Page 38 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Peter! Noooooo.”

I put my pointer finger up to my mouth to shush him.

“Can I have three orders of boneless Buffalo wings too?”

I cover the part of my phone that I speak into with my hand. “Just rip up the chicken and put it into the spinach and artichoke dip, okay?” I whisper.

“That’s so nasty!”

“Then eat them separately! You’re driving me crazy right now!”

I uncover the phone. “Twenty minutes? Okay, thank you. Bye.” I hang up. “Now I have to speed to Applebee’s.”

I walk past him and exit my bedroom. He’s following me and complaining. I try to tune most of it out. I grab my keys from the wall in the living room.

“And they only give you crappy tortilla chips with it. I told the team I was bringing bread, not crappy tortilla chips. Not to mention,unhealthy. We areathletes! I thought you wanted me to eat less fried food. Do you know those chips are deep fried? Also, no one likes blue cheese dressing. Everyone only likes ranch. Did you ask for ranch with the wings? I didn’t hear you say ranch—”

“DANIEL MARCELLO, YOU ARE GETTING APPLEBEE’S, AND THAT IS FINAL!”

He’s quiet for a few seconds.

“God. You don’t have to yell.”

“Where are you going?” I hear Hayley ask.

“I have to run to Applebee’s to pick up some appetizers for Danny’s party. It will just—”

I turn around and find she’s standing in the living room with us. She’s wearing a red dress. I’ve never seen her wear a dress before. Is she wearing a dress for me?

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph...she’s wearing a dress for our date together. She’s even got lipstick on! Maybe this is a turning point for her—for us! I can’t help but smile. The dress accentuates her figure perfectly, and God, does she have a figure. It looks as if the dress was made for her. I don’t think anyone else could wear that dress and look the same way. It’s revealing up top, but not too revealing. It leaves enough to the imagination. The bottom touches just the middle of her thighs.

“It, uh... I just... Danny...” I don’t formulate a full sentence. Fuck. I sound like a love-drunk moron.

“What?” she asks.

“I’ll be right back.” I put my shoes on as quickly as possible.

“Why are you all dressed up for?” Danny asks her.

“Because we’re going out.”

“You never dress up,” he says.

“Well, I had this dress, and I never get to wear it—like, ever—so, I decided...”

I look toward Danny. He rolls his eyes and stomps to his room. I hear his door slam.

“Why is he angry?” Hayley asks.

I’m staring at her...and not at her face. Oh my God, that’s so rude! Women don’t like when you stare at their chest. Also, it’s possible that I might be drooling. I mean, my mouth is gaping wide open. I close it.

“Because he wanted Buffalo chicken dip, but he’s getting spinach and artichoke dip and ripped up boneless wings.”

“Ah, okay.”

“Yeah, anyway... Happy birthday. Uh...I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you.”

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