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Eric gasped, his hand flying to his chest in a dramatic fashion. “Does our little charming man have a newcrush? On someone we don’t even know? Or is Dahlia a code name?”
“Ooohhhh,” Phillip trailed on for longer than necessary, garnering the attention of some people around us. “Does wittle Charlie have a wittle crushie?” he teased.
I backhanded him and slid the phone back into my pocket. I would have to check the messages later. There was no way I could do so now, not with them acting like fools.
“Stop it, you look like idiots,” I chastised. “It’s none of your business. Let’s discuss your disaster of a love life, huh, Eric?”
That got him quiet in a flash and turned the conversation away from me once again. We discussed someone new that he had his eye on, and a guy that Phillip met while at the store the other day.
Both of their love lives were interesting, to say the least. Always changing, always fun. Not that mine wasn’t.
I just couldn’t share it with anyone. And that was perfectly fine with me. For now, I’d rather keep Una all to myself anyway.
By Saturday afternoon,I knew I needed to do something. We had spent the entire week only texting and seeing each other from afar. I wanted to invite her on another date, but most people went to the bonfire in Teller last night, her included. I didn’t want to overstep and take time away from her friends, so I didn’t say anything.
Just when I was about to text her to see if she had a good time, my phone went off.
Una:Up for something?
Me:Anything.
Una:Careful what you say without getting information, Henrikson. Never enter into a deal without all the details.
Me:I rescind my answer. I am absolutely not up for anything until my lawyer looks over the details.
Una:That’s more like it. But I’m not going to tell you anyway. Meet me in an hour.
Me:Hold up. That’s not enough information. How can I make an informed decision and be sure you’re not going to straight up murder me and leave my body chopped up into pieces, never to be found, if I don’t know what’s going on? Someone smart told me never to enter into a deal without all the details.
Una:Sounds like a smart person.
Me:She is. Gorgeous too.
Una:Too bad you won’t find out if she’s a serial killer or not unless you show up. Fifty-eight minutes, Henrikson. Oh, and wear something easy to move around in.
I didn’t bother answering her after that. I had to throw on some clothes and leave. The pin she dropped was on the far, far side of Teller, almost in Pine Hill. It would take me a while to get there, especially not having any idea where I was going.
My nerves started acting up as I drove along, passing by boarded-up buildings and run-down shops. I wasn’t far from the address she sent, but there didn’t seem to be anything out here, and I began to worry.
I had done this to her twice now, though, and she met with me each time without hesitation. There was no way I was going to leave her hanging when she initiated something, even if it meant driving out to the middle of nowhere.
My phone’s map said I arrived at the destination a moment later. I had to double check, because there was nothing next to me but an old parking lot with weeds growing through the cracks in the concrete and an open field.
Una’s car was the only reason I figured I was in the right place. She stood outside of it, leaning against the driver’s door with her arms crossed. She had her braids up in a ponytail, the hair cascading down her neck and back.
But that wasn’t the only thing that stopped me. She also had on a pair of black mesh shorts and a faded Fairview-Teller High soccer jersey that looked to be about ten years old.
I parked next to her and hopped out. “Um, in public?” I said, glancing around to see if anyone was nearby. Now I understood her hesitation the last few times we met up. While I knew we wouldn’t be seen, she hadn’t. I was on the other side now, and my heart was racing.
Una smirked, almost a smile, which only made my heart pound harder. “Don’t worry. I have Flow and Jett on patrol. No one will find us here. The bonfire was in this parking lot last night, and everyone knows not to return to the scene of the crime for at least a week. We should be fine.”
I didn’t personally know Flow or Jett, but knew they essentially worked for, or with, Una on her deals. Flow’s lackadaisical reputation didn’t put me at ease about this situation.
“No one’s going to bother us. Not if they see me here,” Una said in a softer tone, as if she knew that was bothering me.
We were on the outskirts of Teller, in an abandoned field, surrounded by a bunch of nothing. It was a bit sketchy and a little unnerving.
A thought hit me before I asked what we were doing here. “Do Flow and Jett know?”
