Page 9 of Final Girl

I roll my eyes and finish off my hair. I normally wear it up at work, so tonight I thought I’d leave it down.

A fresh coat of lip gloss and some mascara finishes my minimal effort. I thought about contacts, but I hate how dry my eyes feel after wearing them for a few hours. So I stick to my glasses.

I shouldn’t be nervous because I’ve known Pike forever. All my life really, but this is Pike and I’ve dreamed of him liking me back since I was old enough to realize he was cute.

Ding dong. Ding dong. Crap. He’s a few minutes early. I do a quick scan in the mirror at my black skirt and black-and-white striped sweater before running my fingers through my hair and another spritz of perfume on my wrists.

Okay. I can do this. It’s only a movie date.

I bounce down the stairs and swing open the front door. I glance around, not seeing anyone. Shoot. Did I take too long? Did Pike change his mind? Meow. Scampers curls his tail around my ankle and when I bend down to scoop him up, I see a big black box.

Did Pike send me a present for our date? Maybe it’s Talia being sweet. Sometimes she sends me bestie gifts for special occasions. I grab the package and take it to the kitchen and drop it along with Scampers on the table. The cat scurries off, and I grab a pair of scissors to cut the tape.

Inside, I find a bouquet of pink roses. Is this some kind of joke? Ouch. I prick my thumb on a thorn and suck the digit between my lips as I hiss and search for a card.

“Delaney,” Pike’s voice sounds in my ear as he grabs me by the shoulders and I jump. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I knocked, but I guess you didn’t hear me.”

I spin around to face him, pulling my thumb out of my mouth. Another drop of blood beads at the tip.

“You’re hurt.” He presses his mouth to my thumb and flicks his tongue there, tasting my blood.

“Um.” I pull my hand away, remembering what Talia said about the flowers. “I got your flowers.” I step to the side to reveal the bouquet of my least favorite flowers.

“This isn’t from me,” he grits out. His eyes darken. “Who sent those?”

I shrug. “I was looking for a card.”

“Here.” He bends and picks up a white envelope that must have fallen under the table. He hands the card to me.

I open it, offering him a weak smile. If Pike didn’t send these, maybe Talia did, and it’s her way of being funny. Scanning the card, I read the words aloud, “For your funeral.” I stare at Pike, wondering what kind of game he and Talia are playing.

“My funeral,” I repeat as he snatches the card from between my fingers.

“You don’t think I sent this, do you?”

I shake my head. “Of course not. Talia is just being Talia.” I laugh it off and ignore the uneasy, tight sensation squeezing the sides of my belly together. After what happened to Sally, I get this sinking sensation that I may be the next target of this killer.

“I was going to get you flowers but was afraid it’d make me late, so I got you this instead.” He hands me a pack of gummy worms. “I remembered that these were always your favorite.”

“Thank you. Very thoughtful.” I lean up to kiss his cheek, noting how intoxicating he smells. A droplet of water lands on my forehead from his still damp hair. “Did you come straight from the shower?”

“Yeah. You look great, by the way.” He tugs on one of my curls.

I blush, “Thanks, um, you do too.” I take in his black button-down shirt and dark jeans that give him that whole bad boy vibe with how his shirtsleeves are rolled up, exposing his forearms. I don’t know what it is about seeing a man’s arms that is so sexy but it simply is. I need to stop drooling over him. “Are you ready to go? I just need to slip my shoes on.” I grab my purse and he follows me to the front door with his hand pressed to the small of my back. A warm tingle shoots up my spine at the contact. I can’t believe this is really happening. I’m going on a date with Pike Harris.

Finally.

He leads me to his black truck and opens the door for me like a true gentleman and buckles me in. “Not too tight?” He questions, his mouth hovering inches from mine.

“All good.”

His gaze holds mine and for a second, I think he might kiss me, but he just bops the tip of my nose and shoots me a wink. “Don’t want to miss out on the best seats.”

Butterflies swirl in my stomach as he dashes around to climb in the driver’s side. He’s driving me crazy. I can’t stop thinking about what it will be like to kiss him for the first time. I’ve imagined the act at least a billion times over the years. As soon as he turns the key, heavy metal blares from the speakers, making my ears hurt as some dude screams the words ‘die motherfucker, die.’ I make a face and he hurries to switch the music off. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He places a hand on my upper thigh, giving me a possessive squeeze that has my cheeks warming. “I’m really glad you didn’t cancel. I heard about Sally. Honestly, I almost canceled tonight, but wasn’t sure if I should.”

“Was a gruesome sight. As much as I never liked her, that’s a terrible way to go.” He gives my leg another squeeze. “I’m glad you didn’t back out on me. Sally means absolutely nothing to me. It’s not like the two of you were ever best buds. Shame what happened to her, but it’s not really surprising. She was a bitch who got what was coming to her, if you ask me. Though I hear enough about it at work and could use a break from all that heavy shit.”