Right in the middle of my freaking date.
Quickly I glanced around the shop. There was an exit behind the counter. I could knock over this table to slow him down . . .
“Max? Are you okay?”
“Uh-huh,” I muttered absently, my eyes locked on Ari. He grinned again at me, then walked past the window. I saw a flash of streaked hair next to him, and then I saw my reflection in the window.
Sam turned to see what I was looking at just as Ari slipped out of sight.
I sat very still, waiting for Erasers to burst through the window, drop through the ceiling.
Sam was still looking at me quizzically. “You okay?” he asked again.
“Um-hmm.” I tried to look normal. “Just thought I saw something.”
Believe what you know, not what you see.
Okay, so not only Erasers butting in, but don’t you just hate it when the little Voice inside your brain starts talking at you during a date? I know I sure do. And what did it mean? I already knew Ari was still alive.
“Max?”
I gave Sam my attention again. “Sorry—got distracted.” I smiled apologetically at him. I was on full alert, ready to spring into action, but nothing was happening.
“I like how you’re eating a whole sundae,” said Sam. “Some girls would be like, Oh, just a small fat-free scoop in a cup. But you’re all over that thing.”
I laughed, startled, wondering if I should feel embarrassed. “I don’t worry about what I eat.” Just, you know, if I’m going to eat.
“I like it,” Sam said again.
And I am liking you, I thought.
72
We got a ride back to Anne’s with Sam’s third-oldest sister, who’d just gotten her license. Sam walked me up to Anne’s front porch.
“Thanks,” I said, feeling awkward and at a loss again. “I had a really good time.”
“Me too,” said Sam. “You’re not like other girls I’ve met.”
You can say that again, pal.
“Is that good or bad?” I asked.
“Good. Definitely good.” Sam really did have a nice smile. He moved closer to me, put one hand on my shoulder and the other under my chin. My eyes went wide when he kissed me. We were almost the same height, and he wasn’t as lean and hard as Fang. He kissed me again, angling his head the other way, and he put his arms around my waist.
You know what? My wings didn’t even cross my mind. I closed my eyes and just went with it. Oh, my God, kissing.
Go with the flow, Max.
For once, the Voice had something worthwhile to say.
An irritated little beep came from the car—Sam’s sister wanted to get home.
We broke apart, both of us wide-eyed and laughing a little.
“Whoa,” Sam said, and I nodded in agreement.
“You better go,” I said. “But thanks again, for everything. It was great.”