Page 11

Chapter 11

Julia

What is that ringing? I slowly pry my eyes open. After the date, ahem, not-date, last night, I stayed up way too late thinking about it. Cuddling in the bed of the truck, the hot chocolate, the romantic meteor shower. I snuggle deeper in my blanket, covering my face so I can squeal while thinking about it all over again. I love that Graham spent time coming up with something original. He is invested in this. For now, that cruel voice in my head whispers. He is always invested at first. Remember: wrestling, football, baseball, guitar. Even his friends change. Well, that’s not entirely true. He’s always been there for me and Nathan, probably even Chloe.

Chloe! That’s gotta be the ringing. I dig around my bed, trying to figure out where my phone is.

“Hello?” I say, panting a little, which is embarrassing but if anyone asks, I’ve been up for hours jogging or doing yoga or… doing something that people who wake up early do.

“J! What on earth? When did you get home last night? I’ve been waiting for hours for you to call, so finally, I realized you must’ve forgotten about me, and I had to take matters into my own hands.”

I snort, waiting for her to continue. It isn’t my turn to talk yet. Chloe needs to get it out of her system first.

“Okay. So. Tell me everything,” she says, emphasizing each syllable. “What did he check off the list? Did he kiss you? Hold your hand? Walk you to the door? Is this the start of the story I’ll tell at your wedding? I'm the maid of honor—called it! I look awesome in Byzantine.”

“Byzantine? What is that? Brown?”

“Brown?!” she sputters. “Brown? No. Absolutely not. It’s purple. Deep, rich... Never mind. Not the point. We have years to figure that out. The date. Go.”

“It was… awesome.” I sigh. “First, we drove out to Fletcher’s farm, where Nathan was waiting for us.”

“Nathan? Wait, your brother was on your first date with his best friend? I’ve watched a lot of rom-coms and read a lot of books. That is not normal behavior.”

“Whatever, he was there. Graham took me to see the lights. Did you know there was a meteor shower last night? He put a mattress in the back of his truck, covered it with an old rug—”

“An old rug? Seriously?”

“Chloe. Do you want to hear about it or not?”

“Yes, sorry, I do. No more interrupting.” I can imagine her miming locking her lips.

“Ha, sure. Anyways, Nate drove us around the field while we listened to Disney music. Then, we drank hot chocolate and watched the meteors. It was perfect. Well, mostly perfect.” I tell her about getting sprayed with the giant sprinkler, and she starts laughing so hard, I am sure she is crying.

“Amazing. Amazing. This is good news. He can’t bat a thousand right out of the gate. We need time to grow, get a few first downs, ya know?”

“Do you know how many sports you just referenced?”

“Nope. Don’t know, don’t care. But I do care about Graham. So, truck, music, lights, magic carpet ride. Did he kiss you in the sprinkler rain?” I imagine her bouncing her eyebrows, and I shake my head.

“Of course not. No kissing. It wasn’t a real date,” I say, deciding at that moment to keep the kiss on the cheek my little secret. It wasn’t that big of a deal and I know that Chloe would freak out that I made the first move.

“Are you reminding me or you? Just admit it. Real date. Real guy. Real feelings. You can do it!” Chloe shouts enthusiastically. I’ve always thought she should be a cheerleader, but she says she doesn't like sports enough for that.

“So, what are you up to today?” I ask, changing the subject in the least subtle way possible.

“I’ll allow it,” Chloe concedes. “Today, I have no plans. Wanna hang out?”

“I thought we could text Josie and see if she wants to hang out? I want to figure out where she lives. The house down the street finally sold, and I am really hoping she lives there.”

“That would be awesome. We’d all be so close together. I’ll head over in a little bit. Want me to text her?”

“Nah, it’s okay. I’ll do it. See you soon.” I click off my phone, roll out of bed and head toward the bathroom. Right as I reach the door, it swings open, Nathan standing there in only a towel.

“Dude. Clothes,” I say, brushing past him.

“That’s where I’m headed,” Nathan says, walking across the hallway. “What are you up to today?”

I grab my toothbrush and start brushing my teeth.“Ahm gong ta shee if Joshe wans ta hong out wit ma an Chloe,” I say around my toothbrush.

“Yeah, I didn’t catch any of that.” Nathan leans against his bedroom door jamb. “I’ll get dressed and come back to ask again.” After I’m done in the bathroom and back in my room texting Josie, Nathan taps on my door.

“Ready to try again?” Nathan teases.

“I’m going to see if Josie wants to hang out with me and Chloe. Nothing special, I just want her to feel welcome,” I say.

“Josie?” Nathan perks up. “Can I come?”

I laugh at his eager expression. “Sure. But watch out, I’m pretty sure she’s a huge flirt and not that particular. Besides, I’m not sure she even knows you exist.”

“Please. We can take care of that. Who wouldn’t want this once they see it?” Nathan gestures to his body.

“Gross. And need I remind you, she's already seen you.”

Nathan laughs. “Whatever. Are you inviting your new boyfriend? I’m sure he’d drop whatever plans he has. Graham is so into you.”

“He’s not mine.”

“No, Jules. He is totally yours. You just won’t admit that you’re his. Let me know what Josie says.” Nathan taps his knuckle on my door before leaving me to my thoughts.

***

An hour later, our doorbell rings and the door swings open. “Hello? Pritchetts? I’m he-re! And I brought Josie!” Chloe sings, as she walks into our house. She always rings the doorbell first as a warning because of how her parents are, before she walks in.

“Hey!” I jump up from the couch to give them both hugs. “Welcome. I was so excited when Chloe texted me this morning that you were the family that moved in down the street. We can hang out all the time. If you want, we can carpool to school. We already ride with Graham and Chloe.”

“Graham, huh?” Josie’s eyes widen with interest.

“Down, girl.” Chloe says. “Julia will deny it all day long, but they’re a thing. You haven’t gotten to see them together too much because Graham had lunch detention a few days last week, but they are end game. One hundred percent.”

“I thought you were acting a little jealous, but you said you weren’t interested, and I don’t know you that well yet. So what’s the deal?”

“No deal. He’s Nate’s best friend,” I fiddle with the fake plant on the end table. “He flirts with me because he’s always around. He loves to flirt and tease.”

“Yeah, no, that’s not true,” Nathan says as he comes down the stairs. “You think he’s doing the entire list because of proximity? I don’t think so.”

“List? What list?” Josie asks. Chloe and Nathan turn to me, obviously waiting for me to answer.

“I made a list for my future boyfriend when I was, like, seven years old. Stupid stuff-—bring me a lollipop, take me to the lights, watch me sing—and Graham is trying to convince me that he likes me long-term by completing the list.”

“Okay, that’s adorable. I love this. But I don’t get it. Do you like him? Why not just date him? It’s only high school; you don’t need to be eternally committed to him.”

I take a deep breath, ready to end this conversation. “Why does everyone keep saying that? It’s not that simple. He’s Nathan’s best friend. Our parents are besties. What if we started dating, and then he got bored and broke my heart? That would suck. I don’t want to put my brother or my parents in that position. Now, Graham is great. We all love him. But we aren’t in love with him. Let’s move on.”

Nathan cocks his head, a little surprised by this and opens his mouth to disagree, I’m sure. Chloe cuts him off before he has the chance.

“Well, I am a little bit in love with him, but whatever. We can move on.” Chloe jokes.

“Me, too,” Josie agrees.

“Oh, yeah, absolutely. Total bromance,” Nathan adds. I shake my head at them before heading toward the kitchen.

“How about some cookies?” I ask.