Page 62 of Between the Boards
“Going somewhere?” Eliana asks, her lip curving into a lopsided smile.
“I watched you two leave,” I say, my voice flat. “What are you doing back here?”
“My Maliah-senses were tingling so I turned around,” Maliah says with a smirk, tapping her temple. “Are you on your way to crash Kairi’s date?”
“No,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “I was just…going to watch it.”
“Watch it?” Eliana asks, confused.
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’m still her love coach, and what if she needs my help on her date? Shouldn’t I be there to coach her through it?”
Maliah snorts. “What a load of bull?—”
“Well how are you going to do that without interrupting the date?” Eliana interrupts, nudging Mal with her elbow.
I shrug. “Hand motions if I must.”
I try to push past them and get to my truck but Maliah quickly blocks me again. “We’re coming with you,” she declares.
“No you’re not,” I mutter, unlocking my doors and quickly jumping in.
But Maliah and Eliana are fast, they get a door open before I have a chance to hit the lock button and they slide their way into my truck with satisfied smiles, even going as far as to high five each other as I watch them in my rearview mirror.
“Why are you two coming?” I mutter, starting the engine.
“Because you can only coach her from a male's perspective,” Eliana says, buckling in. “She should have a female perspective too.”
“So you two want to become her love coaches too?”
Maliah shrugs. “Consider us love consultants.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and reverse out of the driveway. Having them tag along isn’t the worst thing, especially because I have no idea where Kairi is. “Is the date at the coffee shop?”
“Nope,” Maliah says, popping the P. “He took her to the botanical garden on the edge of town.”
“Wait,” I glance at her in the review mirror. “Their date isinSaltwater Springs?”
They both nod in unison and I release a heavy sigh, running my fingers through my hair.
“Well, there goes the fake dating story,” I mutter, feeling like shit. “I can bet half the town is already talking about them.”
“Should’ve just taken her to dinner last week,” Maliah says, sounding bored. “You’re competing for her heart with not only Zale, but now coffee shop guy too.”
“There’s no competition,” I say firmly. “I’m not trying to win over Kairi’s heart.”
“Mhm,” she says, looking out the window with a small smile.
“Whatever you say,” Eliana adds with a nod of her head.
I grip the steering wheel tighter and keep my mouth shut the rest of the drive, refusing to play into their little mind games.
”Is that my dress?”Maliah whispers, as she watches Kairi from behind a tall section of sunflowers.
On the drive, her and Eliana changed into what they call disguises. They’d planned to crash Kairi’s date with or without me, so they both brought bandanas to wear over their heads, as well as giant sunglasses. In my opinion, they look more noticeable than without the dressing up, but then again I can’t say anything because I’m also wearing a disguise.
My face is hidden under the shadow of my baseball hat and sunglasses, and I’m also peeking at Kairi from behind the sunflowers..
“That’s definitely my dress,” she says again, with a quiet gasp. “When did she take that?”
