Trapped Read Free Page B

worried.
    â€œOkay,” he says, “let me guess.”
    I just shrug. “Knock yourself out.”
    â€œYou girls are looking for dates for the Christmas dance.”
    I’m sure my jaw drops, but he just grins.
    â€œGraceAnn,” Mary Beth hisses at me.
    â€œBut I’m sure you girls think you’re too good for someone like me.” He stands up straight now and, with a slightly wounded expression, shoves his hands in his pockets. “So much for that Christian love I’ve heard you preaching about all these years. It’s obvious that words are cheap.” He turns and walks away.
    Now I’m stunned. I do try to express my faith in words, but who knew someone like Bryant Morris was listening? I turn back to Mary Beth. “Can you believe that?”
    Her eyes are wide.
    â€œI ought to go over there and tell him I’d love to go to the dance with him.” I laugh. “I wonder what he’d say to that. Can you imagine Bryant Morris agreeing to take me to the Winter Ball?”
    She shakes her head and looks even more astonished as she opens her portfolio.
    So I stand and slowly wander over to where he’s sitting with his best friend, Jorge Mendez. “I’m calling your bluff,” I coolly tell Bryant. “You want to take me to the Winter Ball?”
    He looks slightly stunned. Standing, he pushes his shaggy brown hair off his forehead, and his jacket cuff slips up high enough to reveal the edge of a tattoo. Now I’m not fond of tattoos, but I’ve seen it before and as tattoos go, it’s not so bad. As I recall, it’s some kind of a bird or a winged dragon. Still, I don’t get how anyone could endure that kind of pain — and then be stuck with a permanent image like that. What if he changes his mind?
    â€œSure …” He makes a crooked grin. “You want to go with me?”
    â€œSeriously?” Suddenly I’m second-guessing myself. What am I getting into?
    â€œOh, so now you’re backing down?” His mouth twists to one side. “I figured you’d wimp out — ”
    â€œYou’re on,” I say in a slightly smug tone. “It’s a formal dance, which means a tux or suit for you, plus it’s customary to take your date to a nice dinner beforehand.” I pause. “And oh yeah, some guys even spring for a limo and dessert afterward.”
    Bryant nods with a sober expression, then quietly says, “Okay.”
    â€œOkay?” I blink and step back. “Meaning what?”
    He grins. “Meaning it’s a date, Lowery.”
    Now I’m too dumbfounded to respond.
    â€œUnless you’re backing out already?” He studies me. “Are you chicken?”
    â€œNo. Why should I be?” I’m trying to think of a graceful escape, a polite excuse, a way out of this. And did he not get what I just told him? That it is expensive?
    â€œGood, then it’s a date, right ?” He says this like it’s a challenge, like he’s tossing down the gauntlet or something.
    â€œOne more thing,” I say quickly. “No alcohol.”
    He laughs. “Yeah, I kinda knew that from the start, Lowery.”
    â€œAnd quit calling me Lowery.”
    â€œSure. So it’s a date then?” He eyes me closely.
    Now I’m feeling nervous. What have I gotten myself into? And suddenly I remember Mary Beth. She’s my ace in the hole. “Well, it would be … except I promised Mary Beth that I wouldn’t go without her, and it would be wrong to — ”
    â€œJorge can take her.” He pokes his friend in the shoulder. “Right, Jorge?”
    Jorge looks slightly blindsided but nods. “Sure, I can take Mary Beth to the dance.”
    â€œBut I — ”
    â€œAha.” Bryant points a finger at me. “So you are backing out. I knew you would.”
    â€œI am not . I’m just surprised … that’s all.”
    â€œThen