Page 14 of Another Love, Another Time

“You know why? Because it really wasn’t what you wanted.

You did it because you were upset with Auggie.

You can’t use other people like that. It will never work.

I don’t know if your dad would agree, but you should be putting yourself out there.

Having boyfriends of your own. Is there anyone you might be interested in at school?

You don’t have to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but you could go hang out, watch a movie, whatever kids your age do nowadays.

What you don’t need to do is let Auggie have all the fun.

You need to be doing the same thing. Got it? ”

“You know what? You’re right. I should be having fun too. I have a boy who’s been asking me out for a while. Maybe I’ll give him a chance.” I’m over here moping around. I’m no ugly duckling.

Liam Banks. He’s cute. He’s on the basketball team, and he seems nice.

We have a couple of classes together, and we sit at the same lunch table.

A lot of the girls think he’s cute, but I haven’t seen him go out with any of them.

He’s been asking to hang out for a while, but I’ve told him no.

Now, maybe I’ll take him up on his offer.

He sent me a friend request on Facebook a few weeks ago that I never accepted.

I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.

One of the conditions of my having a Facebook page was that I had to keep everything private, and I could only be friends with people my parents knew about.

I pull up the Facebook app and go to my friend’s request. My thumb hovers over the “accept” button. Why am I so nervous?

I take a deep breath, let it out, take the plunge, and hit the accept button.

“FYI,” I say, “I have a new Facebook friend. His name is Liam Banks. You can check out his profile if you want.”

“Maybe later. Thanks for letting me know,” she answers and then turns up the radio, knowing the conversation is over. I feel my phone vibrate and see I have a new message.

LIAM: Hi. I see U finally accepted my friend request. Thanks. Took U long enough.

RIVER: Your background check just came back. You’re clean btw.

LIAM: I think UR kidding, but I never know w U.

RIVER: You can’t tell?

LIAM: No, I can never tell. U R hard to read. UR like other girls.

RIVER: Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

LIAM: It’s definitely a good thing. It’s one of the reasons I like U.

RIVER: There’s more?

LIAM: More what?

RIVER: Reasons you like me

LIAM: Well yeah

I don’t usually flirt, but this feels good. Normal. Natural. Hopefully, he knows I’m flirting too.

RIVER: Like?

LIAM: Man, U don’t hold any punches, do U?

RIVER: You want me to go easy on you?

LIAM: No, I like a challenge.

RIVER: Yeah, me too. So?

LIAM: Sooo?

RIVER: The other reasons why you like me?

LIAM: Ok killer calm down. Another reason is UR feisty. U don’t just agree. If U disagree with something you tell it like it is.

RIVER: What else?

LIAM: I like UR smile.

RIVER: Cheesy, but keep going…

LIAM: Ouch no slack. Ok, how about I like how competitive U R.

RIVER: Is there anything else?

LIAM: Yes, but since I know U like a challenge, I feel like I should keep the rest to myself until U agree to hang out with me. You never know. Maybe I’ll add some things to the list.

RIVER: I guess I walked right into that, huh?

LIAM: So? We going to hang out?

RIVER: Sure?

LIAM: Wow that was easier than I thought. UR going soft on me.

RIVER: I thought I held out long enough.

LIAM: U busy tonight?

RIVER: Actually, I’m not in town tonight. Visiting family.

LIAM: When will U be back in town?

RIVER: Late Sunday night.

LIAM: What about next weekend?

RIVER: Sure what did you have in mind?

LIAM: Bowling. If I remember correctly, UR a beast.

We’ve hung out as a group before with our friends. Bowling is one of the things that we have done together. I feel the car slow down, and I look up to see that we are turning into Auggie’s driveway.

RIVER: Sounds like fun. We just arrived, so I’ll talk to you later, but we’ll talk this week about the details.

LIAM: Looking forward to it. See U @ school.

I close out of my app just as Mom’s vehicle comes to a stop. I feel a whole lot better about this weekend. I have been so focused on Auggie that I forgot about myself. I know it’s still going to be hard if he brings his girlfriend around, but now I have something to look forward to.

~~

So, I may have spoken a little too soon.

I’m currently at the bowling alley with all of Logan and Auggie’s friends, including Amber and Melissa.

Auggie asked if I wanted to do something.

I mentioned bowling since it was on my mind after making plans with Liam.

I thought it was just going to be the two of us.

Clearly, I misunderstood. So here I am. What can I say other than, “I’m having the time of my life. ” (Insert a sarcastic eye roll.)

