I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy Read Free Book Online

mom is a hairdresser named Vicki. With gorgeous highlights, cool shoes and awesome long, fake nails. Vicki gives new meaning to the word “gabby.” I think the radio station must be on all day in the beauty salon because she’s always up on the news. And she always has opinions. Like today, she yaks for the entire ride about the paparazzi taking pictures of movie stars and theirbabies. No one tells me which restaurant we’re going to, and I don’t ask. I figure it’s all part of Josh’s plan, to make it a surprise.
    Vicki pulls up in front of a Mexican restaurant.
    Tio Roberto’s.
    My chest goes tight.
    I stare at the green and white neon sign with its dancing sombrero in the corner. I so know this restaurant, from the basket of warm tortilla chips you get before the meal to the striped cinnamon candies you get after. My family used to come here on a regular basis. There are a ton of other Mexican restaurants nearer to my house, but we’d make the drive because of my mother’s crazy cravings for their chicken chimichangas. I haven’t been back to Tio Roberto’s since she died.
    â€œI know how into Mexican you are, Sherry,” Josh says, all proud of his choice. “And I heard this place has great food.”
    Swallowing hard, I turn in my seat and give him a thumbs-up.
    He pushes down on the door handle. “Let’s kick it in Tio Roberto’s.”
    â€œSorry again I couldn’t make your game, Josh. Too many heads to cut and color and style. I’ll be back to get you two in about an hour when I’m between clients,” Vicki says. “And, Sherry, I like your hair. It’s fuller than usual.”
    â€œThanks.” Maybe I don’t look so bad with my portal-of-pain do.
    Josh and I open our doors at the exact same moment. We’re going to have a rocking sixty-minute date. Despite the tightness in my chest.
    Vicki rolls down her window. “Josh, you remember how to calculate the tip?”
    â€œWe’ll be fine, Mom.”
    Josh and I spring up the tile steps, past the fountain with an embarrassing sculpture of a half-naked woman pouring water from a bucket on her shoulder, then through the front door. A waitress leads us across the room to a corner table. We get settled in with a basket of chips, a bowl of green salsa, a bowl of red salsa and a dish of spicy carrots.
    She brings us water and menus. “I’ll give you a few minutes to look this over.”
    The lighting’s kind of low, but not so low that you can’t see your meal. Or the chlorine highlights in the shaggy hair of the adorable boyfriend sitting across the table. Or his Lake Havasu blue eyes smiling at you. On the other side of the room, a man in a gray and red poncho plays the guitar and sings in Spanish. We look over the menu and decide what to get. We are so grown-up.
    â€œDid you catch much of my game?” Josh asks.
    I dip a chip in green salsa. “Not too much.”
    â€œHow come?”
    â€œThe Ruler.” Which isn’t entirely false.
    â€œAt least you saw me nail that sweet final goal.”
    I never have to answer because the waitress shows up and takes our order.
    â€œMan. I hope that wasn’t my last game.” His voice is all sad, not the voice of a guy who just snagged the winning goal.
    â€œWhat are you talking about? Your last game?” I dip another chip. “The season’s not over.”
    â€œMy grades.” Josh shakes his head. “I might end up ineligible.”
    â€œNo way.” I plunk down my glass in surprise. “Your grades are that bad?”
    He grimaces. “I didn’t realize how bad they were until Coach talked to me in the locker room.”
    â€œSo, doing the English project with Candy could really help?”
    â€œYeah. Well, that and one other class, well, two other classes need to fall into place.” Josh doesn’t meet my eyes as he grabs a carrot.
    I reach