10 Blind Dates - Ashley Elston Page 0,2

hungry for sausage.

ME: You’re disgusting. And you’ve scarred me for life. I’m never getting pregnant for fear of sausage toes and bedazzled orthopedic shoes.

It’s a few minutes before she texts me back.

MARGOT: Mom just texted me that you’re not coming!!! What in the hell, Soph??? You were going to save me from the tug-of-war between Mom and Gwen. You know how those two are together!!

ME: You’re on your own. I really hope they fight over who gets to clean out the lint between those sausage toes. Maybe they’ll have to use dental floss.

MARGOT: You’ve given me a mental picture I’ll never be able to get rid of. I curse you with sausage toes for the rest of your life!

ME: I’ll come when the baby’s born.

MARGOT: Promise??

ME: Promise

MARGOT: So has Griffin gotten there yet?

ME: None of your business.

MARGOT: Give it up. No, wait…don’t give it up.

ME: Ha. Ha.

I scroll through all the social media sites, wasting time waiting for Griffin to call me. My phone finally rings, and his name flashes across the screen. I don’t even try to stop the smile that breaks out across my face.

“Hey!” he screams over the loud music and noise in the background.

“Hey! Where are you?” I ask.

“Matt’s.”

I’ve already seen several posts from people hanging out in Matt’s backyard and pool house, including Addie, my best friend since the third grade.

“Are you on the way to Margot’s?” he asks.

“Change of plans. I’m staying with Nonna and Papa. But I don’t have to be there for a few hours.”

“What? I can hardly hear you,” he says in a loud voice.

“Change of plans!” I scream. “I’m staying here.”

I can hear the steady beat from the bass but can’t make out which song is playing.

“I can’t believe your dad didn’t make you go,” he says.

“I know, right? Want to come here? Or I can come to Matt’s.”

He’s quiet a second before saying, “Come to Matt’s. Everyone’s here.”

I feel a pang of disappointment. “Okay, see you in a few,” I reply, then end the call.

The crowd at Matt’s is bigger than I expected. Today was the last day of school before the holiday break, and it looks like everyone is ready to celebrate. There must be a million lights strung over his house and the bushes and trees. Really, there are lights covering anything that stayed still too long.

Most people are in T-shirts and shorts, and even with all of the decorations it’s hard to feel festive. Doesn’t really feel like winter break when you’re swatting mosquitoes. Stupid Louisiana weather.

I park my car four houses down, the closest spot I can find. Even from this far away, I can still hear the deep thump of bass coming from Matt’s backyard. It wouldn’t surprise me if the neighbors call the cops within the hour. Hopefully, we’ll be gone by then; it would be hard to explain why I was here instead of halfway to my grandparents’ house when one of the deputies inevitably calls my dad.

When I get to Matt’s, I spot a guy and a girl sitting in the grass near the driveway, and they seem to be arguing. The drama doesn’t usually get started this early. They get quiet when they notice me, and I pick up the pace, trying to give them their privacy. Following the music, I head to the backyard toward the pool house. Just as I’m about to round the house, I feel a tug on my arm.

And then I’m swallowed in a breath-crushing hug.

“I thought you weren’t coming!” Addie squeals loud enough that several people turn in our direction.

“Can you believe I talked my parents into going without me?”

“I can’t! Are you staying at Nonna’s?” She sticks out her bottom lip in a pout. “I’m still barely going to see you!”

I laugh. “Yes, you will. I have a plan. Nonna will be so busy during the day, she won’t even miss me. I’ll head back here and we can hang out.”

“Your parents will flip if they find out. We’ll have to hide your car.” Addie jumps up and down. “Oh! And bring Olivia. I haven’t seen her in forever.”

I nod, even though I doubt she’ll want to come back with me. Olivia is one of my many cousins and the daughter of Mom’s twin sister, Lisa. We’re only two months apart in age and used to be super close when we were younger, but we’ve seen less and less of each other over the last couple of years. “Olivia is helping Nonna at