Don’t get me wrong. Most of their friends are fun.

What I don’t enjoy is Amber hanging onto Auggie all night.

I hate to say this, but Melissa is a lot more tolerable tonight in Amber’s presence.

I don’t think Auggie and I have gotten to say more than two words to each other without Amber interrupting us.

There are so many of us that we had to break into two lanes. Amber dragged Auggie off to the lane opposite me when teams were being selected. He looked back at me as she pulled him away. I looked away, not wanting to see him feeling sorry. He’s the one who decided to date her.

It’s probably for the best that they are in the next lane.

Thankfully, Logan stayed close to me, so I didn’t feel so out of place.

If Auggie doesn’t want to stand up to his girlfriend, that would be just fine by me.

Like I told him last year, I’m done holding him to some sort of expectation.

He knows how I feel. He knows I only get so much time with him.

I told him that seeing him kissing someone would be hard.

So yeah, no use in beating a dead horse.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I just finished bowling for my turn, so I pull my phone out.

It is a message from Liam. I smile at his response to my previous message.

I had Logan take a video of me rolling a strike.

I sent the video to him and said I was getting in extra practice before we hang out next weekend.

LIAM: Bring it on!

RIVER: Oh I’m going to bring it.

LIAM: I don’t doubt U will. Don’t be too hard on me.

RIVER: You want me to take it easy on you. No way!

LIAM: U take it easy on me? I know U better than that.

RIVER: I guess we’ll find out how well you think you know me. Gotta go, more practicing.

“What’s got you smiling like that?” Logan asks with one eyebrow raised.

“Oh, just texting a friend,” I answer.

“Hey, let’s take a picture of the two of us,” Logan declares and grabs me in a side hug.

Then, he seizes my phone and changes it to selfie mode.

We both make silly faces. Just as he lowers it, I see a message come in from Liam.

I try to grab it, but he raises it above my head while he reads it.

“Who’s Liam? And he says he’s going to show you how much he knows you?

” He’s smirking at me. My face grows hot.

“Well?” he questions again when I don’t respond.

“He’s a boy I go to school with… who I’m kind of talking to.” I shrug it off like it’s no big deal.

“Aw, Riv, do you have your first boyfriend?”

“No, he’s not my boyfriend. We are just hanging out and talking,” I snap, despite myself. I couldn't care less what these people think of me.

He smirks. “Good for you, River. It’s about time.”

I give him a questioning look. Logan just shakes his head.

It’s my turn, so I grab my ball and pitch. Then, Melissa walks over as I return to my chair. I almost forgot she was even here. That’s a first.

“Hey, Melissa,” I say, trying to be friendly.

“How does it feel to be excluded?” She smirks.

“Um, excluded from what?” I question. I know what she’s trying to rub in my face, but I’m not giving her anything.

“Not being included in Auggie’s group. I guess you’re not number one in his life anymore.”

I laugh at her remark. “Melissa, I hate to break it to you, but I have no clue what you’re talking about. We are bowling with a bunch of people. What do you expect?” I sound a lot more nonchalant than I feel. I can’t let her know that it bothers me. She’s such a brat.

Just then, one of the girls playing in our lane comes up to me. “Missy, I think you need to head back over to your neck of the woods.”

Melissa scoffs but turns around and walks away.

I think the girl’s name is Gracie, and I tell her, “Thanks for that. Are you friends?” I hope they aren’t.

“Not really. We all hang out in the same group, but I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her. You know what I mean?”

“I know what you mean. She’s my cousin.”

Her eyes widen like she just stuck her foot in her mouth.

I laugh so hard I bend over. “You should see your face. Don’t worry. The feeling’s mutual when it comes to her.”

She’s still laughing when she says, “Yeah, you had me. I was trying to think of something to backpedal. I don’t usually talk crap about people, but I definitely don’t want to do it to someone’s family.

” She says hesitantly, “I promise your secret is safe with me. I don’t care for her at all.

” She shrugs. “And you looked like you needed saving.”

“Not from her. Believe me, I’ve had enough practice to last a lifetime.”

“So you’re the ‘River’?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Auggie and Logan are always talking about you and how cool you are. I’m assuming that’s why Amber has him all the way in Antarctica to keep him away from you. She must feel threatened by you.” She snorts.

“Clearly. I don’t mean to brag, but I think I’m pretty cool. How do you deal with those girls?” I ask.