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Chapter 34 (Lou-Lou)
“Well, did he say where he was going?” I slam my fist on the counter top. “Did he say when he would be back?”
Jackson spoons more cereal into his mouth and continues reading the newspaper. A newspaper which isn't even dated for today. “He'll be back in time for the party tonight.”
I look at Alyssa who shrugs. “Try and relax, Lou-Lou. I'm sure everything is fine.”
“He left in the middle of the night.”
“Technically it was 9:00 pm,” Jackson says and I glare at him.
“What? You saw him before he left?”
He gets up from the table. “Yeah, he said he had to handle some business but promised he would be back for the engagement party tonight.”
“You're sure?”
“Yeah, Lou-Lou.” He puts his dish in the sink. “Look, if you want to spend your life with a mob boss, there are certain things you're go
And that's when it hits me—today's the day.
I thought it happened a few days ago when Alyssa and I made up, but him leaving last night makes perfect sense now.
I look at Alyssa and she sits upright, her grin matching mine.
That's when Jackson realizes his terrible mistake.
He points to the both of us. “No, get that thought out of your head, Frick and Frack. That situation has already been handled.”
I race for the remote, wanting to see it with my own eyes, but groan when I realize the cable's no longer working.
I spin around and throw the remote at him. “I find that hard to believe considering the cable is suddenly out.”
He rubs his chin and crosses his arms. “Internet is out too. Want to throw a hissy fit over that as well? Maybe chuck a computer at me?”
I fix my gaze on Alyssa. “How do you deal with him?”
She rubs his back. “He has his good moments—” The sound of her phone ringing cuts her off and she brings the phone to her ear. “Hi—” There's a pause. “What? Are you sure?”
There's incoherent murmuring on the other line and she looks confused. “No, it's just that I don't remember making the appointment.”
She glances at the calendar where today's date is circled in pink, along with a bride and groom sticker, marking Tyrone and Shelby's engagement party.
“Yes,” she says. “No, I know that I'm officially 7 months now and should come in for a checkup.”
She writes something down. “No, I should be able to make that appointment today no problem, it's before the engagement party.”
She blows her bangs out of her face and shoots Jackson a look. “No, it's not my engagement party, but thank you. Listen, maybe next time you can give me a card or something. I just...is it normal to be so forgetful when you reach 7 months?”
She laughs at something on the other line. “Yeah that's true. Okay, I'll see you in a few hours.”
Jackson raises an eyebrow. “You have an appointment today?
She waves a hand. “Yeah, but it's in the afternoon. We'll have plenty of time to get ready for the engagement party tonight.”
Jackson bites his thumbnail, looking nervous as hell.
“What's the matter, Jackson?” I taunt, taking a seat. “Going to the girly doctor give you the willies?”
He shoots me a dirty look before he looks at Alyssa. “On a scale of 1-10. How much would you kill me if I didn't go to this appointment with you?”
She thinks about this for a moment before replying, “5. Depending on your reason and how hungry I am.”
He drums his fingers on the counter top. “What if I promised to go out and get you food beforehand and told you it was because I made plans with Tyrone? You know, like a pre-bachelor party.”
That's when I give him a dirty look. “Then why wouldn't Ricardo be going?”
“He is,” he says through clenched teeth, looking like he wants to strangle me. “In fact, that's exactly where he is right now, setting everything up.”
I study my nails. “Pretty strange if you ask me. Ricardo's not much of a decorator. He wouldn't leave me in the middle of the night to hang up streamers.”
I lean forward and give him a smug look. “He also wouldn't be dumb enough to look at some naked girl coming out of a cake when he has me. So why don't you just tell us what's really going on?”
Alyssa tips her glass in my direction. “I'm with her. Unless you have a better reason than a lie, my number's now a level 10.”
Jackson stands up and rocks on his heels before he starts ticking things off with his fingers. “One—what kind of bachelor party has streamers? Especially a pre-bachelor party. Two—none of us would be dumb enough to look at a naked girl coming out of a cake...except for Tyrone, but only because he'd be more interested in the cake. And three—I'm not lying. I made plans to hang out with Tyrone before the engagement party, kind of like one last hurrah before it all goes downhill.”
Alyssa and I exchange a glance.
“I mean up-hill,” he amends, waving his arms. “All up-hill. Nothing but net.”
“Oh god, he's using sports analogy's,” Alyssa says, rolling her eyes. “He only does that when he's excited about something. I think he's telling the truth.”
She lifts a shoulder and takes a sip of her smoothie. “Go, I'll be fine on my own.”
I study my finger nails, silently debating the next statement out of my mouth. When I decide I've had enough and I need to know no matter what if today really is the day, I say it. “I can go with you if you want.”
Jackson opens his mouth to protest, but I've got him. “I'm assuming if Jackson's going out with Tyrone instead of watching me...it means there's no danger anymore.” I toss a fake smile in his direction. “Right, Jackson?”
His jaw tics, but I'm not finished yet. “I mean, I can always ask Tyrone about your brotherly bonding adventure this afternoon?”
“No,” Jackson says quickly. “It's a surprise, he doesn't know.”
Alyssa stirs the straw in her smoothie, looking hopeful now. “Does that mean Lou-Lou can come with me?” She bites her bottom lip and looks at me. “I mean if you want to that is...if you're okay with it.”
I give her a genuine smile. “I'm more than okay with it.”
Jackson looks back and forth between us and holds up a finger. “I-um—just let me make a phone call.”
When I open my mouth to question him about this phone call he says, “To finalize plans for this afternoon.”