Be Mine Read online

“If I flirt with the girls, they tip me better,” Will explained. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “You need to tone it down.”

  “We’ve discussed your jealousy, Red.” Will shook his head sadly. “Not very attractive.”

  “I am not jealous!” Jennifer exclaimed. “And don’t call me Red!”

  “You don’t have anything to worry about,” he reassured her. “Until February fifteenth, I’m all yours.”

  Jennifer wanted to scream. He was so infuriating!

  “What’s not sinking into that thick skull of yours?” she asked. “What I just saw makes it look like you were interested in that girl. And if I think that, then other people are going to think it, too.”

  “You mean Claudia?”

  “Yes!”

  Will popped Jennifer’s pizza into the oven and led her back to the table she had been sitting at.

  “Okay, no more flirting,” he said. “I promise. I want this plan to work just as much as you do. Tell me again about New Year’s Eve and our first kiss.”

  Jennifer gave Will a recap of what she had told Claudia the day before.

  “What was the kiss like?” Will asked.

  His question caught Jennifer off guard. “Huh?”

  “Our kiss. What was it like? How did it feel?”

  Jennifer shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t you think you should? In case she asks.”

  “I-I-I suppose,” Jennifer sputtered.

  “We need to work on that,” Will said firmly. “Maybe even practice. You know. Like research. So it feels real and you know what you’re talking about.” Will popped a piece of gum into his mouth, smiling at Jennifer while he chewed. “Don’t worry, my breath is always minty fresh.”

  “R-r-research?” Jennifer asked, suddenly feeling like Little Red Riding Hood standing in front of the Big Bad Wolf.

  “Do you have a problem with that? Obviously, if we’re a couple, we’re going to need to be affectionate with each other. Right?”

  Jennifer hated to admit it, but none of this was stuff she had thought about.

  “Right?” Will repeated.

  “Right,” Jennifer answered firmly. So they were going to eventually kiss. Not a problem. It was all part of the plan.

  “But we don’t have to worry about that now,” Will said. “Let’s get back to New Year’s Eve. I was home sick that night so your story works. In fact, I had the flu during the holiday break and pretty much stayed home the entire time.”

  “Bummer.”

  “What did you do?”

  “We visited my cousins in Pennsylvania and went skiing. We could say we met at the party that the ski lodge had on New Year’s Eve. They really did have one.”

  “What about afterward? Why haven’t we been seen out together? You know she’s going to wonder about that.”

  “We wanted to take things slow,” Jennifer said. “Get to know each other. I was afraid.”

  “Afraid? Of what?”

  “I didn’t want to be another one-time-only date. I fell hard for you, but I wanted to see how serious you were about me.”

  “And am I serious?” Will asked, leaning back in his chair and stretching out his legs.

  “You tell me,” Jennifer said. “Have you been dating anyone since New Year’s Eve?”

  “Lucky for you, I haven’t.”

  “What do you like to do for fun?”

  “I’ve got my motorcycle. I listen to music. Play video games. Go to concerts. Work here. Pretty much the same as any other seventeen-year-old guy.”

  Jennifer handed Will a sheet of paper.

  “What’s this?” he asked, looking it over.

  “It’s all about me,” she explained. “My birthday, my favorite color, favorite foods, foods I hate, favorite movies, favorite bands, favorite TV shows, the names of my cat and best friend. Memorize it. I’ll need you to do a list for me and the sooner the better. We’ve only got tomorrow and Saturday afternoon to get ready.”

  “That’s like homework!”

  “Do you want this to work or don’t you? We’re going to have a tough time trying to fool Claudia. We have to have our stories straight.”

  “Okay, okay,” Will grumbled. “I hear you.”

  “When can you get me a list?”

  “Why don’t you stick around this afternoon and take notes?”

  Jennifer pulled out her cell phone and checked the time. “I wish I could, but I’ve got to get to my part-time job.”

  “Where do you work?”

  “DeVille’s department store. I’m stuck in the bridal department. Not only do I have to deal with bridezillas, but also their stressed-out mothers and bridesmaids.”

  “Have you been working there long?”

