The Heartbreak Messenger (20 page)

“Seriously?”

“Does that really surprise you?”

I shook my head. “No, I guess not. Blunderbangs probably didn't expect to see you, though. He doesn't know you like I do.”

“No. I don't think he did. I think he expected me to just take a message and be done with it. But I wanted to hear him say it. I wanted him to treat me with the respect I deserve, I guess. So I asked him three questions.”

“And?”

Crack
. “He couldn't answer them honestly.”

“Oh. What a punk.”

Abby giggled. “Yeah. What a punk.” She picked the meat out of the shell and tossed it into the Tupperware.

“So…” I said. “You only asked me two questions. Is there another?”

She shook her head. “No. You already answered it.”

“Hey, Abby?” I said.

“Yeah?”

I picked up the rose and handed it to her across the table. “Is it all right if I ask you out sometime? Like maybe when I'm sixteen?”

“Sixteen!? Sheesh, Quentin, we'll be ancient by then. How about fifteen?”

“Fifteen and a half.”

“Deal.” She brought the rose up to her face.

“Really?”

“Oh, I'll be around,” she said with a smile. “But that doesn't mean you won't have to chase me.” She hopped up and headed toward the garage. “Hey, Rob and I are riding bikes out to the river. You coming?”

“Of course,” I said as I caught up to her. “Or … how about we hike the trails instead? My bike had a minor fender bender.”

“Okay.”

“By the way, there's something else I meant to tell you.”

Abby gave me a worried look. “What? I'm not sure I can handle many more of your messages this week.”

“Just that I'm done being the Heartbreak Messenger. I'm giving it up.”

“Really? About time.”

“Yeah, I know when to call it quits.” I smiled to myself. The Heartbreak Messenger had retired, but that just meant I'd have more time for other … business plans. “Besides, I've got something even better in mind.”

 

A F
EIWEL AND
F
RIENDS
B
OOK

An Imprint of Macmillan

THE HEARTBREAK MESSENGER.
Copyright © 2013 by Alexander Vance. All rights reserved. For information, address Feiwel and Friends, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available

ISBN: 978-1-250-02969-0 (hardcover)/978-1-250-04243-9 (ebook)

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First Edition: 2013

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eISBN 9781250042439

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