Free So Over You by Gwen Hayes Page A

Bennington.”
    “Miles Bennington? The Wondertwin?”
    Miles was one-half of a twin-set that refused to be separated. He and his sister, Ariana, were always together. Always. They weren’t conjoined, but they may as well have been. That is why most kids called them “AirMiles.”
    “He agreed? I didn’t think he went anywhere without his…”
    Everyone looked at Foster. “He doesn’t go anywhere without his sister,” he deduced. “Which is why you guys kept me out of the loop, isn’t it?”
    Maryanne whispered, “It’s a double date.”
    “No,” Foster and I answered simultaneously.
    “It’s a perfect solution,” Chelsea argued. “Jimmy will be there anyway, and after the last couple dates, we figured it might make you feel safer.”
    Sure, because double-dating with the devil is safe as houses.
    “The whole point of this assignment is for Logan to get to know these guys and report back what girls are looking for when they date. If I’m there, the results would be skewed,” Foster very thoughtfully added.
    “Right,” I said. “Wait, skewed how? What are you trying to say?”
    He stepped back a little. “I just think my presence might distract you.”
    I narrowed my eyes and glared at him. “Why exactly do you think that?”
    “We have a…history.”
    “Prehistoric.”
    “You might feel awkward.”
    “Why?”
    “Because of your feelings—”
    My hand covered his mouth. “Stop right there, asshat. I do not have feelings for you—at least none that don’t include the desire for pinking shears.” Foster winced, but I didn’t stop. “I am a professional investigative reporter, and I don’t let things like yesterday’s garbage interfere with my ability to get the story.” I turned to Chelsea and Maryanne. “If the only way to get Miles on this date is to take out AirMiles, we’ll do what we have to do. But don’t think we need to make it a double just because I’ve met a few bad apples. I don’t need Foster’s protection. I’m quite capable of handling myself.” I held my hand out for the pink heart, not opening it as I put the cover back on my coffee and collected my things.
    “Do you want me to pick you up?” Beelzebub asked.
    I answered with an icy glare and formed my fingers into the shape of scissors snipping.
    On my way out, I chucked the mocha into the wastebasket.
     
    * * *

     
    Tyler dangled the bag in front of me and I snatched it like a greedy kid from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory .
    “Yay!” I tore into the bag and giggled at the picture on the mug. He’d painted a caricature of himself wearing a rhinestone Elvis jumpsuit holding hands with a caricature of me looking a lot closer to Kristen Bell than I usually do. “It’s made of awesome.”
    “I’m glad you like it.” He sat across from me. “So, excited about the double date tonight?”
    I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn’t have texted you about it if I thought you were going to mock me all day.”
    “Why do you hate Jimmy so much?” Tyler passed me a burger from the bag.
    “Jimmy Foster? Because he’s made it his life’s purpose to annoy me. Why do you like him so much?”
    Tyler shrugged. “I’ve had him in a few classes. He’s always been nice.”
    “Bleh.”
    “So are you going to go out with Micah again?”
    I stopped midbite. “Where did that come from?”
    “He’s been telling people he’s hot for you.”
    “Get out.”
    “Whatever. I know you like him.”
    “Pass the ketchup. I don’t dislike him. I’m not really in the market for a boyfriend.”
    He handed me a couple of packets of condiments. “If anyone should be in the market for a boyfriend, it should be you.”
    “You’ve been on one date with Stephanie, and now the whole world should be in love? Besides, I would make a terrible girlfriend.”
    Not that I wasn’t happy that Tyler’s date with this new Stephanie girl went well—I wanted him to be happy. Really I did. It’s just that I’d just found him and I