Page 36 of Just a Plot Twist
Benson:Ahh. My fingers are thanking me for that. That’s so much easier. Gala. Gala. Gala.
Claire:Your fingers are big babies.
Benson:Try it.
Claire:Gala. Gala. Gala.
Claire:Yep. Much easier.
Benson:I won’t tell if you won’t tell.
Claire:Our use of the word GALA will be our little secret.
Benson:Done. My lips are sealed. Good night, sleep tight, Claire. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.
Claire:Good night, Benson.
Claire:Don’t let Cinnamon bite.
Chapter 12
Claire
I study a handful of packages of cellophane-wrapped, shimmery white garland like my life depends on it.
That’s how all this prep for the anniversary extravaganza—or, shhh, the “gala”—has been. Grandma’s done most of it, but the things she’s assigned to me, I’ve taken seriously. I will beg, borrow, or steal to make this all come together.
Not literally!
At least, probably not literally.
It’s today. The gala is happening in a couple of hours and I’m at Party World in the Denver Southeast area, grabbing the rest of what they have in the way of white garland.
I’ve already cleaned out the other party supply stores in the Denver metropolitan area and, be proud, I haven’t had to beg, borrow, or steal…yet.
Slouching against my crutches, I start to count the packages in my head, hoping there’s enough here.
“Hi Claire!”
I startle. It’s Benson, in all his musky, clean, manly scented glory.
“You scared me! I was counting.”
“I messed up your counting? That was a jerk move.” He frowns, but there’s a teasing quality to his tone.
I quirk a smile. “It was. I’m figuring out how many of these we need.”
He waits until I’m finished adding them all up. “For the…” He leans closer and whispers, “Gala?” giving me another whiff of his clean scent as I flip through the packages in my hands.
I nod, waylaid for a moment by his closeness.
“You had to come all the way to this part of town for it?” he asks.
I tear my gaze away from the garland. “I have my dress and everything I’ll need for the event tonight in my car, so I can go straight to the venue. Just picking up last-minute things.” I peer at him. “What brings you here?”
“Indie signed up to bring party decorations to school. But it’s for the day after they get back from their trip, so her mom won’t have time to get them.”
“That’s fun. Do you know what you need?”
