Don't Kiss Him Good-Bye (11 page)

Chapter 21

Night began to fall, and I headed toward Fishcoteque. I texted my mother that I’d be late. She and Louanne had plans for the evening, and my dad was working late, so she didn’t mind that I was going to hang out at the chippie to get some writing done. I had all the Asking for Trouble letters to sort through too, and I needed to choose one for next week’s column.

I pulled open the door and breathed in the familiar steamy, greasy, fishy smell that signaled my London home away from home.

“Hullo, luv. The usual, then?” Jeannie leaned over the counter and gave my cheek a friendly tweak.

“Yes, please.” I withdrew the proper amount from my British flag coin purse and handed it across the counter. She gave me an ice-cold bottle of orange Fanta and a glass of ice.

“Your young man is here,” she whispered.

“Who?”

She pointed to a booth across the room, and I saw who she was pointing to. Rhys.

“He’s not my young man. He’s just a friend.”

“Just as you says.” Jeannie nodded.

I started toward another booth, but Rhys waved me over. I’d really wanted some time by myself, but he grinned and managed to look goofy and friendly and cute all at the same time. I headed in his direction even as Proverbs 31:30 ran through my mind; it’d been a memory verse some years back.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last. . . .”

On my way, I passed a booth with my science buddies Gwennie and Jill in it. “Want to join us?” they asked. I could see they had fashion magazines spread out in front of them.

“Maybe later?” I asked, eager to get to Rhys . . . and possibly my own date for the ball.

“Hey, Savvy, I had no idea you’d be here,” he said. But it didn’t sound true. After all, I’d been coming to Fishcoteque for months and had never seen him here before the past week or so. “I’m so glad you introduced me to this place.” It was like he was somehow able to read my mind and disarm my concerns.

Jeannie delivered my fish-and-chips and mushy peas a few minutes later. I noticed that Rhys was eating this time. “She said no pay, no play. Truth be told, the fish is rather good!” He wiped his hands on a napkin. “No big date tonight?” I couldn’t tell if he was fishing himself.

“Need a break from the constant dating whirlwind I’m caught up in,” I joked. “And I’ve got some work to do.”

Just then one of his friends stopped by and they talked for a second. It gave me a chance to look Rhys over at close range without seeming obvious. He was cute, in a dangerous sort of way that I couldn’t identify but was really drawn to. He said nice things to me . . . sometimes. But I couldn’t put my finger on what bugged me. Every time I got close to figuring it out, it was like trying to pin jelly under my thumb.

His friend left and Rhys turned back to me. “No church things to do tonight? Saving the world, converting the masses, smuggling Bibles?” He grinned.

Was he serious?
I couldn’t tell. “Not tonight. I’ve already rescued a child from a burning building today. That seemed like enough.” I said nothing more for a minute. “Do you have something against Christians?” I finally asked.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’ve just never found any worth talking with . . . till now. They seem very stuck in their own opinions. Kind of like Americans. Always thinking they’re right on everything.”

“Ah,” I said. “Seems like you don’t know too many Christians . . . or Americans. Always hard to form an opinion based on a small sample, don’t you think?” In my head, I thought,
Of course you don’t think. That’s why you’re on academic probation.
I smiled to myself. And then I blinked, shocked. I didn’t mind lighthearted back-and-forth with people, but I had never had many really snarky,
mean
thoughts like that before.

He laughed. “That’s what I like about you, Savvy. One thing, anyway. You’re not dumb as dirt like a lot of pretty girls.”

I gobbled up the compliment and pushed away my chips. “Tell me about Wales,” I said, changing the subject. I’d never visited Wales, but after hearing his description, I hoped to someday. “It seems rugged and ancient,” I told him. “I appreciate how hard they work to use the Welsh language in spite of English pressing in from every direction.”

“Thanks,” he said a bit more softly. “I’m sure you’d love it.” His phone beeped, and he looked at it and then back at me. “I’ve got to go; Mum’s calling. Maybe next time you can tell me more about your church. Or the U.S. Or both.”

He slid out of the booth. After he left,
my
phone beeped. It was a text from Penny.

Do you want me to ask Chloe about Tommy?

How did she know? I hadn’t said anything at all to her about Tommy. I texted back innocently.

Tommy?

Don’t give me that rubbish, Sav. Do you want me to ask her if they are going out?

I thought about it for a minute. I’d had enough humiliation, and honestly, I wasn’t about to be a boy chaser.

No thanks. But I appreciate you asking.

While I finished my Fanta, I read the back of the papers used to wrap my fish-and-chips. Some of it was junk, but the weekly Fish Facts included just for the benefit of the chippies that still wrapped their wares in real newspaper were interesting. This week’s happy sample? Puffer Fish.

Chapter 22

Saturday. Went to the dog show with Louanne. I tried to talk to her about what was wrong, but she just told me she had to concentrate on Giggle.

Louanne and Growl did exceedingly well.

Didn’t see anyone I knew. Especially no one with dark brown hair and Johnny Depp eyes and whom I would find extremely attractive if he weren’t already going out with someone.

Rats.

Chapter 23

Monday after school Penny and I hung out in the courtyard so she could say good-bye to Oliver before he left for a football—soccer, to me—match. Then we were going to her house.

Oliver came out of the gym with his uniform on. He stepped to the side to talk to Penny. His teammates razzed him as they all headed toward the bus. I couldn’t help but tease Penny, too.

“What? No kiss this time?”

Penny blushed. “It doesn’t happen often. I’m actually pretty old-fashioned. My parents wouldn’t even let me date until I turned sixteen.”