Page 14 of Love Triangle
Oh, shit.I read the message again to make sure I read it correctly. Okay. I guess I have to call her.
“I’ll be right back, James,” I tell my friend, scooting out of the booth to head outside.
I dial her number and wait while it rings. When it rings more than a few times I start to wonder if she’ll even pick up at all. Finally, she does.
“Trig! Hi! Glad you called.”
“Hi Crystal! You said it was important.” I try not to sound like I’m panicking, even though I am.
“Yes. Well, maybe. I guess I’ll just say it outright. I took a date for Sunday,” she pauses. I can tell there is more to what she needs to tell me, but she wants me to assure her anyway before she goes on.
“Alright. That’s okay, I guess.” My heart hurts a little, but it’ll be fine.
“Well, the thing is the other person is Cliff. I don’t want you to be upset with me.”
I’m quiet for a good while after that statement.Cliff?
“Did you hear me, Trig?” she asks. “Are you mad?”
Then I start laughing. I can hardly stop long enough to answer her.
“Cliff? Does he know you’re going out with me tomorrow?”
I laugh long and loud before she’s able to answer in the affirmative.
“Oh boy,” I continue. “And he didn’t lose his mind? I can’t believe it. This is crazy. Well, don’t worry, it doesn’t bother me. I’m glad you told me, though.”
“I’m glad you got a laugh out of it.” She giggles. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Nothing could hold me back.”
Chapter Seventeen – Crystal
Could this be it? Could they be the ones?
It’s a beautiful day, perfect for a picnic. The weatherman said it would be chillier, but he was wrong as usual. It’s just barely warm this morning, a little cloudy, the type that warms your nose but not your toes. By the early afternoon it should be heavenly sunshine. I wore a heavy button up sweater to wait out by my front door, but by the time we eat, I know I’ll be in just my sundress.
Why does that make me think of the guys I’ve chosen to date? One is soft sweaters and cloudy weather; the other is short sleeves and sunshine. Somehow it works. For the first time since Miranda’s curse, I’m thinking there’s a chance that…well, maybe it’s too soon to hope.
There’s just been so many things lining up and I can’t ignore them. What happened when Trig touched my hand. How I could suddenly hear when I was the pyramid. Two men, that I actually really like, asking me out within moments of one another. Those men being okay with me dating both of them despite them not getting along.
So, while I would normally turn down any date, I’ve accepted these two. I’ve got hope.
“Hello!”
Trig’s jolly greeting breaks me out of my thoughts. I watch him walk his bicycle up my driveway with a giddy feeling in my belly. Something about the way he looks pushing that blue bike, his cheeks rosy, hair mussed, in a pale-yellow jacket, makes me feel like a young girl again. I can almost feel my dad’s eyes on my back watching to make sure this boy doesn’t put the moves on me.
But boy, I kind of hope he does put some moves on me.
“Hi there, Trig! You can come park your bike right here, no one’ll take it. I’m the only one over here.” I look around the corners, smile dropped to give him a look as if we’re sharing a secret. “There’s all the cameras too, of course.”
“Oh, of course.” He nods solemnly before breaking out into his signature boyish grin as he settles his bike against the porch. “You do have one fairly close neighbor, though.”
“I suppose. I haven’t met them though. Don’t know anything about ‘em.” I think back to if I’ve heard anything from my new neighbor yet but nope, not a peep.
“You don’t know?” Trig looks really shocked. “It’s Cliff!”
“What? You’re kidding me! Well, that’s just funny.”Add it to the list of odd things and coincidences, I guess.
