Fractured ( Fractured #1) by Holleigh James Page B

uncomfortable.
    When he wasn’t looking, I actually pinched myself to make sure I reall y was in a very beautiful place with a gorgeous guy who was interested in me. This was the furthest my self-confidence had ever stretched, at least in a real life situation. Everything was perfect. I wondered how long it would last.
    His next question caught me off guard. “ So, are you allowed to date?”
    My body stiffened as my insecurities returned. “Of course I’m allowed to date. What kind of question is that?”
    “ Well, Eric said that you don’t have a boyfriend. I was wondering if your father didn’t allow you to date.”
    I guess ed anyone might think that, considering I hardly ever went out anywhere. “Contrary to what Eric might think, my father lives in this century, not the Middle Ages. He doesn’t have a say on whether or not I have a boyfriend. So, to answer your question, yes, I’m allowed to date.”
    His stare silently urged me for the reason why I didn’t have a boyfriend.
    The inside of my mouth felt like I had swallowed a whole bag of cotton balls. “I don’t date because… well, to be honest, no one has ever asked me.” There, I said it out loud. I pictured the big neon “L” flashing over the top of my head, the one that branded me a loser.
    He smiled. “Good. Then I’d like to take you out on a date.”
    I didn’t even try to hold back my smile. “I would like that very much.”
    “Great. How about this Saturday? I’ll pick you up at six. That way I can meet your parents, so they know that you aren’t going out with a psychopath.”
    “Okay. Six.” My head floated up past the tree s and into the clouds. My cheeks hurt from my mouth stretching wider than it was able. A date… at six . “Oh! What time is it?”
    He looked at his watch. “Three-fifteen.”
    “I have to get back. Dillon will be getting off the school bus soon.”
    “Okay, but can we come back here again?” he asked. “This really is a perfect place.”
    It was, especially as he wanted to come back… with me. “Absolutely.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Fourteen
     
     
    On the way back toward my house, Rob walked closer to me. Our arms almost touched. The electricity between us was almost visible. I tried to stay focused on what he was telling me. He said that working at the supermarket was okay, but he wasn’t sure of the toll it would take once school started. “I’ll have to go back to after-school hours, and I won’t be able to work as much. I’m trying to save as much as I can during the summer.”
    I thought he didn’t have to worry about money. Maybe he just wanted to keep busy so he didn’t have to think about his parents. “That sounds like a good plan.”
    “ I don’t have to be in until five tomorrow. Can I see you?” he asked. Now I wished I hadn’t said yes to my father’s request for help at the garage.
    My shoulders dropped . “I’m sorry. My dad’s asked me to work at his shop. He’s short a man and needs me to answer the phones and write up service tickets.”
    “I’ll see if I can get an extra shift at the supermarket then. I might as well keep busy.”
    He walked me to my door, but didn’t kiss me as I had hoped. Part of me was disappointed, but then I remembered that I’d be going to dinner with him on Saturday, on my first real date.
    Once inside, I watched him through the window as he walked to his car. Sadness swelled inside me when he drove away. I ran upstairs and scrounged through my closet, trying on every combination of what I owned, searching for the perfect outfit for Saturday. I found myself wishing Cassandra had lived. Having a sister right at that moment would have helped. I knew taking a trip to the mall over the next two days might be in order if I didn’t find something I could live with Rob seeing me in. Sadly, I wished that Jennifer and I were still friends. She could have helped me put together something that would appeal to Rob. I knew I