Page 3 of False Promises

“I’ll drive you to the restaurant on Saturday night. Tell Dahlia she can come along if she wants.”

Dahlia and I played in a restaurant owned by a coworker of her dad every Saturday night. It was great exposure and good money. Any occasion for Ellis and Hills Band to play in front of a crowd made me happy.

We broke apart. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it. You should apply to be our road manager. I’m sure you’d be good at it. I might even get you a ‘Number One Fan’ title ribbon to wear to every show. Something bright pink with glitter and flashing lights.”

“You’re so stupid,” he said, laughing his heart out. “How about I treat you to burgers instead?”

“With milkshake and Cajun fries?”

“I wouldn’t offer anything less.”

“Count me in. I’ll meet you downstairs in fifteen.”

Sitting in a booth at Bryce’s Burgers, I studied my brother. By the tenseness around his eyes and his serious demeanor, I could tell something was bothering him.

I pushed a handful of fries into my mouth and chewed as I asked, “So, whom are you taking to prom?”

“Man, you’re gross.”

“Any name?” I asked with a mouthful. “I heard there were at least ten girls who asked you to go with them already. Did you pick one?”

He shook his head. “There’s only one girl I want to ask to prom. But I’m not sure she’ll agree to be my date.”

“Who is she? Anyone I know?”

He shrugged and averted his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t ask her.”

“Since when do you chicken out?”

He shrugged again.

“C’mon, Jeff. Don’t be a chickenshit. Grow some balls. What’s the worst that can happen? Being rejected? So what? Girls are lining up to go with you. It’s not like you’ll end up going alone.”

“I’m not even sure I wanna go. So, it doesn’t really matter.”

“You can’t skip all the traditions, man. You’ve already bailed out on Homecoming and Winter Formal. You know Mom is dying to buy you a suit and take embarrassing pictures of you and your date, right?”

He threw a fry at my chest.

“Anyway, I don’t think I’m on this girl’s radar.”

I fished a quarter from my pocket and smirked at him. “You asked for it. I’ll take the matter into my own hands. Brace yourself, big brother. Destiny will decide. Heads, you’re asking this mystery girl. Tails, you bail out on prom or pick a girl from your fan club. You should’ve asked for my help sooner. I’m a miracle maker, and I’ll fix your prom problems.”

I tossed the coin, and it flipped multiple times before I caught it.

Jeff watched me the entire time, mute.

“Heads. The coin has decided,” I announced. “You ask her. I’ll give you two days to man up and get your head out of your ass. And I’ll need a full report in forty-eight hours. Don’t let me down, brother.”

We stared at each other for a long minute. Something was wrong with my brother. He was usually much more outspoken than this. Perhaps he really liked that girl—as much as I liked Dahlia—and was afraid she wouldn’t return his feelings.

“Promise me you’ll ask this girl to prom. No matter what.”

He nodded. “I will.”

Without another word, he moved to his feet. “Let’s get out of here.”

I clapped his back before we reached his truck. “You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?”