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It sounded like you were about to spill my secrets all over the table.”
    “I couldn’t give you a heads-up. I was winging it.”
    “Seriously? I may have to kill you anyway.”
    “Oh, stop complaining. Everything went great and you know it.”
    A smug smile grew on his face. “Yeah, it did. So what’s next?”
    “Next is you joining us whenever you want.”
    “You mean you’re not gonna set something up?”
    “I don’t think I need to. I mean, you did really well. You shouldn’t have any trouble becoming part of Lindsey’s entourage.”
    “Maybe.” He walked past me to where he’d left his bike leaning against the wall of the house and picked up his helmet. “I want to be more than that though.”
    “I know you do, Gray. But that’s up to you. I can’t do it for you.”
    He strapped on the helmet. “I know. I have to get ready for work. But there’s still one thing you need to do for me.”
    “ That’s a little bossy.”
    “It’s your fault.”
    “What’re you talking about?”
    He took another swallow of water. “You need to figure out what to do about my so-called stalker.”

Seven
     
    Claire
     
    “Oh, right. The stalker.”
    Gray gave me such an annoyed look I couldn’t help laughing.
    “Ha, ha,” he said. “Very funny. What were you thinking?”
    “It was sheer genius.”
    “Sheer lunacy, more like.”
    I held up two fingers. “Okay, first, Lindsey loves a mystery. It grabs her interest right away. Second, you have another girl after you. That makes you more attractive. You’re more of a challenge.”
    “Whatever. The reality is I don’t have any girls after me. So what’re you going to do about it?”
    Good question. I had no idea. And his expression still made me feel like giggling. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll think of something.”
    “You’d better.” He picked up his bike. “Could you get the door, please?”
    “Sure.”
    We headed through the house to the kitchen where Gray said goodbye to my parents and ruffled Jack’s curls. On the front stoop, Gray straddled the bike. “Let me know what you figure out, okay?”
    “Of course.” I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
    He shook his head at me. “Go ahead and laugh. You’re not the one with the mysterious stalker.”
    “I’m sorry. It’s just really funny.”
    He gave me a half-smile. “I guess. Hey, thanks for what you did today. Aside from the stalker thing, it was great.”
    “No problem. And we’ll figure it out. Really.”
    “See ya,” he said and rode off.
    I headed back to the kitchen to grab my new purchases. Jack sat at my dad’s feet, untying his shoelaces. My mom set the diaper bag next to the doorway. “So,” she said, “did he say why he came over?”
    That made me stop. I sank into a chair. Maybe it was because he wanted to kill me. “No. He never did.”
    “I like that boy,” Dad said, eyeing me. “You have my permission to date him.”
    “What! I don’t want to date him. He has a crush on Lindsey.”
    “Doesn’t matter. You still have my permission.”
    Mom laughed. “That’s not always so easy to come by, honey. You should take it.”
    “I don’t need to take it. I’m not dating him. I’m not dating anyone. Don’t y’all remember my vow?”
    “You made that three years ago,” Dad said. “You’re sixteen now. Times have changed.”
    “Not that much.”
    The front door slammed. Mimi strode in with high heels clicking, her suit skirt and blouse rumpled, her sandy hair dented in back as if she’d taken down an updo. “Hey, was that a boy I saw leaving this house?”
    “Momma!” Jack rolled onto his hands and knees and crawled toward her.
    She dropped her keys on the table and knelt beside him. “How’s my Baby Jack?”
    Mom nudged me. “Yes, it was a boy.”
    “It’s about time,” Mimi said.
    “What is wrong with everybody?” I said. “Why don’t you believe me?”
    “Believe what?” Mimi asked.
    “That I’m not dating anyone during high school at