A Lily For Joshua

Chapter 12: The Date

Chapter 12: The Date

I liked Kaden well enough. He was real gentlemanly towards Aunt Jenn. They had a spark that, I dunno, just...was so sparky. I know that doesn't make any sense, but you had to be there. You know when you see those new married couples dancing and being cute? Yeah, that's kind of what it was like. Anyway, after Aunt Jenn's date left, I got a phone call. It was Josh.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," I replied.

"So, look, Lily, about earlier today, during lunch..."

"Don't worry about it," I said, breathing deep. "It's fine. I know Eli was just teasing. You'd never like me like that. Even my birthday/Christmas present didn't mean anything, and I know that. It was just a nice thing you wanted to do for me, I get it." I was rambling now, and I could feel my face go red as I talked. "And I know that they just really want people to go with people, and I guess they could see that we just click and that it'd be easier to get us together than, say, me and Jacob or Eli. James is taken by Avie, even if she doesn't know it yet."

"Lily--" Josh tried to cut me off.

"And I know that you'd only date me as a pity date--"

"Lily!" He interrupted. I cut off.

"Yeah?" I said sheepishly.

"I would NEVER only date you as a pity date," he said. "I was calling to ask you if you wanted to go on a date tomorrow night?" I blinked.

"A...what?" I said stupidly. I think I was a little slow.

"A date," he repeated.

"Oh. Okay. Yeah, sure," I said.

"Great," he said. "I'll pick you up at seven. Wear nice casual," he added.

"Okay, bye," I said. "Eeeeee!!" I squealed, dancing around my room. "Aunt Jenn!" I yelled, running downstairs. "Oh," I said, coming to a stop. "Hi Mrs. Couley," I said.

"Lily, I've told you a million times, it's--"

"Josie, yeah, I know. I just forgot."

"Lily, you were squealing. What for?" Aunt Jenn asked. Oh.

"Oh yeah. Well, it can wait," I said, embarrassed to talk about going on a date with Josie's nephew in front of Josie.

"Oh. If you're sure," Aunt Jenn said hesitantly.

"Actually, yes, it can wait, but I can't. I've got a date!" I yelled excitedly. They erupted into "Congrats!"s and "Oh, honey, that's great!"s.

"With who?" Josie asked.

"Oh, um, just a guy from school," I said.

"What's his name?" Aunt Jenn asked.

"It's, um, it's Josh," I said.

"Oh, what a nice name. I have a nephew named Josh, " Josie said. Wait for it. "Oh my gosh, no way!" She squealed. And the penny drops.