Free True Love and Magic Tricks by Cassie Mae Page B

I’m still crying into my
t-shirts.
    “ Hey, Kaylee. She’s trying
to put her mom to bed right now. You want me to have her call you
back?”
    I raise my head to look at the clock.
It’s only 7:30, but I’ve heard the rumors about Lexie’s mom going
around school so I don’t ask about it.
    “ She doesn’t have to call,”
I say, scooting from the bed. “I’m just going to send a bunch of
pictures and if at least one of you will help me decide what to
wear then that’ll save my night.”
    He chuckles. “It’s for Nate, right?
You know he’ll probably be fine with what you have on.”
    I look down at myself. “I’m
naked.”
    It’s quiet for a full three seconds
before he chokes out, “Then he’ll definitely be okay with
it.”
    “ Ryan!”
    Something scuffles on his side of the
phone, and I hear him lightly explaining my situation to
Lexie.
    “ Hey, she says to send her
the pics,” he says when he gets back on.
    “ Thank you!”
    I hang up and lay out a bunch of tops
and bottoms across my floor. Then snap, snap, snap and wait to hear
Lexie’s thoughts.
    Lexie: Third top with
fourth bottom. *cute!*
    Me: How should I do my
hair?
    Lexie: Braids. Nate talks
about them a lot.
    Me: For
real????
    Lexie: Yes. And your
lip-gloss. (According to Ry…)
    Me: Thanks, Bestie! You
guys are awesome!
    Lexie: np. And you don’t
have to call me that you know…
    Me: Yes I do.
    I set my phone down and pull on the
suggested outfit, then take a selfie with a blown kiss. After I
send it to her, I skip to the bathroom and do my hair and makeup,
feeling ten times better than I did twenty minutes ago.
     
    ***
    Nate rings the doorbell at 7:49. I
trip my way down the stairs and swing it open full force, too
excited to see him to care that I totally forget to put on
mascara.
    “ Sorry, I’m a little
earl—”
    I barrel into his lips, not even sorry
about it. He’s wearing the fedora and the suspenders. How can he
not expect me to pounce?
    “ Hey, um… your dad…” he
mumbles around my mouth. I smile and drop from my
tiptoes.
    “ Is working very late
tonight.”
    The cutest blush washes his cheeks.
“Oh. Yeah. Cool.”
    I laugh. “You want to meet Mr.
Pippi?”
    “ If his schedule has opened
up.”
    Now that my room is clean, his
calendar is too. I knock the front door shut with my hip, then drag
him by his forefinger up the stairs.
    I take an obvious sniff of my room
before opening the door all the way. Smells good, thank heavens.
And Nate’s nose doesn’t crinkle when he steps in, so high-five for
me on the speed-cleaning thing.
    His eyes drift over the posters on my
walls, an amused grin on his face when he sees the giant one of
Tyler Hoechlin with his shirt open and water drizzling down his
sweet, precious abs. Then an even more amused grin when he notices
my entire wardrobe still strewn over my bed since I didn’t have
time to put it away. I shrug when he gestures to it, and then head
to Mr. Pippi’s cage.
    “ Okay, you gotta be nice to
him,” I say, coaxing the white fur-ball into my hands.
    “ I will,” Nate says, and I
smile over my shoulder.
    “ I was actually talking to
Mr. Pippi. He’s a bit of a butthole.”
    Nate takes a step toward me, and our
hands touch when I slide my gerbil to his palm. Mr. Pippi shakes a
little, but after Nate strokes his fur a few times he calms
down.
    “ How long have you had him
again?” he asks, bringing Mr. Pippi closer to his face. I feel like
kissing his smile lines.
    “ Couple years.” I pat Mr.
Pippi’s head, totally letting my pinky tumble over Nate’s knuckles.
“My dad bought him for me when my parents got divorced. He’s good
company even though he sleeps most of the time.”
    Nate brings Mr. Pippi down and gives
me a half-grin. “Are you close with your mom?”
    “ Sort of. We talk on the
phone sometimes, but she seems pretty busy. Really… I’m not close
with anyone.”
    His brows pull in. “Don’t you have a
shit ton of friends? I’ve watched