Free Miss Match by Wendy Toliver Page A

lousy one, but that’s a different story.”
    “By everyone , I mean Maddie.”
    “Oh! Why didn’t you say so?” I can all but see him grinning through the phone.
    “But first I need you to do me a favor.”
    I ask Derek to pick me up and drive me to school so I can get my Vespa. Ten minutes later his truck pulls up the driveway,Texas plates and all. On my way out I poke my head into Maddie’s room. Per usual, various articles of clothing are strewn from one end to the other. She’s sprawled out on her pastel-pink LoveSac, the cordless phone suctioned to her ear. When she sees me, she says, “Hang on,” into the phone, and smiles up at me.
    “Derek’s going to take a look at my scooter now. See you in a bit.”
    She nods, pops her gum, and picks up where she left off: “The one with the green stripes, or the sheer one with little flowers?”
    As Derek reaches over to open my door for me, Maddie watches from her bedroom window, her right hand gesturing like crazy as she gabs away. Derek’s gaze fixes on her and a smile spreads across his face. I hope she can see him. He looks really cute in his faded Levi’s jacket.
    “She’s on a quest to save the world, one bit of fashion advice at a time,” I explain. I’m amazed how clean it is in here. Seriously, either he just got his truck detailed or he’s a total neat freak.
    Derek blinks as if he’s waking up from a dream. “So, what’s the deal with your wheels, Sasha?” He shifts the Chevy into reverse andeases his way down to the street. This old truck is surprisingly quiet, and no bumpier than Dad’s Explorer. “Oh, nothing. I just got a ride home, so now I need a lift to pick it up.”
    “And your sister wasn’t available?” he asks, steering toward the high school.
    “You told her you like to fix cars, so I told her you offered to take a look at my scooter. Not that it’s broken down or anything, but it’s all in the game plan.”
    He turns to me and raises an eyebrow.
    “Trust me.”
    “And is me going to this party Friday night ‘in the game plan’?”
    I nod. “Yup. Do you need me to come look in your closet, or can I trust that you’ve got something cool to wear?”
    “Do you do that for all of your clients?”
    “Whatever it takes.” Not only do I get to choose an outfit I think his or her crush will especially like, but it gives me a chance to check out a client’s bedroom. Based on all sorts of studies in this area, seeing someone’s bedroom lends great insight into his or her personality.
    I flip on his radio and static blasts into the cab. He reaches up to the volume knob, brushing my hand, and turns it way down.“I haven’t gotten around to figuring out which radio stations are any good.”
    “What kind of music do you like?”
    “Just about anything. But not country, I beg you. I’m a recovering hick-music addict, and if I hear a steel guitar, I might jump on the bandwagon again. It’s best not to risk it.”
    I try not to laugh, but I can’t help it. “I think I might have seen you on Dr. Phil the other day.”
    When he smiles at me, his dimple appears on his left cheek. I hope my face isn’t as red hot as it feels. I distract myself by filling his presets with the best radio stations.
    “So I assume that purple thing over there all by itself is yours?” Derek asks, his truck chugging into the student parking lot.
    “Yeah. The other cars are intimidated by it.” He pulls up alongside my scooter, and I assign his last preset to my very favorite station.
    “Who’s that?” he asks, turning the volume up a notch.
    “Nickelback.”
    Derek bobs his head to the beat, his hair falling into his eyes. “I like it.”
    “Yeah, me too.” Oh, man. He looks soadorable. Focus, Miss Match. Back to prepping him for asking my sis to homecoming. “Number one is the radio station you should have on whenever Maddie’s in your truck.” I press the first button and Prince serenades us. “Oldies but goodies.”
    He