A Twist of Date Read Online Free PDF Page A

with some guy’s last name. Ever.”
    My face heated. “How’d you know I do that?”
    “The pad by the kitchen telephone, genius.”
    Oops. I tilted my head to the right, and my ponytail flopped to the opposite shoulder. “Is that it for the rules? Please say yes.”
    “Last but not least, number six. This is the rule that I may add new rules as I deem necessary.” She handed over the dreaded paper outlining her rules, which were enumerated using various colors and fonts. “Here you go. Memorize it, live by it, and happy dating.”
    The Boyfriend Bylaws felt like lead in my hand. “Thanks, I think.”
    “You’re welcome.” Patti finished off the last of her pasta. “Don’t look so grim. This was your idea, remember?”
    My eyes scanned the rules again. “That’s right. I’ve got balls.”
    “Big ones.” 
    “Just what I always wanted,” I said, wondering if Patti’s boyfriend bylaws would be my dating salvation or my doom.
    Patti popped her last bite of garlic bread into her mouth, and I turned away from barely-touched plate to gaze around at the lunchtime crowd. My eyes froze on a familiar face seated at a back corner table. “Matt.”
    As if he’d heard me, he glanced up, and winked.
    My face automatically broke into a smile.
    “He’s cute. That’s the guy who works at the front desk of Totally Fit, right?” Patti said. “Who’s the girl he’s with?”
    “What?” My eyes shot to the girl I hadn’t noticed, sitting across the table from Matt. She looked oddly familiar. She had long, sandy-brown hair and glanced over at me with a curious stare. I turned back to Patti. “I have no idea who she is. He must be dating someone new.”
    My stomach knotted. How could he act so interested in me yesterday morning, then go out with another girl the next? A surge of jealousy flooded through me as she leaned forward, said something, then exchanged a smile with him.
    Without thinking, I blurted, “They seemed awfully chummy for a first date.”
    “Does that bother you?”
    “Of course.” I fixed an intent look on Patti. “Matt can date the entire Sacramento Kings cheerleading team, for all I care.”
    “Uh-huh.” Patti appeared bemused as she handed her credit card to the waiter.
    Whatever. Finding Matt with another girl was exactly why I’d said no to dating him in the first place. Reminding myself of that, however, didn’t make me feel one ounce better.

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Erica and I had spent arrived to the janitor’s closet at three-thirty, so I’d filled her in on my lunch with Patti, along with the ins and outs of The Boyfriend Bylaws. Erica knew Patti so she wasn’t surprised, but she couldn’t believe that I’d risked Betty. Neither could I, really. Just went to show how desperate I was to stop dating the wrong guys.
    At promptly 3:55 p.m., Steve opened the janitor’s closet door, and joined us in the dark, dusty room. “Anything yet?”
    “Still waiting,” Erica said, using a hushed tone. “Matt won’t desert the desk until they arrive, and Ginger’s going to cover the front desk for him. She got off work early today to get her hair done.”
    We’d met Ginger a few weeks ago when she’d started coming to the gym with Kaitlin. Shockingly, my lovely stepsister’s life had fallen from perfection (for about a minute) when she’d gotten laid off at her last job. Living the charmed life that she does, though, Kaitlin had been offered an even better job within a week. Now, she had a higher salary, and a new best friend (Ginger) to boot. I’d even overheard Kaitlin whispering to Ginger about some guy she was seeing—not that Kaitlin had bothered to say anything to me, her actual relative.
    I pursed my lips. “What did Ginger do to her hair?”
    “Nothing drastic.” Erica whispered. “Trim, and highlights. Although she’s considering a permanent shine to—”
    “Zzzzzz.” Steve made snoring noises. “I beg of you. Can we change the subject before my masculinity