The Best Is Yet to Come (13)

“Spencer.”

He knew that voice and turned around as Callie speed-walked toward him, her steps filled with purpose.

Her eyes were bright, and the sun shone down on her until he was convinced a halo had formed over her head.

“I’m glad I caught you.” She smiled at him as if they spoke every day and were the best of friends the way they had once been. “How have you been?”

“Good.”

His heart was beating like crazy, but he managed to smile back. “I heard you and Scott broke up. I’m sorry.”

“We’re all right, we’ll remain friends,” Callie said, frowning.

“Any chance you’ll get back together?”

“Not on my part, although I don’t think Scott got the message, but that’s his problem, not mine.”

He managed to appear sympathetic, even if the news made him want to jump up and down.

“Is that the car you and your dad worked on?” she asked, looking at the Dart behind him.

It surprised him she even knew about that. But then, his dad had probably mentioned it to her dad.

It demanded all the fortitude he possessed to answer with an affirmative nod.

“Cool.”

“Thanks.” He wanted to tell her of all the hours he and his dad had spent rebuilding the engine. In the process, he’d learned a great deal about the inner workings of an internal combustion engine. More important, he’d gained a deepening relationship with his father. While bending over the hood, his dad had talked about his own childhood and teen years. Stories Spencer had never heard before. He’d even spoken at length about his experiences in the military. His dad said the three years he’d been with the army had matured him into the man he was today.

Of course, Spencer told Callie none of this, which meant all he seemed able to do was stare at her.

“Do you have a few minutes?” she asked.

He nodded, rather than risk his voice cracking or embarrassing himself.

“Great. It’s been a while, and I thought it was time we caught up.”

Callie tucked her hair behind her ear. From his study of her, Spencer knew it was a nervous habit, one that had followed her all through her life. He couldn’t imagine why she would be anxious around him.

“Yeah, sure.” She wanted to catch up with him? That told him she probably needed a favor.

“I need your help,” she told him.

“Okay.”

“Okay? You don’t even know what I want you to do.”

“Whatever you need, Callie. You know you can count on me.”

She beamed him a smile. “I know you’ve got some impressive computer skills.”

Spencer and his friends were good. Really good. They pushed one another and had broken through several cybersecurity systems just to prove they could. None of them would ever brag about it, otherwise they could get in serious trouble.

“Who told you that?” He worried that word might have somehow gotten out about his skill and exploits.

She didn’t answer for a long moment. “No one, really. I just know how smart you are.”

Spencer had to wonder if Ms. Goodwin had put Callie up to this. “Are you asking me to tutor you?” Callie was an honor roll student herself, so that couldn’t be right.

“Not exactly…It’s a bit more than that.”

“More what?”

“I…I’d rather not say at this point.”

This was getting stranger by the second. Whatever it was must be serious.

“I’ll admit I’m intrigued,” he said, playing it cool—well, as cool as he knew how to be. The thing was, Spencer wasn’t a cool guy.

His hesitation seemed to surprise her. “I know I haven’t been much of a friend lately,” she said, by way of an apology.

“I know how it goes. So what do you need?” he asked, willing to do whatever he could.

“I wouldn’t expect you to do this for free. I’ll pay you.”

“Pay me?”

“Anything you ask within reason. I mean, I have some money saved up. I wouldn’t ask if this wasn’t important.”

Spencer wondered what it was that made her sound so desperate. “I don’t want your money, Callie.”

“Okay,” she said, her face tightening. “We’re friends, but I don’t expect you to do this for nothing.”

“Is there risk involved?”

She bit into her lower lip and glanced down. “Maybe. I can’t be sure. That’s why I feel I should do something for you in return.”

Callie held his gaze, waiting. Anticipating. Eager.

“There is one thing I want.”

“Name it.”

“I’d like for you to be my date for homecoming.”

Her eyes grew shockingly round, as if the request had thrown her off balance. “You want to take me to homecoming? As your date?”

He nodded, his heart pounding so hard it felt as if it was slamming against his rib cage.

“I…guess that would be a fair exchange.”

Spencer held out his hand. “Then we have a deal.”

“Yeah,” she said, in a tone that indicated she wasn’t happy about this. She’d do it because she was desperate, but she didn’t like it.