Yours Always Read Online Free PDF Page B

of a steak kinda guy.  What about you, Lizzy Lou?  In the mood for a steak?”
    “Why yes I am!”  she giggles while abruptly standing.  “Savannah, if you need a ride home, just call and I’ll swing by to pick you up.  Unless…” she flashes a pearly white smile in Fletcher’s direction.
    “I have the bike outside.  I don’t mind bringing you home,” Fletcher says, catching the tail end of the non-verbal, gesture-laden scolding I’m giving to Lizzy for abandoning me with a man who is practically a stranger.  “Unless you’re uncomfortable with me bringing you home.”
    Lizzy replies, “If it’s an issue, I’ll just ride with Ben and leave my car for you, Savannah.”
    “Uh, no.  I’d rather take my chances with Fletcher,” I retort.
    “Chances?”  Fletcher says with a laugh.
    Lizzy’s hands are on her hips. “There is nothing wrong with my car, Savannah Rose Mason.”
    “Your car is wearing mascara, lipstick, and a hair bow, Elizabeth Jordan Cole.”
    “No way!  I’ve got to see this!” Ben exclaims, dashing to the parking lot.
    “Wait for me!” Fletcher says, tossing a twenty onto the table to cover the drinks we’d ordered.  I’m right behind them, and everyone is laughing and cackling once we get outside.  Well, everyone but Lizzy.
    “My car is cute!” she defensively calls after us.  “Don’t pick on her!  You’ll hurt her feelings.”
    The guys stop mid-stride when they spot the bug.  All is quiet for a few beats before one of the men lets out a loud belly laugh.  He is quickly joined by the other, and before long, peals of laughter resonate throughout the parking lot.
    “I thought you were joking,” Fletcher directs to me.
    “Nope.”
    “She’s a beaut,” Ben offers.  “Don’t expect me to go riding around town in her, though.”
    “No one asked you to,” Lizzy says with a pout.  “She’s my baby, and I love her no matter what you meanies have to say about it!”
    “It’s a great car, Lizzy.  I’m sorry I laughed, but I really thought that Savannah was exaggerating.  It caught me off guard, that’s all.  I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” Fletcher remarks.
    “Yeah, me too,” Ben affirms once he stops laughing.
    “Me, three,” I say, pulling Lizzy close with a one-armed hug.
    “What?” Fletcher says, looking in Ben’s direction.  “I think that’s a great idea!”  Ben gives him a confused look.  “Ben just whispered to me that he’s going to let you drive to the steak restaurant as a way of saying he’s sorry.”
    “Wha…” Ben barely has time to stammer before Lizzy excitedly bounces up and down.
    “Yay!  Beetle power!  Get in!” she squeals after unlocking the doors and climbing into the driver’s seat.  Ben shoots Fletcher a seething glare as he climbs into the passenger seat of the seafoam green automobile.  Fletcher pulls out his phone and steadily snaps picture after picture as the duo drives away.  His laughter is heavy as he reviews them, and I join in when he holds the screen so I can see them, too.
    “This is some serious blackmail material!” Fletcher says before tucking his phone back into his pocket.  Our laughter fades, and it’s just the two of us in the dark parking lot near the pizza house.  “Should we go back inside?” Fletcher asks.
    I shake my head.  “I’m not really in the mood for pizza anymore. You said you have the bike, right?  Can we go for a ride?”
    “Of course,” he says, leading me to the far end of the lot.  There it is, and it’s exactly as Dad left it.  My emotions threaten to mutiny, but my brain overrides them.  With all that I’ve had to overcome in my life, I’ve gotten really good at swallowing down my emotions and keeping a perfect poker face—at least until it was time to meet Fletcher this evening.  I still don’t know what that was all about!  Stuttering, stammering, and talking gibberish: those are Lizzy traits, not Savannah traits.  Regardless,