Free Inevitable by Angela Graham Page B

day to myself but I’m good, promise.”
    She looked at me intently, studying my expression as if trying to decide if she should push the subject. I cocked an eyebrow and made a face. She relaxed and turned her focus to the tissues in front of us in the narrow aisle.
    “So, Caleb called me last night,” she said, as if it were the most natural thing and not something she’d dreamed of half her life.
    “I didn’t know you gave him your number.”
    “I didn’t.” Her nonchalant expression began to falter, a smile tugging at her lips. “He said he has ways to find out things worth knowing.”
    “How cocky of him.” I laughed. My cart was full so I began walking toward the register. “So what did he want? To prove his stealthy abilities at getting a phone number in a town of less than a thousand people?”
    She rolled her eyes. “He’s having a thing at Haven this Saturday and wants me to come and bring you along.”
    “What kind of thing? He just had his opening. I didn’t realize Caleb was going to be livening up the town with parties every weekend.”
    “It’s not a party, it’s an…event.” Her tone was soft and slightly embarrassed. What was she not telling me?
    “What kind of event, Hilary?” She now had my full attention.
    “Will you promise to come with me?”
    “Not until you tell me what it is.”
    “Please, Caleb wants me to help out and inviting all my single friends will really help him.”
    I frowned, so much for Caleb’s interest in her. Yet she didn’t seem to notice.
    “Hilary—” I warned.
    “Promise you’ll come with me and I’ll owe you one, please.” She gave her best sappy face that left it impossible to deny her. Damn her!
    “Ugh. Fine, I’ll go,” I groaned. “But I’ll collect this debt when you least expect it.”
    Hilary nodded with an excited grin.
    I began unloading my cart on the conveyor belt of the register and smiled over at Miranda, the cashier. Having no idea what I’d just agreed to I braced myself for the worst.
    “Don’t freak out—” Hilary said slowly, “it’s speed dating.”
    “What!” I yelled louder than I intended. “Speed dating! No, not happening.” That was far worse than I could have imagined.
    “Come on, you can’t back out now, you promised.” Hilary smiled as she scurried away and quickly retreated toward the front doors. “I’ll see you Saturday at eight. I’ll meet you there. And wear a dress!”
    I bit my tongue and turned back to Miranda. She was our age and single—and the look on my face must have been enough for her to read my mind.
    “I’m not going.” Miranda laughed. “I actually just started seeing someone.”
    I shook my head and sighed.
    “That will be sixty-eight dollars and thirty-two cents,” she said. I handed her my debit card.
    “Have a good day, Cassandra, and good luck.” Miranda grinned as I walked out.

    “Tell me again why I let you drag me to this?” I pouted. Hilary and I stopped in front of the small table set up with pens and name tags. If only I had not been born and raised in this town I could get away with writing a phony name. Hmm. Alexandria had a nice ring to it.
    I grinned, lost in thoughts of the possible personas I could conjure up for tonight’s grueling event, when Hilary snatched away the sticker in my hand and filled in my rightful name. She was no fun tonight.
    “Oww,” I said, exaggerating it for full effect when she slapped the sticker roughly on my upper abs. The low cut of my dress left no other place.
    Pulling in my brows, I shot her a look of annoyance. “You know, I have better things to do than spend my Saturday night with a bunch of pathetic guys looking for a frivolous one-night stand, right?”
    “Don’t be so negative.” Hilary leaned down to fill in her name on the tag. “I’m sure most of the guys here tonight are looking for a deep, emotional relationship.”
    I could hear the snicker caught in her throat and couldn’t help but smile. Maybe she