“Hi George.”
I move along the sofa so there’s a space between George and me. “Sit down for a minute.” I pat the seat and Lori looks from me to George and then gingerly sits down, smoothing her skirt under her legs. You know, some girls are just born feminine. Others of us—well—
“Hey, Lori,” George says. “How’s it going?”
“Good, thanks.”
“Listen, you two. I better get back to see Guy before he sends out a search party.” I jump up and once I’ve walked past George I turn and wink over his head so only Lori can see. She stifles a giggle by turning it into a cough. I guess that’s my good deed done for the day.
***
I find Guy sitting all alone at our table. When he sees me a huge smile crosses his face. Awww. He’s so sweet. I shuffle my butt along the bench until I’m sitting next to him and our thighs are touching.
Both his arms are resting on the table and I put my hand on top of one of his. He moves his head in closer. I think he’s going to kiss me. I tilt my head up slightly and my eyes are beginning to close when suddenly he jerks his hand out from under mine and he jumps away from me.
“No, Suzy. We mustn’t. We’ll regret it.” He shakes himself as though he’s trying to get rid of something disgusting.
“Guy, we haven’t done anything. I hardly think a kiss is going to send us down the path of ruin.” This is seriously driving me crazy.
“Maybe, not this time. But each time we start something we’ll go further and further. The handbook is right.”
Screw the freakin’ handbook.
Chapter Seventeen
“Remember, guys. The picnic next Saturday. Meet at Victoria Park gates at three. Before you leave write down on the sheet what food you’ll be bringing. And I’ll bring whatever we don’t seem to have enough of.”
“What picnic?” I whisper in Rachel’s ear. “And does he mean Saturday as in tomorrow?”
“We’re having a summer picnic. And no it’s not tomorrow it’s Saturday week.”
“Why didn’t someone tell me?” my voice comes out louder than I intend and Guy nudges me in the ribs with his elbow.
“Sssh, Suzy. Jamie will hear you.”
I’m having a huge crisis here. Jamie hearing me is like minus fifty on the care factor scale at this precise moment. This is awful.
“We’ll take a break, then after have our support session.” Jamie steps down from the stage and as he saunters past our row he grins conspiratorially at Lori. What are they planning, I wonder?
Anyway, back to my problem. What the hell am I going to do? The picnic is on the day of Truck-fest. Can it get any worse? Is it too much to ask for things to run smoothly for a change? Haven’t I been playing my part? Stepping up to the mark. Being the model daughter, model student and model anything else that crosses my path. And look how I got Lori and George talking again. Even if they’re not going back out yet, it’s still a step in the right direction. All I need to do is persuade her to ask him out. It’s not like we’re living in the dark ages. Girls do ask boys out. I reckon she should invite him to the silver wedding party. Mind you, it’s a pretty big ask to expect someone to embrace the full force of a family party. Well, in our family it is. It makes me go all goose-bumpy to even think about it.
“Suzy, have you got a moment?” Lori asks, leaning over Guy who’s sitting between us.
“Give me a minute. I’ve just got to—to—” what have I got to do? Apart from grab some fresh air. On my own to try and sort this mess out. I don’t want Lori following me. I need to think things through. “To speak to Jamie about something.”
For God’s sake, is that the best I can come up with?
“I’ll come with you.”
Great. Now I’ve got to get rid of her.
“It’s kind of personal. Sorry.” Her face drops. Yay, Suzy. Let’s make it even worse. “Not about me. It’s just Maddie wants me to ask Jamie something. It won’t take long.”
Where’s the freakin’ shovel, the hole I’m digging for myself is that big.
“Sure. Please be quick. I need to speak to you during the break.”
Now I feel guilty. She looks really anxious. I should stay but how will I explain that suddenly there’s no need for me