A Tangled Web We Weave (Completed)

12. Skeletons in the Passenger Seat

Cal

"That'll be $20.65," monotoned the cashier.

Smiling and thinking about the serve jobs I had worked, I handed her my card and looked at Andy.

She filled her cup with Dr. Pepper, not paying attention as it started to overflow. Swearing and whispering, setting her cup down and furiously grabbing napkins, she quickly glanced around her to make sure no one was paying attention, scowling at me when I was.

I winked.

She flipped me off by rubbing at her eye.

I took her to a quaint Chinese restaurant, where the owners made the food and their children were the servers. She'd complained about me driving, opening the door for her, and paying, but I could tell her heart wasn't in it. Part of her knew she liked being spoiled.

On the car ride over, I'd tried to kiss her. I don't think she knew because she leaned forward and gave me a hug. If anyone asks, I never tried to kiss her.

Sitting across from her, I grinned. "This seems sort of familiar."

She laughed. "Do th-this often?"

I sipped my water. "Not often enough. Did that jerk ever explain why he stood you up?"

"No."

"Really?"

She shrugged. "But I d-didn't really expect him to. He was-wasn't really one for talking." Realizing what she'd accidentally implied, she flushed. "I don't think he liked hearing me, I mean. N-not that he-" she put her chin in her hand. "Never m-mind."

"But you said he did it before that?"

"Yeah."

"How often?"

She smiled ruefully. "He would cancel on pl-plans we'd make at least once a we-week."

I whistled. "Damn."

"But he was really sweet other than that. Oh, and the m-maybe cheating thing." Her eyes widened. "Oh, p-please forget I said-aid that."

I was pissed. "He was cheating on you?"

I could her jaw clench. "Probably. I never asked h-him about it, but I had quite a few girls text me, saying they saw him with an-an-another girl at a party or something."

I raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't have to put up with that."

"I know, I know."

"He's a dick."

"Yeah."

Luckily, our food arrived and we were too busy eating to continue the awkward turn the conversation had taken.

Spearing some chicken, I shoved it in my mouth  and moaned. "Oh my God."

Grinning, she leaned forward a little. "G-good?"

Nodding, I gestured for her to take a bite.

She lifted her fork hesitantly and popped the steak into her mouth. Her eye rolled back in her head a little bit and she covered her mouth. "Damn."

Laughing, I nodded. "I told you."

She smiled, shrugging. After a few more minutes of quiet eating, she cleared her throat. "Uhm, so funny st-story. I, um, I totally came on this date thinking you were g-gonna be a total prick-ick, but I've actually had a really good time."

Blinking at her honesty, I furrowed my brow. "Wow, I made that bad of an impression?"

She laughed. "No, no, you've been really g-great, but I might know your s-sister."

I groaned. "What'd she do? I'll make her apologize, I swear I will."

"She sorta tortured me throughout m-middle school and the beginning of high sc-school," Andy shrugged. "We were both just being stupid kids."

"What'd you do?" I teased.

"Nothing! She just-" she cut off, biting her lip.

"She just what?"

"She just do-doesn't like me and probably never will," she finished, but I could tell she was lying.

"Fine, then. Keep your secrets." I bit into a spring roll. "So, tell me about Andy. What does she like to do?"

"Well, Andy likes books, old m-movies, listening to music, and singing or d-dancing, though I'm awful at bo-both." 

"Wow, you still read? For fun?" I shook my head. "Honestly, such an inspiration."

She kicked my shin. "Ok, asshole, t-tell me about Cal."

"Well, Cal likes boxing, playing video games or tennis or chess," I grinned at her look of shock. "While your surprise is sure flattering, I do enjoy chess. Oo, and rock climbing."

She laughed. "Ok, cut me some sl-slack. Look at Sabrina."

I laughed out loud. "Ouch, someone call her an EMT." I  pushed the vegetables on my plate around. "But old movies, huh? Like 70s old or-"

"Like black and w-white movies. Cary Gr-Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock-"

"Hitch-what?"

She giggled. "Hitchcock, it's his la-laast name, you perv."

"I knew none of the people you just said," I shook my head. "How can you just rattle off names like that?"

"I don't know, me and my mom liked watching them and she liked knowing about the actors and I guess it rubbed off on me."

"It's mad impressive."

"Thank you. So, tell me about chess."

"Oh, that." I laughed. "My dad had a bit of a superiority complex and he liked to challenge people to a game of chess just so he could beat them and then ridicule them about it. It was a fun little game he played."

She laughed, but sobered. "So you?"

"I learned how to from my uncle and practiced for months before I challenged him."

"What happened?"

"I was swiftly slaughtered. I don't think the game lasted 5 minutes." I shrugged. "But at least I know how to surprise pretty girls who think I don't have a brain."

Andy looked down at her plate and up at me. "Shut u-up." But her lips laughed at me.

After we left dinner and I had dropped Andy off at home, I decided to just head home and skip a night at the gym. Hell, I hadn't missed a day in over a month. I deserved it. Rolling the windows down, I let the cool night air course through the air as I blasted Bon Jovi at high volume. The summer night was warm and I took the scenic route, driving the neighborhood next to mine with houses as big as hotels. 

The music cut off as my mom called me. "Hello?"

"So? How was your date?"

I groaned. "This is the last time I tell you about my personal life. I mean it this time."

"Oh, hush. How'd it go?" Sabrina's voice in the background yelled something, but my mother shushing her covered up whatever she said.

"It was very nice, Mom. How'd your night go?"

"Where'd you go for dinner?"

"It was nice, Mom. How'd your night go?"

She sighed. "Fine, I'll mind my own business. Will there be another?"

"I'll see you when I get home. Bye, now." Hanging up, I shook my head. Boy, you better pray.