How I Found the Perfect Dress by Maryrose Wood Page A

go,” he said, turning to me, “there’s something I’ve been meanin’ to do.”
    â€œWhat?” I prayed that my breath was still minty from the gum I’d chewed in the car, but Colin only took my hand.
    â€œApologize. I owe you an apology, Mor, and now’s as good a time as any.”
    â€œNo,” I said quickly. “No, you don’t.”
    â€œHush, woman!” He smiled. “When all this mad stuff started happening, with the dreams and the notes—I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. So I went a bit silent with people. It seemed easier at the time, but only because I didn’t know what else to do.” He looked at me with his patented mix of goofball charm and utter sincerity. “Ye must think I’ve gone off the deep end.”
    â€œNot any deeper than usual,” I teased.
    He grinned, and reached for me. But before he could do what I’d been hoping and praying he would do since the moment he’d arrived, an absolute knockout of a girl—think Lucy Liu, age twenty and with an attitude like she’d just won a lifetime membership to Mensa—rapped once on the open door, marched up to Colin, and stuck out a hand.
    â€œAre you Colin? I’m Alice. According to the team assignment sheet, we’re going to be partners.” Her eyes skimmed me from top to bottom, but apparently she didn’t see anyone worth acknowledging because she just kept talking to Colin. “In the competition, I mean. And I hope you’re planning to win! Because I’m expecting to.”
    â€œThat’s the spirit,” Colin said affably. “How d’ye do? A pleasure to meet you, Alice. This is my friend, Morgan.”
    â€œAre they letting children in the program now?” Alice didn’t bother to disguise her displeasure. “How precocious.”
    â€œNope,” I answered, giving her my most deadly stare. “I’m just helping Colin move in. Then straight back to kindergarten.”
    â€œRight,” she said, already tuning me out. “Anyway, Col, we should have a strategy meeting. Compare skill sets. Figure out what our strengths and weaknesses are.” She crossed her arms, the picture of impatience. “Anytime you’re ready. I’m here to work.”
    She called him “Col.” How gross was that? I thought.
    â€œSkill sets, righty-o.” Colin’s voice was full of good cheer and a twinge of mockery too, though you’d have to know him to be able to tell. “I’ll be with you in a jiffy, Al.”
    He winked at me, and together we walked down the hall to the elevator. I wished I could stay, or at least give that horrible girl a pinch to shut her up. But my dad and Tammy were waiting downstairs, and I was a half-goddess with some urgent faery sleuthing to do. I’d lingered too long already.
    â€œGood luck,” I said. “Have fun at school.” I lowered my voice. “Don’t take any crap from ‘Al.’ ”
    â€œI can handle her. Thanks for everything, Mor.” The elevator arrived, and Colin gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “See ye at soccer practice.”
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    soccer practice, verЧ funnЧ. Colin had promised Tammy he’d come over the following Saturday to teach her some real Irish “football” moves, guaranteed to destroy any lingering Tammy-is-a-weenie sentiment left over from January’s Santa debacle. Second graders might forgive, but they never, ever forget.
    Until then he was completely booked, with classes all day and a heavy workload at night. That meant I’d have to wait six whole days to see him again. How insane it was that Colin was so nearby, yet busy doing things that didn’t include me! How amazing that I’d see him in less than a week! My emotional repertoire was getting a major workout.
    Still, the feeling that burned hottest inside me was frustration: How the fek was I supposed