  “Three months, but it feels like forever. And after working there, I don’t think I’m ever going to have a wedding. It’s too much work. I’m going to elope!”

  “That’s a shame,” Will said, studying Jennifer from head to toe. “I bet you’d make a beautiful bride.”

  Jennifer’s mouth dropped open. Where had that come from?!

  “I mean, every bride looks beautiful,” Will rushed to explain. “After all, it’s her special day. I’ve never seen an ugly bride, have you?”

  Jennifer shook her head. “No, I haven’t.” She got out of her seat. “I better get going.”

  She had just reached the front door of the pizzeria when Will called out, “Red! Wait!”

  She turned around as Will hurried up to her, staring into her face. He started to lean forward. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her and her heart began racing madly. Instead, he wiped at her cheek and held out his fingers. “You had some flour on your face.”

  Disappointment washed over Jennifer. Had she really thought he was going to kiss her?

  “What’s wrong?” Will asked. “You look upset.”

  Jennifer scowled. “I told you not to call me Red!”

  And then she stomped out of the pizzeria.

  “If you won’t come shopping with me, I’ll bring the shopping to you!”

  Claudia walked into the Barneses’ house with four garment bags.

  “What are those?” Natalie asked as she followed Claudia into the living room, weaving around a path of toys. She’d have to clean up before Lisa came home.

  “Possibilities for the Valentine’s Day dance,” Claudia said. “I need a second opinion.”

  Bonnie, who was playing with her Barbies, abandoned them and came running over to Claudia’s side.

  “Pretty,” she whispered as she watched Claudia unzip the bags and remove the shiny, sparkly dresses inside. “Like a princess.”

  “You bought all those?” Natalie asked in disbelief, sitting down on the couch and lifting Bonnie onto her lap.

  “Of course not! They’re all on loan because my mom buys so much from this boutique.”

  “We’re going to have a fashion show,” Natalie told Bonnie as Claudia disappeared into the firstfloor bathroom to change.

  “Yay!” Bonnie exclaimed, happily clapping her hands. She pointed to an opened box of chocolates on the coffee table. “May I have one?”

  “Yes, you may.” Natalie opened the box and held it out to Bonnie. “Just one. Because you’ve been so good.”

  Thankfully, there had been no temper tantrum when Lisa had left that afternoon. Bonnie had kissed her mother good-bye and gone off to play with her Barbies, leaving Natalie to do her homework in peace.

  Bonnie studied the chocolates, squishing three of them before finding the one she wanted. She started sucking on it when Claudia returned wearing her first dress. It was an off-the-shoulder sheath the color of pink cotton candy. Bonnie’s eyes widened with glee when she saw it.

  “What do you think?” Claudia asked, twirling around.

  “It’s nice,” Natalie said.

  “Can I try it on?” Bonnie asked. “Pleeeease?”

  “It’s too big for you,” Natalie said as Claudia disappea
red to change into her second dress.

  Seven dresses later Claudia still hadn’t picked one to wear for the dance.

  She plopped on the couch next to Natalie. “I like all of them, but I don’t love any of them.”

  “You’re pretty,” Bonnie said, wrapping her arms around Claudia’s neck and giving her a kiss on the cheek, leaving behind a chocolate lipstick mark.

  “Is she always so sticky?” Claudia asked, touching her cheek.

  “She’s a little girl! She’s allowed to be messy. She doesn’t have to be all perfect the way we do.” Natalie lifted Bonnie off the couch. “Let’s go wash your hands and face.”

  “I’m hardly perfect,” Claudia said as she followed after them. “But I will be the night of the Valentine’s Day dance.”

  Natalie squirted Bonnie’s hands with liquid soap. Then she turned on the water, adjusting the knobs until it was warm. “Start scrubbing,” she told her. Bonnie instantly began lathering up.

  “Have you bought a dress for the dance yet?” Claudia asked.

  Natalie shook her head.

  “What are you going to wear?”

  Natalie wet a washcloth and gently wiped it over a squirming Bonnie’s face. “I’m sure I’ll find something in my closet.”

  “Tom won’t like that. I’m sure he’s expecting you to buy a new dress.”

  Natalie dried Bonnie’s face off with a towel, then handed it to her to use on her hands. “Too bad.”

