Page 107 of The Broken Heart Playlist
But there’s no rabbit. I’m out of magic tricks.
“I’ll think of something,” I reassure her.
She nods, but I’m not sure she believes me as she wanders dolefully down the hallway to rejoin the rest of the girls in the living room.
I know what’s going through her mind, because she’s explained this scenario to me numerous times. If the girls leave the party and complain to everyone how bored they were, that’ll be the death knell for any future parties for Lisset. At least for a long while. The world of school is particularly brutal. A lame party is not easily forgiven.
I’m still standing frozen in the entryway, my mind spinning in every direction except a constructive one, when the doorbell rings.
Gideon stands on my porch, looking puzzled. “Did a goth fairy just leave your house?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Yes.”
“I thought for a moment I was hallucinating.”
“No hallucination. Just my present nightmare.”
He holds up a gift-wrapped package. “I have a present for the birthday girl.”
I look at the present, then at him, then back at the present. My brain can’t seem to decide what to do. “Do you want to give it to her?”
“Not if it’s a bad time.”
“She’s having a party.”
He tilts his head at the balloons on the mailbox. “That was my guess. How’s it going so far?”
“Well, the bounce castle was cancelled because it’s too windy to set up. The party entertainer I hired turned out to be a terrifying dark fairy strung out on nihilism. Lisset is so disappointed, and I don’t know what to do with nine bored kids for the next couple of hours.”
“Let me help.”
I frown at him. “How?”
I mean, the man doesn’t have kids. He has no nieces or nephews. What experience would he have in rescuing a children’s birthday party?
“Step aside, Your Skepticalness. You clearly aren’t aware of my many hidden talents.”
When I still stand there, staring at him in astonishment, he places his hands on my shoulders and gently moves me to the side so he can step past me into the entryway.
“Let’s do this,” he says, striding down the hallway.
The take-charge vibe he’s giving off is oddly appealing. It shouldn’t be and somewhere inside me there’s a feminist squawking her outrage, but her voice is becoming dimmer and dimmer as I trail after Gideon in my new favorite game calledFollow the Leader.
I’m still unsure if this party is going to be a complete disaster or if Gideon will somehow save the day, but I’m willing to give him a chance.
Lisset’s face lights up the instant she sees him. “Gideon!”
“Birthday girl!” He high-fives her and hands over his present. “You can open it later.”
She promptly ignores his advice and rips off the wrapping paper. “An American Girl doll!” she squeals. “Gideon, thank you! Thank you!” She throws her arms around his waist and hugs him tightly.
Eight girls stare awestruck at a very attractive Gideon before shifting their gazes to a very expensive doll.
“Ladies,” Gideon acknowledges. “Are you ready to party?”
A chorus of enthusiastic cheers follows his question.
“All right, then, everyone in the dining room.”
