Page 37 of Colton’s Inferno

He recognized Lucy’s voice at once.

“Yeah, it’s me. Hi.”

“This is Lucy. Lucy Harris.”

“Hi, Lucy,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, I was just wondering if that offer to go out to dinner was still good.”

Aiden smiled. “Yeah, of course it is.”

“Good,” said Lucy. “I’d really like to go out with you. I mean, whenever you’re free.”

“Tonight,” Aiden said, knowing full well that he was too eager. Then again, he didn’t care. “We can get together tonight, if you’re free.”

“I don’t have plans,” said Lucy.

“Good.” Miraculously, Aiden’s headache disappeared. “Then, it’s a date.”

Chapter 10

Lucy stood in her bedroom. The closet door was open, and she stared at the long line of jeans, folded over the hangers. There were also flannel shirts. Some in plaid. Some striped. Some in solid colors of blue, brown, and dark gray. But there was nothing she could wear on a date.

She had no idea why she had called, or agreed to go out with Aiden.

It had been a hasty decision, fueled by self-pity after hours of looking at other people’s happy lives on social media. Oh sure, she knew the stuff people posted wasn’t the entire truth. But it didn’t change the fact that Lucy was alone.

“Hey, Luce,” her grandfather called out. The front door shut with a bang. “Where are you?”

“In my room,” she called back, staring into her closet that was full of nothing to wear.

“What are you doing?” he asked as his thumping footsteps came down the hall.

“Nothing.” Even she heard the despair in her voice.

“It doesn’t sound like nothing. You want to talk?”

“I made a stupid mistake. Now I need to undo it. But I don’t know how.”

“Why don’t you tell me about it?” Grandpa Rusty leaned on the doorframe.

Lucy had been wrong about being alone. Her grandfather was always in her corner. What was she supposed to tell him? He’d encourage her to go out with Aiden. “You won’t like what I have to say.”

“Try me,” he said.

“Well, I took your advice and called Aiden Colton. I asked if he still wanted to go out and he said yes.”

“That’s great news,” said Rusty, giving a clap. “He seems like a nice guy. Why would that upset me?”

“Because,” said Lucy, “I’m not going.”

“What?” Grandpa Rusty furrowed his brows. “Why not?”

“For starters, I don’t have anything to wear.” She gestured to her closet. “Jeans and flannel shirts and T-shirts are fine for the ranch. But I can’t wear them out.”

“You’re right,” said Rusty, nodding. “You can’t.”

Lucy’s jaw went slack. She couldn’t believe that her grandfather gave in so easily. She closed her mouth. “I’ll just have to call him and tell him that I can’t make it.”