Page 279 of The Doctors Will See You Now

When we got to their table and she greeted them, I pulled my hand away from the heat of her shirt and studied my palm. Why is it tingling?

“Isn’t that a great idea, Scott?” my mom asked, pulling my attention away from my hand.

“What’s that?” I asked, obviously having no idea what the topic of conversation was. I was kind of busy studying my sudden ability to conduct electricity.

“I was just asking Bill to be my date tomorrow night…for the party.”

The party…?

Oh. My dad and Linda’s anniversary party.

Ah Jesus. My mother.

“Well…” I looked into my mom’s eyes, expecting to see some sort of game, but there was genuine hope there. She really liked Bill. Hell if I was going to be the one who ruined it.

“I think that’s a great idea,” I finished.

“Maybe Harlow could be your date,” Bill suggested after a nudge from my mother. They’re in this together. I just barely stopped myself from laughing.

“Dad!” Harlow protested. “You can’t just invite us to stuff. There’s probably a head count and menus and all sorts of important details. Plus, Scott probably already has a date.”

Her objection, so detailed and full of conviction as it was, sealed it for me. Now, I had to make her go.

“Oh, no. Trust me, it’ll be fine if you guys come. I was flying solo, but I’d love if you accompanied me, Harlow.”

It was the damnedest thing. I could practically hear the litany of curse words she was running over my name in her head and feel the steam as it poured out of her. It was almost as if Harlow gave me heightened abilities.

I’ve always wanted to be a superhero.

“Perfect!” my mom squealed.

I smiled at Harlow. “It’s a date.”

All it took was a single glance to the wall clock in my kitchen to make my chest tighten. It was already noon, and I’d yet to write a single goddamn word.

Jesus, where did the time go?

Probably lost on mentally flipping Scott Shepard off…

He’d really pulled a fast one on me last night. Somehow, directing the conversation in a way that ended in me having to see him twice in a twenty-four-hour period.

“I’d love if you accompanied me, Harlow.”

Asshole. I groaned out loud as I replayed his words.

“It’s a date.”

Fucking hell. I had a date with the devil, otherwise known as Scott assface Shepard.

Although, he does have quite an attractive face and one hell of a tight ass…

Oh God. Get it together, Harlow! Do not think good thoughts about the enemy!

Was I really mentally sparring with myself right now because of a cocky bastard of a man?

Sigh.

Where had my life gone wrong? And how did I keep ending up with these awful dates?