Free True Love and Magic Tricks by Cassie Mae

no
idea.”
    “ Oh yes. He comes from a
long line of gerbil kings and queens. I’ll have to check his
schedule, but for you…” She glances up at me, her green eyes so big
and bright. “I’m sure he’ll make time.”
    “ What are you guys doing
Saturday night?” Lexie asks, and I want to tackle her in a bear hug
because I know she’s helping me set up the do-over.
    Kaylee twists one of her braids around
her finger. “I don’t have plans yet.”
    “ You do now,” Ryan says,
tossing his arm over Kaylee’s other shoulder.
    “ Anything specific?” Kaylee
asks. “You know, so I know what to wear.”
    “ A little bit of this. A
little bit of that. A ball gown will do,” Ryan says.
    Lexie smacks Ryan upside the head.
“Dress in whatever you’re comfortable in. We’ll swing by and pick
you up at seven.”
    “ That is if Mr. Pippi is
free?” I say, wanting so bad to meet this creature that fills her
with so much joy.
    “ Like I said before, he’ll
make time for you.”
     
    ***
    Deep breath. Deep breath.
You can do this. Just be yourself.
    I stand outside Kaylee’s house, my
hand hovering mere centimeters from her door. I just have to knock,
but after our last date and the way I made a total fool of myself,
I can’t seem to tap my knuckles against the wood.
    “ Knock already!” Lexie
calls from the front seat of Ryan’s Lincoln. Ryan’s hand wraps
around her mouth and pulls her back into the car.
    I can do this. Parents
love me. Not that I ever fist-bumped any of them.
    Before my thoughts talk me
off her steps, I fling my knuckles against the grain and wait. The
door opens as if her dad was just waiting for me to knock. His arms
are crossed against his large chest, and I swear it makes his
biceps larger than my head. He’s going to
kill me.
    “ H-Hi sir,” I manage to get
out.
    He nods toward the foyer and shuts the
door behind me.
    “ I see you found a shirt
that fits,” Mr. Sperling says. I’m never going to live that damn
shirt down. Thank god no one took pictures. At least I don’t think
they did. Note to self: Check Lexie and Ryan’s phones.
    I need to fix what I did. Need to undo
every memory he has of me up until this point. I decide to just say
exactly what I feel.
    “ Mr. Sperling.” I hold my
hand out. “I wanted to introduce myself.”
    He doesn’t take my hand, instead
crosses his arms again, making his biceps bulge.“If I remember
correctly, you already did. Quite memorably actually.”
    “ That’s the thing sir. That
wasn’t me. I mean. It was me, but it wasn’t me.” He looks at me
like I’m crazy, and I don’t blame him. This is not coming out right
at all. “The thing is, I really like your daughter, and I wanted to
impress her, but instead of impressing her, I made a total fool of
myself. I tried to be someone who I’m not because I thought that’s
what Kaylee wanted. I was wrong. She doesn’t deserve someone who
pretends to be someone they’re not. She deserves a guy who will be
a hundred percent real with her. Who will never for a single second
take her for granted. You need to know. I’ll never ever take her for
granted.”
    The tension in Mr. Sperling’s biceps
eases as he lets his arms fall to his side. “That was quite a
speech young man.”
    “ I was never one for
subtlety.”
    “ Don’t change that,” he
says and holds out his hand. I instantly take it and try not to
wince when he shakes a little too hard. He pulls me toward him and
leans down. “You hurt my daughter, and I’ll break your
legs.”
    “ Sir, if I hurt your
daughter, I’ll help you break my legs.”
    “ Hey sweetie,” Mr. Sperling
says over my shoulder.
    I turn and can’t keep the smile off my
face. Kaylee walks down the last step in a tight pair of skinny
jeans and a hot pink t-shirt. Her lips are glossed and her braids
bounce with her steps. Perfect combination of casual and dressed
up. She’s perfect. Beautiful.
    “ How much did you hear?” I
ask, heat filling my