Page 7 of Lonely Hearts Day
“No, my dad probably got home late.” Jack’s parents fought a lot, and I knew it bothered him. That’s why we spent more time at my house than his. “My mom most likely asked him why he didn’t bring home flowers or dinner or anything. He’ll suggest a movie and proceed to fall asleep on the couch.”
Maybe this was another reason I wanted to do this party. Because Jack didn’t need to see the same scene play out year after year at his house.
He pointed to his sticky note. “Better go ask around then.”
“Good luck.”
As he left, Sage joined me, crunching on a piece of celery. “I haven’t met him yet,” she said, waving the celery around like a wand.
“Jack? You haven’t met Jack?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Like I said, he and I had a couple different interests and I knew Sage from Drama Club.
“I’ve seen him around with you, but no, we haven’t met. He’s cute,” she said.
I blinked. It wasn’t that I didn’t think Jack was cute. He was cute in a boyish, nerdy way. But I’d known him since we were kids, so I’d never thought of him as anything more than my best friend. The best friend I’d ever had. He was sweet and smart and funny, but there was never any sort of attraction.
“Will you introduce me?”
“Yeah, of course. But this is a singles party, we’re taking back Valentine’s Day, so don’t get any ideas.”
“I’ll save my ideas until tomorrow.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
I wondered if Sage was Jack’s type. Neither he or I had ever had a serious romantic relationship. We often pointed out people we thought were cute, or pointed out someone we thought the other should date. And Sage was someone I would’ve picked out for Jack. She was cute: petite with short, dark hair and big brown eyes. Pretty much the opposite of me. I was tall, taller than most of the boys I knew, in fact. I had long strawberry blonde hair and gray-blue eyes.
Sage tapped her forehead where the nameMaria/West Side Storywas on her sticky note. “Am I from the present day?”
“No,” I said.
She looked at my note and smiled. “Who wrote that?”
“Jack. The one you think is cute.”
“He’s funny too? Even better.”
I was dying to take off my sticky note and look but I couldn’t cheat at my own game.
“This was a good idea,” she said. “This party. Are you going to do one every year?”
“I think so,” I said. “It’s nice to have choices. Not everyone wants to go to the love fest.”
“Exactly.” She looked at me expectantly, then her eyes traveled to Jack and I realized that she was waiting for the introduction.
“Come on.” I took her to where Jack was standing by one of the pinball machines watching Simon slap at the buttons, obviously not understanding the beauty of timing. I placed my hand on Jack’s arm.
“Am I annoying?” Jack asked, facing me.
I knew he was talking about the person on his forehead, but Sage let out a surprised, “Huh?”
“No, I don’t think so. You’re charming.”
“Charming...” He scrunched one eye in thought.
“But poor,” I added.
He released an indignant huff. “Poor is not the opposite of charming.”
“Just stating a fact. What about me?” I asked.