Page 28 of The Bad Boyfriend Curse
Meera: your amp? your phone? your eyebrow rings?
Noah: none of those. my phone is a piece of crap
Meera: think about it and get back to me
Noah: why do you care whats important to me?
Meera: because people need to think we’re dating tomorrow
Noah: you sure you still want me at that party?
Meera: of course. convinced my mom to let me ride with sadieand liv. so liv will pick you up. shoot me your address. it will be around 6
He sends his address, and I immediately look up where it is. It’s not far from Gordon Park.
Meera: perfect see you then!
Noah: can’t wait
I have no idea if that’s sarcasm or if he’s being sincere. Honestly, I was sure he’d find a way to get out of coming to the party, but he seems to thinkI’mthe one who would want to back out of our fake date. I have no intention of doing that. And it’s not only because I think this is the best way to get Mom to agree to send me home but also because… Iwantto spend the evening with him. Seeing Noah tonight away from Gordon Park, and seeing him sing, I feel like I know another side of him, a side that’s really important to him, and it took my breath away.
I’m fully aware that I already have a massive crush on the guy. And I know that the curse says I’m destined to fall for thewrongguy, but at least I have the benefit of foresight this time around, right? Plus, if everything goes as planned, I’ll be separated from Noah very soon. Might as well enjoy some flirting while it lasts.
I pick my phone back up and search for “Rusty Cage,” that song Noah sang at Donut Den. And yeah, it is a complicated song.
And I like Noah’s version way better than the original.
By the time I’m getting ready for Jason’s party, there are more butterflies in my stomach than weeds in Gordon Park.I’m worried that my plan won’t work at all and Mom and Jason won’t even flinch about me bringing Noah to the party. I’m worried that everyone will laugh at the thought of someone like Noah dating someone like me. I’m worried Noah will see another side of me at the country club and never speak to me again.
But also I’m incredibly excited that I get to spend the evening with Noah. And that feeling kind of beats out all the others.
My seafoam-green dress doesn’t look that terrible after I use a curling iron to add some waves to my hair and put on a little makeup, adding a shimmering silver eyeshadow and pink lip gloss with shaky hands.
Mom comes into my room to tell me that she and Jason are leaving.
“Are you sure you don’t want to ride with us?” she asks.
She still doesn’t know I have a date for the party.
I shake my head. “I’d rather ride with Sadie and Liv.”
Mom nods. Her white dress has a halter neck and huge seafoam-green flowers on it. I’m not used to seeing her in something so fancy. Feminine. She used to always be in jeans when not in scrubs for work. She touches my hair. “You look so pretty. All grown-up.” Her eyes are fond as she searches my face, but her expression changes at my throat. She pauses. “Are you going to wear that necklace tonight?”
My hand goes to the black beads I’ve worn since I got to Cherrybridge. I’m not sure it’s actually working to protect me from the curse—although, it’s possible that something evenworsewould have happened with Gabe if I hadn’t beenwearing it—but I am not taking any chances on this date with Noah. Besides, the blue-and-green eye pendant matches the dress, and I like the way the black beads make my dress look a little less… country club.
“Yes, I’m wearing it.”
“All right.” Mom sighs, resigned, and clearly not happy about my accessories. “Thanks for coming tonight, Meera. I know this week has been hard, but Jason and I are so happy that you’re supporting us.”
I don’t say anything to that, because I know Jason’s actuallynothappy that I’m here.
I look at our faces in the mirror. We’ve always looked exactly alike. I guess it kind of helps me forget that I have a father somewhere out there, because the only thing I seem to have inherited from the sperm donor is big feet. I’m all Mom, on the outside at least.
But on the inside? I honestly have no idea. I used to think we were similar, both driven and determined. But Mom’s seemed like a stranger to me these last few months—planning her fancy country club wedding, moving here, and trying to be one of the real housewives of Cherrybridge or something. I know she hated how much she had to rely on Nani and Nanabapa to help raise me, so she worked hard to have her own place. She was also outspoken and would rant about issues with women’s rights and how big corporations were ruining the world, even in front of Nanabapa, who’s pretty conservative politically. I’m so used to Mom being a fighter, an individual.
Now she’s married to a man who has a big corporation,and she doesn’t even earn her own money. I really can’t understand why she changed so much.
She’s quiet. I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am, that we’re like strangers these days.
