Crazy Maybe by A. D. Justice Page B

then.” 
    She picks a small sidewalk café that’s about ten minutes from her house.  I grew up in this general area and my parents still live here but I’ve never eaten here.  She chooses a table outside, even though it is early spring time in the South, which normally means it’s hot as hell and 120% humidity.  But it is a beautiful day and there’s a slight breeze that makes it bearable.  We order our food and the waitress leaves our drinks with us. 
    We’re talking, laughing, and just generally getting to know each other and it’s great.  I’ve never felt more relaxed with a girl like I do with her.  I just finished telling her a pretty funny story from high school about me and she’s wiping tears of laughter from her eyes when I feel someone stop beside us.  I look up into the eyes of my mother and father, and they are eying her suspiciously. 
    I already know what they see when they look at her.  The pink horizontal stripes in her hair, the tattoo-sleeve on her arm and shoulder, her casual dress, and the fact that we’re having breakfast together.  They think she’s one of my sleazy, one-night stands and I’m instantly defensive.  My father lightly clears his throat to draw our full attention to him.
    Andi’s looking at my parents with a genuine smile and they’re both looking at her with their fake smiles that never quite reaches their eyes.  Andi may not know this, but I sure as hell do.  Andi looks at me and raises her eyebrows, as if to say, “ Well? ” 
    “Hi, Mom.  Dad.  Small world, huh?”
    Mom laughs a little nervously but neither of them answer.  They just look back and forth between me and Andi.
    “Mom, Dad, this is Andi Morgan.  Andi, these are my parents, Linda and Sam Woods.” 
    Andi extends her hand to my mom first, then my dad, and tells them both she is glad to meet them.  Their reply is simply, “Likewise.”  Mom starts telling me about Gran’s birthday party at my parent’s house next month.  When she takes a breath and leaves an opening for someone else to speak, Andi offers them both a seat and asks if they want to eat with us.
    I didn’t think they would accept her invitation.  The way they looked at her, like she was beneath them and their snobbery, made my blo od boil.  But when they accept and actually thank her, I noticed a bit of thawing in their normally cold demeanor.  By the end of breakfast, Andi has them both eating out of her hand.  They are both ready to adopt her and take her home with them.  Before my mom leaves, she makes Andi promise to come to Gran’s birthday party with me. 
    I look at Andi without trying to mask my amazement and fascination with her.  She really has no idea how wonderful she is, because she asks me simply, “What?  Why are you looking at me like that?”
    “You are amazing, Andi.  Seriously.  How did you do that?”
    “Do what, Luke?”
    “They love you!  They don’t like anyone – not even me!”
    “Are you crazy?  They love you!  You hung the moon and stars in their eyes.  You’d have to be blind to not see that.”
    I just shake my head at her.  I must be blind beca use I don’t see what she sees.

 
 
 

CHAPTER SIX
    LUKE
    It’s the day of Gran’s birthday party.  The last month has been hectic and crazy and wonderful.  I’ve spent every day with Andi, either training at the gym, chilling at her house or at my apartment, or just going out somewhere to spend time together.  Oh yeah, and somehow she talked me into being part of her karaoke skit at the club tomorrow night, so we’ve been practicing that for the past two weeks, too.  Thank God she didn’t ask me to sing.
    We’re still in the “friends” stage because she’s still giving me time to define what “this” is between us.  She is stubborn as hell and won’t be the one to give it a name.  She’s making me face it and she won’t budge an inch until I do.  I can’t even count how many times I’ve tried to kiss