Page 18 of Another Love, Another Time

I took my driving test today and passed!

River and her mom are currently on their way here.

I wanted to drive down to see River, but I don’t think my parents are ready for me to drive that far.

My dad passed his old truck down to me. They don’t feel confident that it would make it to her house.

River had talked her mom into driving up instead this weekend, so I could drive her around just like I always promised I would.

One of my friends is having a party tonight in honor of my birthday.

He probably just wanted an excuse to have a party.

River has never been to any of the parties here.

She’s met some of my friends, so she should be able to have a good time.

Her mom and dad said it was okay for her to go out with me.

They trust that I won’t let anything happen to her.

I promised I wouldn’t leave her side for a second.

I text River to see how far away they are.

River: About an hour away

As soon as I got my license today, I sent a picture of it to River.

River: No fair. I have to wait a couple more months. Proud of you, Aug!

River: Can’t wait to see you!

My parents are taking the family out to dinner.

We’re just waiting for Aunt Ashley and River to arrive.

We’re going to one of those hibachi grills where they cook the food right in front of you and throw eggs at your face.

It’s River’s and my favorite place to eat.

I’m about to jump in the shower to get ready when I get another text.

River: Are your parents going to let you drive us over to the restaurant?

Auggie: Yeah, we can leave from there for the party. Or do you need time to get ready?

River: You know I don’t care. We can just leave after. I’ll get ready in the car right now.

Auggie: Hopping in the shower, see ya when u get here

I finish getting ready just in time for River and Aunt Ashley’s arrival. Aunt Ashley hops in the van with my mom and dad, and River and I get in my truck to leave for the restaurant. We let them go ahead.

When River gets in, she hands me my birthday presents: a T-shirt that says, “Caution: new driver,” a Captain America keychain, and some new sunglasses. She calls it my “driver’s kit.” She also got me a gift card to Walmart with “GAS MONEY” written on it.

“My mom and dad chipped in for the gas card. They figured you could use it,” she explains.

“Thanks, River.” I flash my best smile, rip the tags off the shirt she got me, and pull my current shirt off.

She giggles. “What are you doing, Auggie?”

“I’m wearing my new shirt. What do you think? How does it look?” I spin for her to admire the new shirt on me.

“You know you don’t need your ego fed; you could make a paper sack look good.”

“So, you’re saying I look good?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “You know you do. Start driving, big head. I’m getting hangry.”

After we eat, I feel like I need to be rolled out of the restaurant. Man, I’m miserable. I think River feels the same way. I’m not quite ready to go to the party. Not a lot of people will be there just yet; it’s still a little early.

Reading my thoughts, River asks, “Who all will be at the party tonight? Anyone I’ve met before?”

“Yeah, well, you know Logan will be there. I think you met Gracie and Kyle and a few of the others. Amber will be there, but you don’t have to worry about her. She’s on, like, her sixth boyfriend since me.” I smile slyly.

“What about Melissa? Am I going to be forced to be in her presence tonight?” she asks.

“Probably. I usually see her at all the parties. She hangs out in our group.”

She nods. “Let’s go get some snacks and drinks for tonight. I know that I’ll get thirsty tonight, and I don’t want to be tempted to drink anything if I get thirsty.”

I put my turn signal on so that I can head towards Walmart. I can’t imagine how she’s thinking about food right now, but River is always thinking ahead.

When we arrive at the party, Kyle already has the bonfire going. There are people standing around the fire and sitting on the tailgates of trucks that have been backed up to the fire. I pull up and start to back into the last empty spot by the fire.

River looks over, smiles, and says, “Man, there are a lot of people here, Mr. Popular.”

I see Kyle walking towards my window and comment, “We better get out, or they’ll drag us out.”

We both hop out and go around to the back of the truck. I put my tailgate down and move the cooler closer to the edge so it's easier for River to reach it. Kyle reaches us. He already has a beer in his hand and is trying to give me one. “Nah, man,” I say. “I’m not drinking tonight.”

“What? You have to. It’s your birthday!” he encourages.

“I know, but I’m not drinking. I have to drive River back home tonight. If I drink, her parents won’t trust me again.”

