Don't Bet On Love by Sheri Cobb South

me, and I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful, but this just isn’t working out. After Colette started coming on to me, it took me less than three days to figure out that I didn’t really care anything about her. ” He raised his head and looked deep into my eyes. “ I know Mark is counting on me to win his bet, but it’s my prom, too, and I think I ought to have some say about who I take. Molly, I’m nobody’s dream date, and nobody knows that better than you. But—but I love you, and …”
    Somewhere I was sure I heard a choir of angels begin singing the Hallelujah Chorus . “ I love you, too, ” I said softly.
    “ … And if you’ll just give me a chance. I’ll try not to make you wash dishes, or land you in jail, or—what did you just say? ”
    I smiled radiantly at him. “ I said, I love you, too.”
    Gary stared at me. “ But I thought you wanted me to go to the prom with Colette! ”
    “ Only because I thought you wanted to go with her! I mean, the dancing lessons, the contacts, the big dinner …”
    “ It might have started out that way, but before long all I really wanted to do was be with you, and maybe prove to you that I wasn’t completely hopeless. ” He shook his head. “ Boy, did that ever backfire! ”
    “ You don’t have to prove anything to me, Gary, ” I murmured. “ I think I’ve loved you ever since I heard you make that really pathetic remark to Colette about the weather! ”
    “ Is that so? Well, what do you know! ” A smile slowly began to spread across Gary’s face. “ I guess I ought to kiss you or something, huh? ”
    “ That would be nice, ” I breathed, suddenly shy.
    Gary moved forward to take me in hi s arms, and stepped on my toe. “ Sorry , ” he muttered with a self-conscious grin. When he bent down to kiss me, our noses bumped a couple of times before his lips finally found mine. It wasn’t the sort of kiss that dreams are made of, but somehow it seemed just right, and it got even better with practice.
    In fact, we were still practicing fifteen minutes later, when the sound of the front door opening made us jump apart. Looking up, we saw Mark standing in the doorway, scowling.
    “ I suppose you realize, ” he said, finding his voice at last, “ that you two just cost me twenty dollars! ”
    Gary grinned. “ Sorry about that, Mark, ” he said, still holding me tightly around the waist. “ But there are limits to a friendship, you know. ”
    “ Hmmm, ” Mark said thoughtfully, his eyes kindling with hope. “ Maybe it’s not too late. Do you think you guys could keep quiet about this until after the prom? It’s only a coup le of weeks away, you know, and ... ”
    “ Nope, ” Gary said firmly. “ Not a chance. ”
    “ Aw, come on, Gary! ” Mark protested. “ After all, if it weren’t for me, you two wouldn’t have gotten together at all! How about showing a little gratitude? ”
    I looked up at Gary. “ I don’t feel that grate ful. Do you? ”
    He shook his head. “ Not i n the least. ”
    “ Okay, how’s this? What if I give you a share of my winnings? ” Mark coaxed. “ Gary takes Colette to the prom, and we split the money seventy-thirty! I think it’s only fair that I get seventy percent, since I’m the one who— ”
    “ Go to your room, Mark, ” I said.
    “ Sixty-forty? ”
    “ Forget it! ”
    Mark groaned. “ All right, all right! Fifty- fifty, and that’s my final offer! ”
    “ Good! Now, will you please go away and leave us alone? ”
    “ Sorry, Mark, ” Gary said, “ but there’s only one girl I’m taking to the prom—if she’ll go with me, that is, ” he added, smiling down at me.
    “ Okay, then, be that way! ” Mark grumbled as he stomped up the stairs. “ See if I ever do any more favors for you! ”
    “ I feel kind of guilty in a way. ” Gary said after Mark was gone and we were alone again. “ We did have a deal, you know. ”
    “ Don’t worry about Mark, ” I told him. “ By Monday