Chapter Sixty
I’m beginning to despise Valentine’s Day…
Love was in the air and all around me. I couldn’t seem to avoid it no matter how hard I tried. Sappy love was on every bulletin board and stuck to all the windows throughout the entire school. Hearts and pictures of Stupid Cupid taunted me in my failure to hook my brother up with Willow. There must be some kind of way to force Stupid Cupid’s hand. I just had to figure out a plan to assist him. This Valentine’s Day mushy love fest was sickening.
I had less than zero interest in having a boyfriend, much to Tray’s amusement. He would become downright arrogant if he discovered that he was partially responsible for my decision to hold off dating until I was too old to care about the game playing anymore. I figured I would just wait until I could walk up to a man I was interested in and say ‘Hey, you’re handsome and what-not, let’s skip the nonsense, and go straight to the marriage/baby stuff’.
Hhhmmmm, maybe I’d enlighten my big brother about my new life plan and see how amused he was then…
My best friend was still noticeably absent from my life. This was evidenced by who was walking me to class. Eli had offered to keep me company and I took him up on it. I had to do something to side track his interest in Willow – just until after Friday. Then, fate or Stupid Cupid had to step up and take a turn because this ‘love match’ stuff is harder than I initially thought it would be. I didn’t have a clue about how to make a guy lose interest in a girl, any more than I knew how to make a guy fall for one. I’m destined to fail at this matchmaker career unless something gives.
“Earth to Ember…” Eli said and was waving his hand in front of my eyes to break my current reverie.
“I’m very sorry – I’m just kind of out of it today,” I admitted.
I quickly performed an internal/external check to make sure I wasn’t glowing like a light bulb or preparing to erupt like a volcano.
“So that dinner…” Eli was looking at me as if I should have an answer, but I had missed his question completely.
“I apologize, I was lost in thought,” I mumbled and blushed.
“Must have been some thought...I asked if you think I could cash in that rain check…” he started to say and the warning bell rang.
“I’ll check with Willow and get back with you. Thanks for walking me to class,” I announced over my shoulder as I rushed down the hallway toward my classroom.
He made some kind of frustrated comment, but I managed to ignore it. Eli wasn’t easily discouraged and he wasn’t used to being brushed aside either. His impatience with my stall tactics was becoming evident. It was obvious that he intended to take Willow out to dinner – with or without me. So, I would keep my word to him. I really would talk to Willow about Eli’s rain check.
You hear that Stupid Cupid – I need a little help here!
Ember Rising Light (Book One) Page 64
