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“You’re one messy girl.” He shakes his head.

When he lets go of my arm, I see a faint red mark where his hand gripped it. I was so caught up in defending myself that I failedto realize how hard he had been holding on. Surely, though, he didn’t mean any harm. He probably didn’t even notice his own strength. I rub the red splotch on my skin and return to work, eyes focused intently on the poster, trying not to make eye contact with him. I don’t want to see whether he realized he’d made a mark on me. I don’t want him to feel bad.

When we finish the poster, Father Robert comes around to see it, praising us on the precision of the lettering, even though I did most of the work. He insists on taking a picture of me and Donovan standing next to our poster, which is most definitely something our mothers put him up to as well.

I offer a friendly smile and hand him my phone, posing with a thumbs up for the picture my mother will likely ask me to post on my social media. You know, for all of her friends who follow me to see how involved I am in my church community.

******

I asked Donovan to hang out after decorating, hoping he’ll eventually grow on me if I just give him a chance. To my surprise, he accepted my offer. To my demise, I now have to fill close to an hour’s drive with small talk.

I take Donovan to Starry Scoops. I hadn’t seen Thom in a good month or two, so I figured this would be a good way to knock out two birds with one stone. Besides just getting things done, Thom just has a way of making me feel comfortable, and with Drew out of the picture, I could use some of that feeling.

“Laine!” Thom waves as soon as he sees us enter the shop.

“Hey, Thom! I’m sorry I haven’t been around much. I’ve been pretty busy with church things, but I figured I’d pop in and seeyou.”

I walk up to the counter, gleaming from ear to ear. It’s nice seeing Thom’s familiar face again, especially since it feels like I’ve been living in a completely different world after moving to Holy Trinity.

Don’t get me wrong, everyone there has been overly polite and welcoming to me, but it’s still nice to have an old friend who doesn’t have to ask your favorite color for lack of better conversation topics.

“This is Donovan, a frie-” I start, but decide not to outright friendzone him like this. “He’s from Holy Trinity.”

“Hey.” Donovan gives a half-wave and a smirk to Thom.

“Nice to meet ya, Donovan. I’m Thom, a good ol’ friend of Laine’s.” Thom nods and smiles.

“So uhh, you work… here?” Donovan looks Thom up and down and then takes in the parlor.

“Yeah, ma Pops owns the place. I help him run it.”

“It’s um… well, what do you have?” Donovan scans the flavors behind the horizontal freezer window, a distasteful look plastered across his face.

“Er- well, this week’s special is red velvet. For the ol’ V day!” Thom turns to me, excitedly tapping the scoop on the counter.

“I’ll take a small cone of red velvet then!” I say, pointing at the tub in the front row filled with soft red ice cream.

“One cone of red velvet comin’ right up!” Thom scoops my ice cream and hands it to me with a smile.

“I guess I’ll just have a cup of vanilla,” Donovan says, still side-eyeing the array of flavors behind the glass.

Thom nods and scoops Donovan’s cup.

Although my old elementary playground is a five-minute walk from Starry Scoops, I just can’t bring myself to take Donovan there. Instead, I drive us to a nearby nature trail.

“So, you’re a granola girl, huh?” Donovan asks, walking close bymy side.

“I don’t know if I’d say that,” I respond, carefully watching my feet follow one after the other on the concrete path.

We walk in silence for a good ten minutes, occasionally pointing out average-looking birds and kids stumbling on the ropes course. Finally, Donovan starts a conversation.

“Can I ask you a stupid question?” He turns his head to look at me, possibly for the first time since we got here.

“Yeah, go for it.”

“Are you a true believer?”

I stop in my tracks. “What? Of course, I am.”