I have so many questions: Who is this chick? Is this just a one-time thing or are they dating? If so, for how long? And how did my research come up empty?

Of course, I can’t ask. In fact, I have to act as though I don’t even notice them. Unless …

I tap Jose on the shoulder, and he reluctantly pulls away from his date, or fling, or whatever she is. His expression is dazed. “Hey.”

“Hi, Jose.” My voice comes out unnaturally perky, and I pull Jerod forward. “This is Jerod Wilkins. He’s from Pine Bridge, and he doesn’t know many people here, so I thought I’d introduce him around. Jerod, this is Jose. We have … the same lunch period, maybe?” I’m grasping.

Jose looks at me as though I’m a freak, but he holds out his hand to Jerod. “Nice to meet you.”

I gesture toward Mystery Girl. “And who is this? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Of course.” Jose puts his arm around her and pulls her forward, his face breaking into a goofy smile. “This is Maria. She just moved here from El Salvador. We’re from the same town, and we were friends when we were little. We haven’t seen each other in almost eight years.” He leans forward and whispers loudly, “She always did have a crush on me.”

“Qué?” Maria gives him a sideways glance, so he translates that last sentence for her. She laughs and rolls her eyes at us. “No. Yo soy la que le gusta a él.”

“She says it’s the other way around.”

The glint in Jose’s eye tells me she’s right, or maybe they both are. Childhood sweethearts, reunited after being separated by eight long years and almost two thousand miles. What a beautiful and wonderful story. Except for the whole I’m-getting-paid-to-break-them-up-again part.

They giggle and go back to kissing. Lovely. What the heck am I supposed to do? Technically, when Anita hired me, Jose didn’t have a girlfriend. We have a contract now, and Anita has already completed step one. Who knows what plans she may have made for her future with him? With my success rate, she’s probably already bought her prom dress, and the shoes to match. I can’t abandon her at this point, can I?

“Are you okay, Lexi? You don’t look so good.” Jerod takes my soda and refills it. “Want to step outside? It’s actually pretty warm out there, for March.”

I nod. Maybe some fresh air will help. I need to clear my mind and forget about whispering. Tonight is about Jerod and me and having fun. Besides, if we go outside, maybe Chris will start to wonder where we went.

Nice, Lexi. I scold myself. I’m being both unfair and ridiculous. Unfair because Jerod doesn’t deserve that, and ridiculous because Chris more than likely couldn’t care less where I am. He has a whole room full of friends to keep him occupied.

“Actually …” I set my Sprite down and take Jerod’s hands in mine. “I think maybe I should go home.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry. I know you came all the way out here, but inviting you to this party was a bad idea.”

“Um. Okay.” Jerod’s expression wavers between confused and hurt, and I give myself a mental kick.

“I don’t mean because of you. I mean because of the party. It sucks. I mean, it’s an okay party, but it sucks as a first date.”

“So this is a date?”

My face grows warm. “Maybe.”

“Maybe’s good enough for me. I’m calling it a date. And since you said ‘first date,’ I’m going to assume there will be at least one more.”

I laugh.

“Will there?”

I don’t know what to say, so I pass it off. “Ball’s in your court for that one.”

“Well, in that case, what are you doing next Satur—”

“Yo, dude. I know you.” A stumbling, slurring Briggsy interrupts us. He has two girls fawning over him, but he ignores them and gives Jerod and me each a huge hug. “You’re that guy from the restaurant.”

“You mean Veg Out?”

“No, that Tex-Mex place in Virginia Beach. You were there.”

“Oh, right.” Jerod holds out his hand. “Jerod Wilkins.”

Briggs ignores his hand and gives him another hug. “Roland Briggs, but you can call me Briggsy. That’s what all my friends call me, and if you’re a friend of Lexi’s, you’re a friend of mine.” He lets go of Jerod and reaches over to hug me again.

I roll my eyes at Jerod and mouth, sorry.

He shrugs and pulls Briggsy off of me. “Hey, man, how about you sit down for a while? Want me to get you some water or something?”

“Nah, I don’t need no water. I just need my friends. Lexi, you’re my friend, right?” Briggs latches back onto me.

Oh, man. I’ve never seen him drunk before. Dude can be annoying when he’s sober, but this is ridiculous. “Yeah, Briggsy. We’re friends.”

“Good friends?”

“Yep. Good friends.”

“What about Abi? Are you and Abi friends?”

I glance around. The two girls with Briggsy are watching us. “Sure, Briggsy.” I roll my eyes at them as if to say, I’m humoring him. Abi and I are not that close. Really.

“Why doesn’t Abi like me?” He straightens up, his face serious, his words slightly less slurred.

“How do you know she doesn’t like you? Maybe she does.”

“Nah. She broke up with me. And when I try to talk to her, she blows me off. I gave her a hug just now, and she pushed me away.”

I glance at his groupies. Maybe it had something to do with them? Or the fact that he’s wasted?

“Briggsy, I don’t think you’re in a condition to talk about this right now. Let’s talk Monday, okay?”

Briggs gives me another hug, and this time practically knocks me over. “You’re the best, Lexi. I love you, man. I mean, woman. You know what I mean.”

Jerod pulls him off of me again. “We were just about to head out, bro. You going to be okay? Do you have a ride home?”

“Oh, yeah. Massey’s here somewhere. He’s driving me home.” Briggs leans over and whispers something in Jerod’s ear, then pulls away. “Don’t tell her I told you. It’s a secret.” Briggsy laughs and stumbles off, and the girls follow in his wake.

Jerod shakes his head. “Dude’s a trip.”

“What did he say to you? What was the secret?”

“No idea.” Jerod puts his arm around my waist and leads me toward the door. “He wasn’t making any sense. Sounded like he was saying something about a ‘boyfriend whisperer.’”