Read Online Georgie on His Mind by Jennifer Shirk - Free Book Online Page B

depressed her at the same time. She had hoped the
contest would be the perfect diversion for her brother and
would get her some breathing room. "I guess you're right.
But I really wanted him to go on that date. I felt so sorry for
him."
    "You felt sorry for Brad so you entered him in a contest to
win a date with a TV star?" He rolled his eyes toward the
ceiling. "I hope you never get any of those compassionate
feelings toward me."
    She gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Don't worry. You're
more than safe"
    With her stomach now in knots, she tossed her bagel on
the counter. "The only reason I entered Brad was because I
think he's lonely. He needs someone to occupy his thoughts.
With the way he's been overly concerned with me, I'd say he
has way too much time on his hands. His actions are not only
affecting my life but his too." She bit her lip and hesitated
a moment more before letting Walt in on her plan B. "You
know, um, I was even hoping, um, since you were back in
town that-"
    "Wait. Don't tell me," he said with a chuckle. "You want
me to take Brad out and maybe see that he meets a nice girl."
    Her eyes widened. "Wow. How did you know?"
    "Call me psychic."
    "I suppose it's better than some of the other names I could
call you."
    A wide grin spread across his face. "Well, well, now
who's acting like old times? You know, I could complain
about how you talk to me as well. Ever since I came to town,
you've been treating me as if I were still fifteen and running
over your Barbie with my dirt bike."
    "You did that?"

    Walt's smug expression suddenly turned guilty, and he
cleared his throat. "Uh, I can't quite remember. Hey, it might
have been Brad now that I think about it. Or some other jerk
he was friends with. Tim Clark, I think. You know, it's all a
big blur to me now."
    She cracked a smile. "Sure, it is."
    Despite what she knew he'd done all those years ago, his
lighthearted mood was so infectious and charming she
laughed and lightly punched him in the arm. But as soon as
she started to draw back her hand, he caught her off guard
by reaching out and taking hold of it in his own.
    "Uh, listen, Georgie," he said, thoughtfully studying their
joined hands for a moment. "If I was the one who had run
over your Barbie, well, I'm sorry. Even if we weren't friends
back then, I would like us to be friends now. Not only for
Brad's sake, but for the pharmacy's sake too. I was a difficult
kid-kind of mad at the world because of my mom leaving.
But it still wasn't a very nice thing to do, especially to my
best friend's sister."
    She stared at their joined hands too, trying to decide if she
liked this new side of Walt or not. The seriousness he used
combined with his deep, velvety voice had a strange effect
on her heart rate, and she suddenly didn't know how to act.
For all her talk about wanting to be treated as a grown woman,
the only thing she could think of now was running and hiding
under her covers.
    She pulled her hand away from his grasp and fervently tried
to switch the mood back to one she felt safe with. "It-it's not
a big deal. So, how about it? Are you going to start acting like
a real friend and stop being such a stick in the mud?"
    Walt shrugged. "Okay. Why not? I'll take Brad out Saturday night. I could use a little fun myself."
    Yes! Saturday was perfect. That would give her three days to find a date and maybe go out herself. Her own social life
was already looking up. "You mean it?" she asked eagerly.

    "Sure. But on one condition."
    Ugh. And just like that, her good mood became crushed,
much like her old Barbie's head.
    Here we go. She knew Walt was acting too good to be
true. This was it. This was where the true Walt would come
out, and he would make her promise him breakfast in bed for
a month, maybe even a year. Maybe he'd even want her firstborn and her firstborn's firstborn.
    "You've got to come out with us too," he finished.
    She blinked up at him, thinking she