“That sucks, man.” He looks at River. “No offense.”

She just shrugs. “He’s the one who agreed to it.

” She hops onto the back of the truck. She’s wearing cut-off jean shorts, the shirt that has us in the bathtub together, and her red Converse.

Her golden hair is down now, but I know it won’t be long until it’s pulled up into a ponytail.

She brought one of my old hoodies to wear just in case she gets cold.

She said she had started wearing makeup, but I don’t notice any.

She’s beautiful without it. I’m glad she’s never felt the need to wear a lot.

Breaking me out of my thoughts, she asks, “Auggie, you want something to drink?”

“Yeah. Can you just get me a water?”

She shuffles through the cooler, brings out two bottles of water, and throws me one. I untwist the cap and chug down half of it.

“Woah, slow down,” she says. “We’re going to have to pace you tonight if you keep that up.

” She laughs and then holds her hand out, wanting me to help her down.

Instead of grabbing her hand, I grab her by the hips and throw her over my shoulder.

She squeals, “Let me down, Aug!” I start to let her down headfirst on my backside. “Auggie, no!”

“I thought you wanted down?” I taunt.

“You know what I meant.”

I bend over in the front and make sure she’s planted firmly on the ground, but I don’t let her go. I wrap her up in a hug and press my lips to her forehead. God, I love when it’s just the two of us like this.

I’ve had other girlfriends since Amber. I actually just broke up with one a few weeks ago. I recently made the decision that I won’t have a girlfriend when River is around. I want all my focus on her anyway. She deserves it.

“Hey, River!” Logan screams across the bonfire.

River steps back, but she lets me continue to hold her.

Logan walks towards us and wraps her in a big hug.

I know Logan doesn’t like her that way. She’s more of a sister to him than I have ever thought of her, but I still feel a tinge of jealousy.

I want to be the only person she’s hugging.

A lot of my friends come up and wish me a happy birthday while also wanting to check out my new ride. Gracie brought a cake and candles. Everyone sings “Happy Birthday.” I’m sure the cake will be gone before the end of the night. I give Gracie a hug to thank her for thinking of me.

Melissa heads toward River and me. The last couple of years, Melissa and River have stayed away from one another.

Occasionally, Melissa throws a snide remark at River when all our families get together, but for the most part, they don’t speak.

However, Melissa tries to attach herself to me at school and at these parties.

I usually don’t say anything. I don’t think it’s a big deal.

I let her sit at our table when we are at parties so I can make sure no one takes advantage of her.

Our families are still friends. I would hate for something to happen to her when there is something that I could have done.

Tonight, with River being here, it will throw off the normal routine. It won’t matter if River is in Melissa’s world or not; she will not go out of her way to be nice to Melissa. Melissa is used to being the center of attention, but with River here, no one is paying attention to Melissa.

Melissa greets us, “Hey, Aug. Happy birthday. Let me guess: River got you that shirt?” She rolls her eyes while giving me a side hug; she stays there a little longer than I feel comfortable with, and I gently shrug out of the hug.

As always, River ignores her. When Melissa sees she’s not going to get a reaction, she moves on to the others.

River is fitting in with my core group of friends.

They are playing around, telling stories about me. They think they’re funny, but I don’t.

River tries to get my attention, and I excuse myself from my current conversation.

She tells me she has to pee. I grab the toilet paper out of my glove box, and then we head into the woods so she can pop a squat.

I turn around so she can have some privacy, even though it's dark, and I can barely see my hand in front of my face. I know everyone here, but there are some I don’t trust as far as I can throw them.

I definitely wouldn’t chance it, especially with some of them drinking. I would never let someone hurt her.

I wish her family lived closer so that we could be together.

I suddenly feel the urge to kiss her. It’s dark, so no one would see—not like I would care.

It’s been a while since we kissed. Kissing her is so much better than kissing any other girl.

She doesn’t know how many I’ve kissed, and I don’t plan to tell her.

I think she would be disappointed. She kissed one guy besides me, and that pissed me off when I heard about it.

I hear her pull up her shorts. “River, you done?” I speak into the dark.