  Natalie wasn’t going to discuss it with Claudia, but Tom had the habit of pointing out what other girls were wearing and then suggesting she wear the same thing. His taste ran to short skirts and tops with low necklines, which wasn’t her style at all. And when she wore something that he didn’t like, he made a point of mentioning it. That really bugged her.

  “I ran into him at the mall. Remember the dress Tanya Mooreland wore to the Secret Santa dance?”

  “What about it?”

  “He told me to tell you he thought you’d look hot in a dress like that.”

  Natalie made a face. “That dress was strapless and low cut! If Tom wants a girl wearing a dress like that, he should ask Tanya to the dance.”

  “Tom doesn’t like Tanya. He likes you.”

  Does he? Natalie felt like asking. Because lately she’d been wondering.

  “Can you unzip me?” Claudia asked, turning her back around to Natalie. “I’m going to take these dresses back to the mall.”

  “We’ll go with you,” Natalie said. “Bonnie’s been such a good girl today that I promised to take her sledding in the park.”

  “Sledding! Yay!” Bonnie shrieked, running off to find her snow boots.

  Natalie watched Bonnie disappear, wondering what it would be like to be that young again and not have to worry about life in high school.

  At the park, Bonnie insisted on giving Claudia a kiss good-bye. Natalie watched with amusement as Bonnie gave Claudia a bunch of extra wet, extra slobbery kisses all over her face. Even though Claudia tried not to cringe, she did, and Natalie laughed.

  “Stop acting like a baby!” Natalie scolded as she watched Claudia pull a tissue out of her pocket. “It wasn’t that bad!”

  “My face is dripping wet,” she said, wiping it off. “If I don’t dry it, it’ll freeze.”

  “I’ll talk to you later,” Natalie said as she took Bonnie’s hand and led her to one of the highest hills in the park.

  “Ready to go down?” she asked when they reached the top.

  Bonnie eagerly nodded.

  Natalie sat down on the sled and positioned Bonnie in front of her. When her legs were secured around Bonnie’s waist, she pushed them off the hill. Bonnie screamed with delight as they went straight down.

  “Again! Again!” Bonnie cried when the sled stopped at the bottom.

  “If you want to go down again we’re going to have to climb all the way up.” Natalie pointed to the hill they had come down. “Can you walk all the way to the top again?”

  “What if someone gave her a ride on their shoulders?”

  Bonnie turned around. “Uncle Leo!”

  “Bonnie!” he exclaimed. “You look so yummy. I have to take a bite of you!” He scooped Bonnie into his arms and pretended to eat her arm. “Scrumptious!”

  “Don’t eat me!” Bonnie giggled. “Please!”

  Leo plopped her back down on the ground. “Okay. But only because you said the magic word.”

  “Hi, Leo,” Natalie said.

  “Hey, Natalie. What are you two doing here?”

  “I’m babysitting Bonnie again. Because she was so good, I told her I’d take her sledding.”

  “Did you have fun going down the hill?” Leo asked Bonnie, who instantly nodded.

  “You know what else is fun?”

  “What?”

  “Building a snowman. Want to help me?”

  Bonnie raced to Natalie’s side. “Can we help Uncle Leo build a snowman, Natalie? Can we? Please?”

  “If that’s what you want to do, sure.”

  “Have you ever built one of these before?” Leo asked Natalie as he began building a base for the snowman’s bottom.

  Natalie shook her head. “Have you?”

  “Nope.”

  “How hard could it be? All we have to do is make three big snowballs and plop them on top of each other.”

  An hour later they had built a lopsided snowman with two gray rocks for eyes and a gnarled tree branch for a nose. A brown leaf had been added for a mouth and icicles were sticking out of his head for hair.

  “How come it doesn’t look like the snowmen on TV?” Leo asked Natalie. “You know, all perfectly round and shiny white?”

  “That is one sad-looking snowman,” Natalie stated.

  But Bonnie disagreed.

  “He’s the most beautiful snowman in the whole wide world,” she declared.

  “What are we going to name it?” Leo asked.

  “Frosty!” Bonnie pronounced.

