Karli walks over and snatches the phone, holding it to her own ear. “False alarm. But thank you for your service.” She clicks the off button and hands it back to Juliet.
Juliet squeals. “Why did you do that? He tried to assault us!”
I roll onto my knees and hold a hand up. “Actually, I think I was just assaulted.” My voice is barely above a squeak.
“I’ve got pepper spray, and I know how to use it.” Juliet aims something in my direction, and I fall to the ground in complete surrender.
“Dang it, Juliet,” Karli groans. “Youjust rendered Michael infertile.” The light from Karli’s phone shines down, illuminating me in all my glory.
“Michael?” Juliet gasps. “Oh my gosh, Michael. Why were you waiting out here like some kind of psycho?”
“Being an idiot,” Karli offers for me.
I can’t say I don’t agree. I clearly didn’t think this through. But I never thought Juliet would attack me.
This was stupider than blaming a broken chair on a cat.
“I uh…” I take a deep breath. “Was trying to figure out a way to see you again.”
Juliet scowls. “Most people would use a phone to set up something like that.”
Sure, she makes it sound so simple now. Like she would havejust gone on another date with me had I asked.
Why the heck didn’t I ask for an extra date, or three?
I take my time standing, grimacing with every inch. She’s got some wicked self-defense moves.
Karli’s light disappears, and I pull mine out instead. I need to see Juliet, so I can appropriately apologize to her.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I was dumb.” Now I know what they mean when they say love makes you reckless. This was stupid on so many levels. “I wanted another date with you.”
She’s silent. So silent I can hear the Jazz music Mr. Waters plays every night.
The lights from Karli’s car pierce through the darkness, right before she peels offdown the street.
Juliet’s eyes narrow, and for a split second, I fear she’s going to attack me again. I retreat a step.
“Well, it looks like you got a date,” she says, folding her arms tight against her, “but I’ll have to think about offering another.”
“Does my pain sway you in any way?” I give her the best puppy dog eyes I can manage.
“Absolutely not.” She shakes her head, her long brown curls swaying around her face. “You deserved that.”
“You’re right. I did. Please don’t tell my brothers,” I add as an afterthought.
She frowns. “Your brothers?”
I give her a half smile. “It’s our work party tonight. I need a date.”
She raises a single brow and folds her arms tightly. “I can offer my presence, but I hope you can find your own common sense.”
I glance at my feet. “It’s probably still shattered on the ground with my pride.”
Her lips twitch. “Well, come on. Let’s get this over with.”
I nudge her with my shoulder. “There’s that go-getter attitude I’m so fond of.”
Chapter 19
