The day before

chapter 1 last part

It was one of those days that even smells like summer: everything green and in bloom, the sky the kind of blue you only ever see in professional photographs. But this was actual, real life. Hashtag no filter.
       Suddenly, there was a shadow over the page. "Doing some light reading, huh?"
        I looked up. It was a guy who looked about my age, casual in a T-shirt and cargo pants, with sand blond surfer hair. He was smiling a toothpaste-commercial smile at me
      I flushed. "I guess it's not exactly summer escapist reading, but she's my favourite," I said. Understatement of the century. Toni Morrison is my IDOL. Hello Giggles is setting up a signing for her this summer and I'm dying to be a part of it. I've been dropping "subtle" hints-like carrying one of her books on me at all times---since I found outm
       "If that's your summer escapist reading, you're going to need another escape," He said. When he smiled, His eyes crinkled up at the corners.
       "What do you suggest?" I asked. Was I flirting? Maybe LA Betty could flirt. Maybe Riverdale Betty could learn a thing or two from her. 
        His eyes crinkled again. "I  was hoping you'd ask that. My number-one suggestion is this: You let me take over as your recreational director." I must have looked surprised, because her added, "or, you know, just a dinner. Low-key. I swear I'm not a psycho killer weirdo. Promise."
    "Hmm." I pretended to think about it."I mean, as long as you're not a psycho killer weirdo. I do like low-key."
     " See? We're soul mates."
     Soul mates. I had a flash of Archie's mop of red hair, his freckles, and those deep green eyes. But even though Archie  and I eat at Pop's together on the regular  those meals could never been mistaken for dayes.
     "Here's my phone. Can I get your number?" He passed it to me. Then je frowned. "Oh. Also, your name would be nice. I guess I got a little ahead of myself."
    I laughed. "It's Betty. Betty Cooper." I took the phone from him, then gasped as I realized the time. Rebecca's rock shrimp tempura would be cold by now. Crap. I punched in my phone number as quickly as I could, grabbed my stuff, and turned to leave. "I'm sorry to rush away, but I have- my internship   .   .   . "
      " No problem. You can tell me all about it. At dinner."
I smiled, wondering if my own eyes were crinkling up at the corners, too. "At dinner."
       "Oh! And by the way, I'm Brad. Or-since I'm guessing you're new to that SoCal lifestyle- you can call me Rad Brad."
    I looked at him. " okay  but can I also not   call you that?"
Flirty, LA Betty again! Shocking. And kinda fun.
" Betty Cooper, you can call me anything you want. But you should probably get back to work before your boss catches you picking up surfer dudes on your lunch break."