Page 52 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

Clarissa turned back to Rachel. “I’m happy you were able to meet the new neighbor, you needed more adult friends, spending all your time taking care of me.”

“Oh, hush you, you’re a delight.” Rachel waved a hand at her.

Clarissa changed the subject. “I have a friend coming over tonight. I hope you don’t mind, it was a last-minute plan.”

“Of course not, which one is it? Lilly or Emily?”

She winced internally. She hadn’t spoken to either of them since she was nineteen and they moved away and on with their lives. “I’m not sure if you’ve met him, it’s Thomas. We were going to have dinner, but I’m not sure yet if we’re staying here or going out.”

“Thomas …” Rachel tested the name. “Tom, yes, I think I remember him. He’s your prom date!”

Clarissa decided to take this as a win. It was easier than trying to make up a new identity for him and a reason why he was there.

“When is he going to be here?” Rachel asked.

“Oh, umm. I don’t know.” CRAP! Clarissa cursed him for not being more upfront with his plans and herself for not asking. She was in a real pickle. “I’m going to assume dinner time, six or seven. But I need to shower before he gets here. Will you be okay for a bit?”

Rachel laughed. “Why are you asking me? You’re the one with a mystery date tonight.”

After kissing Rachel on the forehead, she sprinted to the bathroom. Immersing herself in the scalding water, her mind started to race. Why was she so nervous? No, nervous wasn’t the right word. Excited, maybe.

She shouldn’t be getting so worked up. It was just dinner, and he was just a guy—A guy who had rescued her. A guy with a handsome face and dreamy eyes. A guy who was kind and funny, who made her smile and feel like herself again.

“Oh, stop daydreaming and wash your hair, woman!” she scolded herself. Still needing to pick an outfit, dry her hair, and possibly slap on mascara before he got here, she didn’t have time to dawdle.

Fifteen minutes later, she stood wrapped in a robe staring at her makeshift tension rod closet. Her hair was poofy from the hasty blow-dry, but that was the least of her worries.

“Claire,” Rachel called through the door. “There’s a strange car in the drive. Were you expecting someone?”

Making a hasty decision, she pulled out a royal blue sundress with a built-in bra, then pulled a thick brown bolero on. She sprayed herself with peony perfume and yanked a comb through her hair. She fought the tremble in her hands as she glided the mascara across her lashes before going out to the main room.

“Is there something happening tonight?” Rachel asked, eyeing Clarissa’s outfit.

“Tom is coming over.”

“Oh, you’re not wearing that to prom, are you? It’s a lovely dress, but it’s not fancy enough for prom.”

“No, prom isn’t tonight.” Clarissa poked her face into the kitchen window. “Oh my God.”

“What is it?” Rachel came into the kitchen.

“Get a jacket and some shoes.” Beaming, she rushed to her sock drawer, then dug a pair of boots from the corner of her room. Sprinting to the front door, Rachel came back from her own room.

“What are we doing?” she asked.

“I’m not entirely sure, but it looks like it’ll be fun.” Clarissa pulled her hoodie from the front closet, handing Rachel her own. “It’s warm, but you might need this later.”

Hoodie over her arm and Rachel on her heels, she went outside. The trunk of Tom’s dark blue 4Runner was popped open. A small battery box sat in one corner, wires coming out of it to the small table he’d set up with a projector aimed at the side of the double-wide. He pulled out three beanbags as they reached the lawn.

“Evening, ladies,” he said, “fancy a movie night?”

“You set up a projector on my lawn?” Clarissa laughed, a grin pulling at her face.

“What movie are we watching?” Rachel asked, inspecting the projector like it was an alien life-form.

“Nothing much.” He unexpectedly looked sheepish. “Just a little classic by Christopher Nolan.”

“No!” Clarissa yelled before she could stop herself. “You set up Batman in my front yard! Which one did you bring?” She practically ran to the car.