Page 78 of Just Another Meet Cute
NINA:And the world rejoices.
NINA:You do know that you don’t actually GET the superpower, right? It’s what you WANT to have.
IAN:Just let me dream this one time.
IAN:Now, if I killed someone, I would definitely need Ryan to help me hide the body. And he’d bring the shovels without asking any questions. Plus, if anything ever got linked back to us, then our DNA are identical, so they wouldn’t be able to prove which one of us actually did it.
NINA:It’s a little disturbing how well thought out this is. I feel like this isn’t the first time you’ve considered this question.
IAN:Hey, I never do anything halfway. Kathy would definitely have to help find the best spots to bury the body though. Neither Ryan nor I are very good with directions. Unless you want to help us?
NINA:Nah, I’m good. I have my own skeletons to bury.
IAN:Great, we could do it together. Teamwork makes the dream work.
NINA:What makes you think I wouldn’t lead the police to the bodies and pin everything on you?
IAN:That’s just wrong.
NINA:Why not? I feel like it would be the perfect crime. After all, you said that with your identical DNA, you wouldn’t be convicted anyway. This way we could test out your little theory to see if it would work.
IAN:And if it doesn’t?
NINA:I’ll make sure to drop off some bun bo hue at the jail for you at least once a week. With the mochi donuts.
IAN:At least you’re not totally heartless.
“Guess you couldn’t help getting back into your stalker habits, huh?” Ian asked with a grin as he scooped some corn onto a plate and held it out to me. “Although you’re doing a pretty bad job today. You’re supposed topretendthat you didn’t know I was here.”
Taking it from him, I poked his chest and shoved him backward. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just here for the steak.”
“That’s better.” He laughed and swept his hair off his face. “Admit it. I’m too irresistible for you to send to jail. You’d miss me too much.”
I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at his smug face like I was ten years old again. “Never.”
Turning away to sit at the small table by the piano, I couldn’t stop the smile from drifting across my face. But I made sure it was gone by the time I turned around to face Ian again. That didn’t stop my beaming from the inside, though.
This morning, the sun was barely up when Mom bolted out of the room. She claimed that she had to run to the store for some important stuff like pads and tampons. Or at least I think that’s what she said over her shoulder as she left.
I spent all day at the hotel on my own, but Mom never came back. I knew she was fine, since every time I texted her, she answered with a different emoji. A thumbs-up. A jogging woman. She even texted a picture of a turtle and some vegetables. Either she was planning on getting a pet turtle or eating one for dinner. I was afraid to ask.
By midafternoon, I decided to leave the room so that Mom could finally stop avoiding me. It didn’t takethatlong to buy pads and tampons. Then again, maybe she forgot how to, since she’s never had to buy them before.
Ironically, we never had to worry about buying those things when we were at Aunt Sarah’s house. With her couponing skills and hoarding tendencies, we were always stocked up in that department. And with lotion. Even though she was a bit of a bossy bully, Aunt Sarah always took care of us.
Thinking of the tampons made me think of Ian (which was something I never thought I would ever say about a guy), and I decided to visit him at the Shamrock Patio. He did promise to be a distraction from my family. Without any judgments.
Besides, there was nowhere else to go, since Linh was still with her mom. She promised to text me when Aunt Sarah wasn’t mad anymore. So far, nothing yet. And Ryan was finally taking my advice and teaching Kathy how to mow the lawn. I hoped that meant he was planning to go on the trip with his friend, too.
I was almost done with my steak when Ian came strolling over. Leaning one hand against my table, he stole one of the pieces I had cut and stuck it in his mouth. “So, what have you been doing today besides stalking me?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re really making me wish I stayed at the hotel.”
Dropping his teasing act, Ian gave me a concerned look. “Hotel? Why were you at a hotel? What happened?”
“My mom and aunt got into an argument, so we’re staying at the Waldorf Luxury now.”
Again, I expected him to ask about the argument, but he glanced over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t needed before sitting down in the chair in front of me. His arms crossed on the table as he leaned forward. “Are you okay?”
