Page 73 of Take It Till You Make It
Glory bursts into laughter. Not the reaction I expected.
“What’s that for?” I ask indignantly.
“The guy’s crazy about you.”
“How would you know?”
“Oh, I just know. You are being so silly.”
“And you aren’t making any sense. There’s no way you can just know that when I’m here and living it, and I don’t even know.”
“He’s throwing you a birthday party. How is that losing interest in you?”
“He might have promised it before he started losing interest. Or it was one of those things that once he said it, he couldn’t un-say it.”
“Ari, Ari, Ari. I really think you’re doing that thing you do.”
I grimace at my phone, though she can’t see me. “The overthinking thing?”
“Yeah, that thing.”
“Listen, I have to go. I’m here. I’ll try not to overthink and see if my trepidations ease.”
“That’s a capital idea. But before you go, if I ever come out to visit, I want to meet that best boy you had on your channel yesterday. Holy hot stuff.”
“Ha ha. Eduardo’s a cutie for sure. We had way too much fun filming that too. Didn’t you love his stunts?”
“Love, love, loved them!”
“Scared the crap out of me to film though.”
Glory cackles.
“Love you, Glow worm.”
“Love you, Belly button.”
I grab my bag and climb out of my car. Terrell is at the door today. I already have my identification ready. In an industry where people can literally make you look like someone else, I think it’s smart that they make us show our ID every time we show up.
“Hey, Belly. How you doing?”
He’ll never call me anything else. “Morning, T. How’s your nephew? Haven’t you guys filmed anything lately? I haven’t gotten a notification that you’ve posted a new video.”
“The poor kid got mono. He’s been laid out for a couple of weeks, but he’s on the mend.”
“Oh, no. Tell him I hope he recovers quickly.”
“Will do. It’ll make his entire week when he hears that. You’re his idol. And I think he has a crush.” Terrell grins.
I make a face and shake my head. “Why would anyone have a crush on me? I’m just a goofball.”
Terrell narrows his eyes, still grinning. “Are you messing with me right now?”
I feel like I stepped into an alternate universe. I look down at myself, holding my arms out like it’ll help him to see me better. “There isn’t much here to crush on, T. I’m literally playing a thirteen-year-old in this movie.”
Terrell busts up laughing. “You’re funny, Ari. Isn’t she hysterical, Crispin?”
I spin to see Crispin approaching, sunglasses still perched on his nose, making him seem mysterious. Baggy sweats and my favorite faded, chest-hugging t-shirt, with flipflops of course, make him look like any other guy out there in the world. Until you notice that chiseled jawline and perfect nose. He smiles at me, and I can’t breathe. He’s perfection personified. And I don’t find it fair when he wields his powers at me so early in the morning.
