AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Thankfully, she relaxes and gives me a stiff nod. “Fine, I’m glad that’s settled. Now, unless she says any combination of these words,‘I don’t like you, leave me alone, stop asking me out, or let’s just be friends,’you can keep trying. If she does say one of those though, that’s your cue to back off.”
I nod. “Okay. So how long should I wait before I approach her again? Tomorrow would be too soon, right? So maybe Wednesday?”
“Give me your phone.” Belle extends an open hand.
“What? Why?”
She rolls her eyes. “So I can give you Kida’s number, and instead of trying another face-to-face interaction—which, let’s be real, Keeds isn’t great with when she’s nervous—you can text her on Wednesday. Start a dialogue and the getting-to-know-you process in a way that she’s comfortable with.”
My jaw drops: I never would have thought of that. I dig my hand into my pocket, then drop my cell in Belle’s waiting hand. “Thanks, that’d be great.”
“You don’t say?” she says with an air of mocking.
“You’re more like Snow than I originally thought,” I tell her.
She glares at me as she hands my phone back.
But before she can say anything, I ask my next question. “Actually, I’ve been wondering… what’s with the Disney names? Belle, Snow, Ariel…”
“Our mother loved Disney movies.” She sips her drink. “We’re all named after princesses from her favorites.”
I frown. “But that’s only three. Kida isn’t a Disney Princess name. What’s your other sister’s name?”
“Kidagakash is a princess, just not one of the more commonly known ones. She’s from Atlantis. And yes, that is Kida’s full name. Then there’s our oldest sister Megara, from Hercules,” she says as if she’s had to say it a thousand times before.
I guess she probably has. I can imagine a lot of people ask about it when they find out a few of their names. I mean really, who names their kids after cartoon characters? But then the way Belle phrased that her momloved,as in past tense…shit.
“Is your mom not around anymore?” I ask, keeping my tone gentle.
Belle’s gaze goes unfocused, staring off into the distance over my shoulder. “She died when we were young. Kida was only two. So, you can see why we’re all so protective of her now. All four of us older girls became her mom that day.”
My throat thickens with emotion. I may never have had a real mom of my own, but I can still sympathize with their loss. “That’s really shit. I am so sorry, Belle. And you guys are the most badass princesses I’ve ever met. I’m sure your mom would be extremely proud of all of you.”
“It is, and I know.” She offers me a sad smile, then takes another drink of her coffee. “So, what are you going to text Kida first?”
Not the smoothest subject change, but I’m more than willing to roll with it. I clear my throat. “I haven’t thought of that yet. Probably something along the lines of, ‘Hey it’s Arlo, the guy who would still like to have coffee with you sometime.’”
Belle nods. “Okay, nice start. Then what?”
“I have no idea. I guess I’ll just see how I’m feeling when I get to it.”
“Hmm. Fine, but make sure it’s conversational so she has something to respond to. Make it easy for her. I also put my number in your cell, but don’t use it unless you have to. I don’t make a habit of texting my sisters’ boyfriends.”
I smile at Kida’s boyfriend, liking the sound of it. “Can do, on both fronts. Thanks.” Finishing off my coffee, I pick up my bag of books then stand. “Thank you for meeting with me. I really appreciate it. I’ll see you around.”
Belle nods. “You’re welcome. Don’t screw it up.”
And with those parting words, I leave.
* * *
I’mon the fourth chapter of the alien with two dicks book—which is actually pretty good—when the timer on the oven goes off, letting me know my dinner is ready.
I stare at the book, not liking the idea of walking away in the middle of a chapter. Call me O.C.D., but it just feels wrong. Unable to leave the oven beeping, because it’ll drive me insane, I take the book into the kitchen with me and place it face down on the counter, then quickly shut off the oven.
I pull the big tray of lasagna out and set it atop the burners to cool, then I grab a plate, cutlery, and a serving spatula. I should wait for it to set, but I really want to get back to my book so dish up a huge portion and settle on one of the barstools with my book in one hand and a fork in the other.
Sometime after I finish eating, I migrate to my bed. And the next time I glance at the clock, it’s three a.m., and I’ve just read the last page of my book. I blink at the time.