  “It’s her favorite DVD,” Leo whispered to Natalie.

  “I know. She watched it four times this afternoon.”

  “You got off easy. Whenever I babysit her, she watches it at least ten times. If I have to hear that stupid snowman say ‘Happy Birthday’ one more time, I’ll scream!”

  “I still have to take her back home, so I’m sure we’ll be watching it again.” Natalie noticed that it was starting to get dark and held her hand out to Bonnie. “It’s time to go.”

  “Can Uncle Leo come with us?” Bonnie asked as she slipped one red mittened hand inside of Natalie’s and the other inside of Leo’s.

  “If he wants to.” Natalie looked at Leo. “Were you going anywhere before you ran into us?”

  “Just on my way home from the school library. I was working on my term paper for English Lit.”

  “Who do you have?” Natalie asked as they started walking out of the park.

  “O’Callahan.”

  “I hear she’s supposed to be tough.”

  “She’s not so bad if you read the assignments.”

  “Uncle Leo, will you read me a book when we get home?” Bonnie asked.

  “Absolutely!” Leo promised.

  When they got home from the park, Natalie changed Bonnie into a dry pair of jeans and socks. Bonnie insisted on wearing her purple jeans, which clashed with her orange turtleneck. And she wanted to wear her green and yellow striped socks.

  “Yowza!” Leo exclaimed, covering his eyes when Bonnie returned to the living room. “Dig those crazy colors!”

  “They’re not crazy, they’re my favorites.”

  Leo held out two books. “Which one do you want me to read? Fancy Nancy or Knuffle Bunny?”

  Bonnie shook her head. “I don’t want to read a book. I want to watch a DVD.”

  “Which one?” Natalie and Leo asked at the same time.

  “Frosty the Snowman!”

  “Wouldn’t you rather watch The Little Mermaid?” Natalie asked.

  “No.”r />
  “Beauty and the Beast?” Leo suggested.

  “No.”

  “How about Cinderella?” Natalie offered.

  Bonnie stomped her foot and screwed up her face, taking in a deep breath as she got ready to scream. “NO! I . . . WANT . . . TO . . . WATCH . . . FROSTY!”

  “Okay, okay, Frosty it is!” Natalie said, hurrying to aim the remote control at the DVD player. Anything to avoid a tantrum.

  Bonnie nestled into a corner of the couch, popping her thumb into her mouth and snuggling with a baby doll.

  “Why don’t I make us some popcorn?” Leo suggested, heading into the kitchen. “You can’t watch a movie without popcorn.”

  “I like my popcorn plain,” Natalie called out as she started picking up Bonnie’s toys. “No butter.”

  “No butter,” Leo called back.

  Natalie had just finished collecting the last of Bonnie’s toys when the doorbell rang. Opening the front door, she was surprised to see Tom standing on the porch.

  “What are you doing here?” she exclaimed as he stepped inside.

  “Tracking you down.”

  She closed the door behind him. “Why?”

  “We had a study date tonight, remember?”

  Natalie clasped a hand over her mouth. “I forgot!” she gasped.

  “Obviously.”

  She could see he was mad from the way he was glowering at her, but she chose to ignore it. She’d made a mistake. What was the big deal? “How did you know I was here?”

  “Your mother told me.”

  “Natalie, who’s at the door?”

  Leo walked out of the kitchen with a big bowl of popcorn.

  “Having a little snack, Barnes?” Tom snickered.

  Natalie noticed that at the sight of Tom, Leo seemed to shrink into himself. Why wouldn’t he? Tom was usually one of the guys who laughed at Leo.

  Tom turned back to Natalie. “What’s he doing here? I thought you were babysitting some little kid.” He looked at Leo again. “What’s the matter, Barnes? Mommy and Daddy won’t leave you home alone? Or is this the only way you can get a date?”

  “I’m babysitting Bonnie,” Natalie said, angered by Tom’s comments. “She’s four years old. Leo is her uncle. He stopped by to drop off something.”

  Natalie didn’t know why she was lying. She just had a feeling that if Tom knew she had spent the afternoon with Leo, he wouldn’t be too happy about it. She tried to communicate with Leo through her eyes. Please back me up. Please.