Page 202 of Devil's Bargain

My heart does a somersault. I tear my gaze away from the crumpled-up label. “What?”

“Let me take you on a date.”

I open and close my mouth, but no words come out.

His eyes are intent on mine. “How about this evening?”

“This evening?” I parrot, my eyes flicking between his.

“I can pick you up at seven?”

“Why do you want to take me on a date?” I hate that I sound insecure, but he’s a successful NFL player with a queue of willing supermodels.

He lifts his hand, and I hold my breath when he strokes his fingers down my cheek. “I want my chance.”

“Your chance?”

His eyes are intent on my mouth as he brushes his thumb over my bottom lip. “You refused to give me a chance in high school.”

“Oh.”

“Oh!” he mimics with a smile. His hand falls away before he stands up. “Seven?”

“Okay…” I watch him walk away, but he smiles over his shoulder before he leaves. “See you in a couple of hours.”

He disappears out the door.

I bring my fingers up to my tingling lips. “Oh my god!” Panic sets in, but the good kind. The type that releases a million butterflies into the atmosphere. I dig in my pocket for my phone and dial Nina’s number. She picks up on the third ring.

“Are you okay?”

“Rick is taking me on a date later!”

Silence. “Wait, what?”

I crane my neck to see through the living room window. His car is definitely gone. “Remember Rick? He came to the diner today. We came back here, and he asked me out on a date.”

It takes her a moment, but then she squeals. “Oh my god! What are you going to wear?”

“That’s why I rang you!” I straighten back up. “I haven’t been on a date like this. What do you wear?”

“Well, not jeans and a t-shirt.”

“Hang on.” I balance the phone between my ear and shoulder as I lift myself into the wheelchair. “I’m back. Let me check my wardrobe.” I make it sound as if I have lots of clothes. I don’t! I live in black jeans and band t-shirts. Not much has changed.

After entering my bedroom, I open the doors to my wardrobe and finger the fabric of the first item I see. “Blacks and more blacks, Nina.”

“He knows you like black. Don’t worry about that. But you want something a little bit sexy.”

“A little sexy?” I laugh, pushing the clothes to the side to look at each garment.

“Yes. Something that will make his eyes bug out and realize what he’s missed out on these last four years.”

I giggle, which is such a weird noise coming from my lips. I’m not a giggler. “Well, luckily, I have a little black number. I haven’t worn it since I was seventeen, so I don’t know if it still fits.”

She snorts. “Of course it does. You haven’t gained an ounce of weight. Put it on and send me a picture for final approval. Oh! Wear your hair down and put on some lipstick too. He won’t know what hit him!”

I’m still laughing when we hang up. “Wear my hair down,” I whisper, pulling on the hairband, shaking out my hair. I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

---