Page 59 of Just The Way You Aren't

I wag my finger at him, but I can’t really be angry. Mr. Price has been trying so hard to get that Echo Dot. I turn to Mr. Callahan. “Mr. Callahan, bingo’s over for today. You won twenty-five dollars. Isn’t that exciting?”

Mr. Callahan blinks. “I did?” He looks down at the envelope of money in front of him, marked clearly in bold Sharpie $25. He gives me a sunny smile. “How wonderful!”

I place it in his shirt pocket. “Don’t lose it, now.”

“I won’t.” His brow furrows. “What am I not losing again?”

“I’ll tell Dawn, don’t worry,” I say, referring to his daughter. “She’ll know what to do.”

Mr. Callahan relaxes. “Yes. Dawn will know what to do.”

I hope his daughter has gotten some well-deserved respite from taking care of her father. Even if it was just two hours. I help Mr. Callahan stand and hold his elbow as we walk to the door, where Dawn is waiting. “He won twenty-five dollars,” I inform her, pointing to her father’s pocket.

“I did?” Mr. Callahan says again. He looks down at his pocket. “Oh, how wonderful!”

“How about I take care of that for you, Dad?” Dawn smiles indulgently.

Mr. Callahan takes the envelope out and hands it to her.

As they leave, I see Mr. Price helping Damien clean up, still holding the Echo Dot under one arm. I hurry over. “Thank you, Mr. Price. You were so helpful tonight. But now I must insist you go home and rest that foot! Plus, you need to hook up your new toy.”

Mr. Price beams. “This is going to be so much fun!” He limps away.

“You know,” I scold Damien, “you shouldn’t set that precedent. Now every one of our seniors is going to want to help you call bingo!”

Damien winces. “Sorry. I just… had to.”

“I know. It’s hard not to.” I bump hips with him as he puts the balls back in the cage.

He smiles at me and my heart pounds. “Are you hungry? Neither of us have had time to eat much of anything today.”

“No, we haven’t,” I realize. “Usually, I’d have a sandwichbefore bingo, but I completely forgot.” I wink at him. “I blame you.”

“As you should. And my punishment is that I need to take you out to dinner as soon as we’re finished cleaning up here,” he declares.

“Well, if you insist.” I laugh, while inside me a swarm of butterflies seems to have gotten loose in my chest. “Thanks, Damien. I’d like that.”

CHAPTER 20

WILLOW

When we pull up in front of the swanky new restaurant where no one can get a reservation for months, my eyes go as wide as saucers. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack,” Damien replies. He gives me a smile full of confidence and a little bit of contrition. “I’ve got to make up for my faux pas earlier. This seemed like just the place to do it.”

I look down at my plain blouse and flowy, yet ethically-sourced, flower-embroidered green skirt. “Damien, they’re never going to let me in.”

“Of course, they will. You’re with me.” He reaches back in his seat and gets his jacket.

I fidget awkwardly with a flower on my skirt. “I’m dressed for senior bingo night, not the trendiest spot in the city. People will stare.”

He inclines his head. “Since when have you cared about that?”

“I generally don’t, but this place is a bit out of my element. I hate to ask, because I know you wanted to get me a nicemeal and all, but can’t we go out for malts and burgers instead?” I say hopefully.

“Is that really what you want?”

I nod emphatically.

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