”

But as soon as I spoke, a memory flickered through my consciousness.“Oh my God,” I said, slapping the table and sitting upright.“No, I didn’t.Legs!”

Alec glanced around in confusion.“Legs?What’re we doing here?Pretending we have Tourette’s or just randomly listing off body parts?”

I ignored his lame joke and eagerly leaned toward him.“There was a girl,” I said.“She was standing near the stairs that went down to our rooms.And she had these killer legs that just went on and on.”

“So you think it was her?”Alec asked eagerly.

“I don’t know.”I sighed in frustration.“I never got to her face.I was still checking out those legs when Makayla came up and distracted me.But holy shit—sorry, Nana.”I waved to her in apology before pressing a fist to my mouth and pointing at Younger as my own excitement grew.“Those legs could’ve totally been my mystery girl’s.And she was wearing the same kind of skirt and top, too.And—holy shit, man.”I vibrated in stunned realization.“That was her.It had to have been.”

“Well, there you go,” Alec said proudly, spreading his arms to congratulate me.Or maybe himself.Probably himself.

“Dark, straight hair, green top, short skirt, long legs,” I rattled off, naming everything I could remember about her as I opened my arms right back toward Younger to receive my congratulations fully.“All we gotta do now is find someone who saw her and knows her, and Mystery Girl will be as good as found.”

“You know how Prince Charming foundhismystery girl, don’t you?”Nana spoke up suddenly from the counter.

I cringed, wondering just how much she’d actually been listening to us.“How’s that, Nana?”

“Well, all he had to do was flash around the glass slipper she left behind, and Cinderella came tohim.”Glancing my way, she smiled innocently.“So if you really wanna find her, all you gotta do is spread the word that you have something of hers, and she’ll come right to you.”

Alec and I exchanged a startled glance before a slow smile spread across my face.“Nana, you’re a genius,” I claimed, bursting from my chair to sweep her up into a big hug that prompted a surprised laugh.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I praised.

Because it just so happened Ididhave an article of clothing that belonged to my mystery girl.

Screw chasing after her; I was going to make her come tome.

19

KEENE

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