Page 53 of Something Tattered
A sad smile tugged at my lips. "And I have you."
My aunt gave a weak laugh. "And don't forget the cowboy."
"Uh, yeah," I said. "About him. Will you promise? I meanreallypromise this time?"
Chapter 26
"So," Cassie said, "did she promise?"
"Sort of."
It was late Sunday afternoon, and I was sitting on the front porch steps, talking on the phone with Cassie.
I'd called to verify that she still needed me to work tomorrow. Or at least, that was my official reason. Myunofficialreason was that I was dying to hear more about that fight she witnessed between Joel and Derek.
On the night of my birthday, I neverdidget the chance to ask.
But first things first. I thanked her for the party and apologized for being such a bad sport about the stripper. One thing led to another, and I ended up telling her about my conversation with Aunt Gina.
"But I don't get it," Cassie said. "What do you mean she 'sort of' promised?"
I sighed. "She promised to do better next year."
"But that's good, right?"
"Knowing my aunt? I'm not so sure." I tried to laugh. "Do you know, when I was younger, she'd always get me a clown for my birthday?"
Cassie paused for a long, silent moment. "You're kidding."
"I wish," I said. "And just so you know, I don't mean a clown doll. Or a clown cake. I mean a real, live clown."
"Like a professional?"
"Sometimes," I said. "But other times, she'd have one of her friends dress up and surprise me. It was really crazy, too, because–" I paused as I spotted a car turning onto my driveway.
"Because what?" Cassie said.
It was an unfamiliar black sports car, and I got to my feet. My aunt had left only minutes earlier, and I wasn't expecting company. Into the phone, I said, "Sorry, someone's here."
"Who?" Cassie asked.
I was still watching the car. It looked sleek and expensive, with wide rear tires and dark tinted windows. "I don't know," I said.
"Do you need to go?"
"Actually, I'm not sure." I watched as the car pulled closer and came to a stop in the turnaround. The driver's side door opened, and a familiar figure stepped out.
I felt myself smile.
It was Joel.
Getting out of the car, he looked like every girl's dream – lean and muscular, with a face that made it impossible to look away.
I gave him a wave and said into the phone, "Actually, I probably should go. Can I call you back later?"
"Oh, my God," she said. "It's him, isn't it?"
Already, Joel was moving toward me, striding forward like a man on a mission. I gave the phone a distracted squeeze. "Uh-huh."
