Page 29 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

Her ringtone scratches through my desire, like nails on a chalkboard.

“Hello?”

Izzy’s voice echoes from the other end of the call. The sisters scream and laugh, reveling in Delilah’s fantastic news. Knowing them like I do, they’re going to be on the phone for a while.

I start the truck and program my GPS to a chain restaurant Delilah enjoys. I reach across her small frame and buckle her seatbelt. The smile she grants me takes my breath away.

As the truck rolls forward, she checks the screen and sees where we’re heading. The smile only grows, and I have to look away or I’ll wreck the truck.

I’ll do anything to keep that smile on her face. Anything.

17

Connor age 16, Delilah age 15

“Dude, you need to calm down.”

“CJ, shut up. How am I supposed to calm down when…I’m missing homecoming?” I hedge.

“Mmhmm. You’re about to flip your lid because you’re not going to homecoming? Are you sure it’s not because you’re not going to homecoming with Delilah?” CJ taunts.

“Yea right.” Yes. That’s exactly why I’m losing my shit.

“You’ve never cared about a school dance in your life. Why are you in a tizzy over this dance if not because of Delilah?”

“You heard she’s going with Roger Mirowski, right? That guy’s a douchebag. I don’t trust him.”

“Roger Mirowski? You mean the brown-haired hunk from the drama club? That Roger Mirowski?” CJ sasses back.

“There’s only one Roger Mirowski at school and you know it, you dick. He’s a douche, okay? I don’t like Delilah going with him.” I can’t explain it—I could—but I don’t want to explain it to CJ.

She’s going to look so pretty, I know it. And he’s going to pick her up in his stupid car. And hold her hand. And touch her back when he dances too close to her. He’s probably going to try to kiss her.

My anxiety morphs into rage and I huck my water bottle across the room.

“Can you text me from the dance if…” I don’t even know what I’m asking for.

“Yes, you know I will. I couldn’t keep that kind of gossip to myself if you paid me.” CJ winks and leaves me to my misery.

“Fuck. You. You cocksucker!” I yell into my headset. Even blowing up zombies on my Xbox isn’t taking the edge off. I tap my phone screen again, it’s after eight and still no text from CJ. The dance started an hour ago. I can’t take it.

Me: Update?

CJ: I don’t have an update.

Me: Fuck you. You’ve gotta give me something.

CJ: Okay. The music is terrible, the decorations are gawdy, and Tina Sutton is sucking face with Tom Milton in the boys bathroom.

Me: CJ! How’s Delilah?

CJ: She came with Olivia a little while ago. They’ve been in and out of the girls bathroom since.

What the fuck? Why did she come with Olivia? Where’s her “date”?

Me: Where’s Mirowski?

CJ: Haven’t seen him. Hold on, let me go find out.