On the Plus Side
Page 18

“What?” I asked.
“Nuttin’…if you keep workin’ like this we’re gonna run out of work. We’re already ahead. What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting funny the last couple of days. You OK?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I’m just trying to stay busy. We got to make this money. I don’t know if you forgot, but we got eight thousand dollars to pay in a couple of months.”
“No, I ain’t forgot, but you sure you’re OK?”
“I’m fine.”
I really had to be careful around my dad. The man didn’t miss a thing and he wouldn’t approve of what I was doing.
I finished up around the garage and then headed inside to get a shower and to get ready for the night. I needed to pep myself up big time, and I needed to figure out exactly where I was going to take this chick. She was rich and I didn’t know if I could afford to take her to the places that she was used to. Hopefully, after this first date, her mom would give me that first installment. That would help out a lot.
Seven
A Date with the Devil
I spent most of Thursday afternoon shopping with my mom. As much as I complained about it before, I needed her expertise in finding something to wear on my first official date. I ended up with a very low-cut black top and a sexy pair of slimming boot-cut jeans. We finished it off with a cute, black necklace that almost touched my cleavage and dangly earrings. Mom tried to convince me to get my hair done, but I refused.
“Are you going to tell me about him or not?” Mom smiled an unnatural-looking smile as we sat at her favorite ritzy restaurant.
“There’s not much to tell really. He came into the store. Then I saw him later at the café and he just asked me out.”
“Oh come on, Lilly. More than that happened. Don’t you know anything about dishing with the girls about guys?” she laughed.
“OK, fine.” I sloshed my straw around in my drink. “He’s really hot, like, super-hot, and he has the most gorgeous green eyes I’ve ever seen. You probably wouldn’t like him though. He’s not rich, but I like that about him. He works at his dad’s garage and yes, he still lives with his dad, but they kind of own everything together.”
Mom didn’t flinch, which I found extremely unnerving. She should be going on and on about dating a poor guy and how he was probably only after my money. I pushed harder to try and break her silence.
“He doesn’t wear expensive clothes or anything and if I’m not mistaken he drives an old car. Like, really old…I think, but money isn’t everything, right? I mean, as long as he’s a nice guy.”
“Whatever makes you happy, honey, and you’re right, as long as he’s a nice guy, that’s all that matters.”
I stared back at her like she had just shot fire out of her ass. Something was definitely up.
“What’s wrong, mom?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Why?”
“Come on, now. What are you playing at?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Please! By now you would’ve already been going crazy about me dating some penniless guy and blah blah blah. You know, the usual we’re rich and above him comments. What the hell?”
“No, I know you’re lonely, Lilly, and if this guy makes you happy, then I’m happy. Now, can we please order something? I’m famished. What kind of wine do you want?”
Maybe mom was going through menopause or something. I’d have to be sure to Google the symptoms when I got home. I’d never heard her speak so level-headed. People change, though, and maybe my mom was going through some emotional changes. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.
We ate dinner in an almost silent state. It was really odd. She didn’t comment on anything except to say that she thought I looked really nice in my new outfit and that I was sure to make him drool. I laughed at that one. Why would anyone drool over me?
*****
On date day, the hours seemed to stand still. I couldn’t wait until he picked me up and took me out. This whole thing was so new to me. It’s been way too long since I felt excited about a new development. It was always the same thing over and over again for the last year or so.  I was slowly becoming a hermit who only came out for work and the occasional girl’s night out.
At about six thirty, I went into the store bathroom and refreshed my hair and makeup. Shannon agreed to close up and drive my car home for me so I didn’t have anything to worry about, except looking my best. I was in the middle of applying a fresh coat of lip gloss when I heard the little bell over the door jingle followed by Shannon calling my name.