Page 10 of Proof

“You’re not kidding. He actually asked me what I was wearing.” Chris chuckled.

“Seriously? ‘What are you wearing?’ How bizarre. Maybe he’s been inhaling too much glue in his workshop.” Luna laughed.

“I don’t want to assume I’ll be staying at your place, but I was already planning to call you to see if we could get together when Cullen beat me to it.” He cleared his throat. For a smart, strapping man, he was jelly when it came to Luna. “Sorry. I should have checked with you first.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I understand your bromance with my bro,” she teased. “Now if you said you were coming out to visit my brother and made no plans to see me, well, then we would have a problem,” she said. “You will be staying with me, correct?”

He stuttered. “Yes . . . yes . . . of course.”

“Unless you have a better offer?” she joked.

“No. Not at all. We may not be back until after ten, and I don’t know what you have planned for the evening.”

“Well, I can tell you that as of now, I have no plans, and if I did, I would most certainly change them for you.” She wasn’t lying or being patronizing. Any time she could spend with Chris, she would give up whatever else was on her agenda.

“You are a doll,” Chris replied.

“Since you and big bro are going out, I’ll check in with Chi-Chi to see if she wants to do something, and then we can all meet up later.”

“Sounds good.” He paused. “Thanks for being so accommodating.”

“Accommodating? Isn’t that a bit formal?” Luna peered at her phone. Something was up. She could feel it. But what was it?

“I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of your good nature.” Chris winced, hoping he wasn’t digging himself in too deep.

“Puh-lease.” Luna stretched out the word.

“Sorry. Long day, and it isn’t even close to noon.”

“No prob. Let’s touch base after I talk to Chi-Chi, and then we can finalize our plans for a sleepover.” She was almost blushing. So was he.

“Great. See you Saturday. And tell your brother I want a turquoise boutonniere.”

“Huh?” Luna asked.

“Private joke. Talk later.”

“Okay. Bye.” She ended the call but kept staring at the phone.

After a few minutes, Luna got up, went back to the easel, and flipped her sketch pad to a clean page. She closed her eyes and began to draw. This time, it was two question marks. She stared at it. “Very strange,” she said to no one. She absentmindedly played with the large John Jay College of Criminal Justice ring that was hanging on a chain around her neck. Chris had given it to her when they went to New York on a wild adventure involving kidnapping, art, and deception. She smiled. It was always an adventure with him.

Luna picked up her walkie-talkie. Every shop at the center had one so the proprietors could keep in touch without using their cell phones, and in case there was an emergency. Luna beeped Chi-Chi’s line. “Hey, girlfriend. Want to have dinner with me on Saturday?”

“That would be lovely,” Chi-Chi answered.

“Yeah, Cullen and Chris are going to a car show, so we are on our own. We can meet up with them later.”

“Oh good—I am happy it worked out.”

“What worked out?”

Chi-Chi realized she was about to expose her and Cullen’s behind-the-scenes interference. “I was praying that you and I could spend some time together.” She held her breath, hoping it was a good save. She hated to lie.

“Uh, okay. You know you never have to pray to spend time with me, just ask.” Luna looked at the walkie-talkie with a questioning expression. Is everyone acting weird, or is it me?

“Thank you. I very much appreciate it.” Chi-Chi was cringing. Better to end the conversation before she stuck both feet in her mouth, and she wore a size ten. “I must go. Let’s speak later. Goodbye.”

It wasn’t unusual for Chi-Chi to be abrupt. But this time, Luna felt an undercurrent. Her friend was hiding something. She was now convinced everyone was acting weird. She moved back to the sketch pad and ripped off the previous drawing. She was tapping her pencil against her cheek when Cullen walked in. “Now what?” she sneered.

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