Page 38 of Just a Plot Twist
“Does he get to make the decision?”
“The city council votes on it, but they’ll never go against Mayor Whitten’s recommendation.” I gather the plastic bags overflowing with garland, trying to hook them all on my fingers, but it’s tricky with the crutches.
“Hold up. Can I carry the bags for you?”
I let him extricate them from my fingers. “Thanks.”
“It’s nice you’re accepting help. Wasn’t sure that was possible for you.”
I frown and tip my head back. “What are you even talking about? I allowed you topiggybackme down a mountain.”
“It very nearly killed you to accept my help.”
I shake my head and look away, focusing on the task of maneuvering my way to the exit. He’s right, but I also have the right to be embarrassed about it. Once outside, he helps me into my car and leaves the bags and crutches on the back seat.
“Nice running into you,” I say. It was just the shot of adrenaline I needed before the big show.
“Good luck tonight at the—” he lowers his voice. “Gala.”
“The…gala,” I whisper back. “Is going to be perfection in a sea of white everything.” I roll the window down while he closes my car door.
“Have a nice time.” His smile is kind and genuine, and without any control, my stomach jolts awake.
“Give Cinnamon a big hug for me!” I smile back,
He groans. “I’m not hugging that dog. She’s a thorn in my side.”
I give up a lilting laugh as I drive away.
The gala-extravaganza-what-have-you might be “perfection” but I’m starting to think maybe Benson is, too.
I hobble through the doors of the venue north of Longdale when a text comes in:
Hey, this is Benson. Did you steal mine? Somehow this ended up in my bag.
A photo of Benson chimes through. In it, his mouth hangs open in mock surprise, holding up…wait a minute. Does he havemyphone?
Somewhere, in the recesses of my mind, it registered that therewassomething off about the lock screen when I saw his text.
I attempt to text back, but his phone is password protected.
Then, Benson:So you can respond, my password is 0914.
Me, after typing in his password:How can you take selfies of my phone while using my phone?
Me: #hesawizard
Benson:I took the photo with my tablet.
Me:Oh. Also, did you ever think maybeyoustolemyphone?
Benson:They look identical. One of us must have grabbed the wrong one at the registers at Party World.
Me: (A GIF of Homer Simpson smacking his forehead)Actual Party World surveillance footage of you taking my phone.
Benson:LOL.It’s disturbing that you don’thave a passcode on your phone, BTW.
Me:It’s lucky for you right now that I don’t.
