Read Don't Kiss Him Good-Bye for Free Online Page B

today was a uniform day because only my black uniform shoes got wet. I’d just bought some new UGGs, creamy beige suede on the outside and soft wool on the inside. I was excited to wear them on casual Friday, and I really hoped it wouldn’t rain tomorrow.
    I walked into the newsroom and breathed in the dusty smell of the newsprint and the acrid smell of the ink, felt the heat of the presses and the glare of the fluorescent lights. My future was calling! And I would answer!
    Rob came out from behind his printer. “Need any help loading the papers?” he asked.
    “Yeah, thanks—in just a minute.” First I had to talk with Jack. I found him standing next to a board with the current issue laid out and pinned up. I leaned in and whispered, “I think there’s been some kind of e-mail error. I haven’t been getting the forwards.”
    “Forwards?” he asked in a rather loud voice. He looked distracted. I spotted the reason right away. The current issue had a few typos. He frowned, took out a highlighter, and marked them. I was glad my name was not on any of those bylines.
    “For the Asking for Trouble column,” I said, trying to keep my voice down. “If I’m going to have time to choose the questions and then write up my answers, I’ll need to have them soon. You want the copy by next Tuesday, right?”
    “Ah, yes, right,” Jack said. “Sorry about that. I’ll check on it later this morning.”
    I turned around, and as I did, I saw Rob standing very close behind me. He met my eyes. They betrayed nothing, but I wondered if he’d been there awhile and heard our conversation.
    “Ready?” he asked.
    “Yep.” Together we stuffed my green-swirled designer bag with papers. “Going to the May Day Ball?” he asked.
    I looked up, hopeful. He wasn’t really my idea of Prince Charming, but he was a nice guy, and he’d been a good friend to me since I’d joined the newspaper staff. Truth be told, I suspected he was the person who had delivered my anonymous box of chocolates at Valentine’s Day. After all, he often did have chocolate in his printing office. And he’d been awfully sweet to me.
    “No, I’m not . . . yet,” I said. “You?”
    He nodded. “I have a girlfriend at another school. She’s coming here for the dance. I’ll go to her school’s Autumn Leaves Ball.”
    I kept a bright smile on my face—I really did. Happy thoughts. “That’s great,” I said. “Natalie has assigned me to choose some couples to feature in the paper. Maybe I could get your picture?”
    “Thanks, Savvy.” Rob grinned. “Dahlia would love that. It might make her even appreciate the newspaper life a bit more.” He gave me a quick, friendly hug and helped me finish loading the papers.
    I dutifully delivered the papers. That’s right, that’s me. Always the fairy godmother, never Cinderella.
    In first period, Brian’s and Hazelle’s moony eyes were annoying me, so I pulled out my list instead. Only one name was left.

Chapter 18

    Louanne attacked me as soon as I got in the front door. “Isn’t today the day your paper comes out? Did you bring a copy home for me?” She tugged one of the straps of my green bag, trying to part the folds and peer inside.
    “Hold on, cowgirl,” I said. “I’ve got one in here someplace. But let me catch my breath.” Even Growl was eyeing her with curiosity. “So what’s the big deal with the paper?”
    “I told you,” she said not very convincingly. “We’re sisters. I’m interested in your stuff, just like you’re interested in my stuff, like dog shows.”
    I wasn’t sure how she came by that misunderstanding about my liking dog shows, but I let her hang on to it. I threw my messenger bag in the corner, careful not to hit my new UGGs, waiting patiently for their debut the next morning. “So when can I paint your nails?” I asked.
    She took both hands and put them around her throat, pretending to choke herself. “Never. But it was nice of you to offer to come to