Page 17 of Bad Seed
“Astin.” I stand, dropping my phone and laptop to the coffee table. “I’m gonna take a shower.”
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CHAPTER EIGHT
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SADIE
I pull off of King’s road into a mostly empty parking lot. The second my engine stops, I question everything I put on. White? On a first date? I’m going to spill all the sauces in existence on myself. Even if I don’t order them.
What if it’s not a date? What if he expects takeout and runs off once his order’s up?
What if he doesn’t show up at all?
My phone’s chiming at me. Is it him? Does he have to cancel? Maybe he had a work thing come up. A really rowdy bachelorette party broke into a bank, and they need him to get them out. Seems just as likely as a man like that dating me.
I twist my phone around to find it’s the alarm.
Oh crap, what am I forgetting?
I don’t have a work thing, do I?
Nope, just my extra double reminder so I’m not late. Well, here I am in front of the Green Elephant five minutes early. Doing my best to not sweat through the white dress I stupidly picked. This is a bad idea.
I’ll just head into the restaurant.
Where there’s almost no one sitting at the tables. So everyone can see that Sadie got stood up by the newest hot guy in Loomis.
Yeah, I’m staying in here, pit stains be damned.
If he doesn’t show, I can speed back home, climb into the bath, and scream under the water so my roommate doesn’t hear.
At first, I try watching the door. A few cars arrive, but they zoom right for the Mexican restaurant next door. No sign of Aubry. Trying to not be the weirdo staking out a restaurant in a strip mall, I stare down at my phone. I could open a game. There’s a Sheep Wars update. Ooh, or maybe one where I smash vegetables with a hammer. That could get out some of my…
A black truck takes a wide turn off of King’s road into the parking lot. For a brief second, the driver’s hidden by the glare in the windshield. I sit up higher, my heart pounding fast.
It’s not him.
Well…maybe.
Tousled black hair, fine-ass features, a jaw that could shatter coconuts. Damn, the way his lips purse as he reaches for the parking brake. I run my hand across my mouth and down my chest.
Unaware of the weird woman watching him in her rearview mirror, he clicks off his seat belt.Hot and safety conscious—he can strap me in anytime.He’s reaching for the door.
Oh, shit, he’s getting out!
I dig into the handle, then kick the door to unstick it. Without thinking, I try to launch to my feet as if I just got here, but forgot to undo my safety belt. It clenches down my chest, throwing me back into my seat.
Please don’t have seen that. Please don’t have…
I fumble for the button, preparing myself. He’s gonna be in the rattiest t-shirt. Cut-off jeans. Sandals with socks.
It’s not a date. It’s not a date.
It’s not a…
“Holy shit…”
