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RJ was waiting for us in Sophie’s car. He was in the driver’s seat wearing a suit.

How had he not gotten arrested yet? Whatever. At least he was getting better at driving. I climbed in the back seat and Sophie sat down in the front.

“Your kiss thief will be pleased, baby doll,” RJ said.

What? I looked at him staring at me in the rearview mirror. Gah. I pulled Jacob’s jacket tighter around me.

RJ slammed his foot on the gas before I even had a chance to put my seatbelt on.

And then he forgot his turn signal as he merged.

I guess he wasn’t getting better after all. Maybe we’d just die on our way to the restaurant. The thought made my chest stop aching just a bit. “RJ, I really don’t want to go into this blind. Can’t you just tell me who the kiss thief is? I’m already on my way to the date.”

“On your way is the key phrase of your sentence. There’s still time for you to bail. And I don’t want you to tuck and roll out of the car.”

“I’m not going to jump out into traffic. Just tell me.”

“Baby doll, I’m already committed to this reveal. You know once I’m committed to something there’s no backing out.”

That was true. He never backed down from something once he started. “But I swear I’m going to go through with the date.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He had every right not to believe me. Because if he did tell me, I would for sure run out of this car as soon as he parked outside the restaurant. I was too transparent.

“Do you think you should lose the jacket?” RJ asked. “Or are you trying to make him jealous?”

“I’m not trying to do anything to him but see his face,” I said.

“I didn’t think of the jealousy angle,” Sophie said. “I love it.”

Well now I was tempted to take it off. But I didn’t want whoever this person was to think they had a chance with me. “It’s not Jacob, right?” I asked RJ.

RJ just laughed in response.

I’d planned on having a very awkward conversation with Jacob after the game tomorrow. What if I was about to have it right now? “Maybe this is some kind of test?” I said. “Maybe it is Jacob and he’s hoping I won’t show. Turn the car around!”

“Not happening,” RJ said as he pulled over to the curb. “We’re here.”

“No! I can’t go in! What if it’s Axel?!” I shook my head. “No, of course not. He hates me or something, clearly. Only someone who hated my guts would date a Triple G. What if it’s Luis?! I can’t be his fourth!” I silently thought about Mr. Halifax. The worst of the worst options. Because...gah! “Is it hot in here?” I started fanning my face.

Sophie turned around to look at me. “You’re spiraling.”

“Of course I’m spiraling! I’ve spent the last month texting my kiss thief saucy things and making out with him and...more. What if it’s a drifter?!”

“I told you it wasn’t a drifter,” RJ said.

“But what is your definition of a drifter?!”

Sophie laughed.

“This isn’t funny, Soph. I...I...I’ve done things with this guy. Potentially a teacher. A teacher my dad already beat up once. What if my dad finds out about this? He’ll probably kill Mr. Halifax. And then he’d end up in prison on death row, waiting for the chair. And my mom would...I don’t know...become an alcoholic or something and jump off a building in her depression.”

“Jesus,” RJ said.

“And Liam and I would be orphans. But he’d always blame me for our parents’ deaths so he’ll resent me for the rest of our lives!” I screamed in the back seat of the car. “I don’t want my parents to die!”

“Should I slap her?” RJ asked.