Page 12

Chapter Twelve

“You don’t have to wait with me.” I shift from foot to foot, wishing Dylan would start up his motorcycle and drive away already. “I’m perfectly capable of standing and not hurting myself.”

With a wounded expression, he replies, “That’s not the safety I’m worried about. This isn’t exactly the best neighborhood.”

“Well, it’s my neighborhood. I think it’s just fine.”

Dylan closes his eyes for a moment or two longer than a standard blink. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult your neighborhood.”

“Seriously, if I were going home, I’d be walking. I’m probably safer standing in front of the shelter than I would be walking.” I make a shooing motion. “Go!”

Dylan rocks his motorcycle until it’s up on its kickstand and makes himself comfortable by leaning against the backrest.

“That’s convenient.” I point to the bar he leans against.

“The sissy bar? It’s convenient for my passengers too. Sure you don’t want a ride? ”

I grimace. “No way. And is it really called a sissy bar?”

Dylan nods.

“And you teased me for using the word potty?”

Dylan smirks, and this nod seems to say, “Point to Ava.”

Things had been pretty awkward between us since the water fight, so I’m surprised he’s so insistent about staying. Imagining Bek and Sam’s reaction when they get here, I groan. “Can you please leave?”

“You are literally begging.” He frowns. “Is it that difficult for you to be around me?”

I squint at him, again wondering if he’s setting me up for some joke I can’t see coming. “No, my friends will tease me if they find us together.”

Dylan’s brows arch and suddenly he looks pleased, which can’t be good. “Will they? And why is that?”

“Because they are my friends and friends tease each other.” I know I suck at lying, but maybe Dylan hasn’t figured that out yet.

He purses his lips—distracting—and stands up, straddling his bike. “Fair enough. Are you sure you’re safe?”

“Yes.” Is he really going to leave?

He rocks his bike forward until it falls off the kickstand and thumbs the ignition. The bike purrs to life. “See you tomorrow.”

Mouth agape, I watch as Dylan drives out of the parking lot and down the street. Did he just do me a favor? On purpose? What was that all about?

The crunch of tires announces Sam’s car before the blaring music does. I look up the street one last time, but Dylan has disappeared. I tug the back passenger door open and climb inside. “Hey girls.”

Bek turns around and smiles as Sam pulls out of the parking lot. Bek says something, but I can’t hear over the radio and Sam singing at the top of her voice. I know there is nothing to do but wait for the song to be over. Bek and I join in on the chorus. I grin happily as I stare out the window and sing along.

When the music ends, Sam lowers the volume. “Hey Ava!”

“Are you in love again?”

“You know it!” Sam exclaims. “Barista Boy is sooooooo sweet.”

I glance at Bek, expecting her to mention how sweet Dylan is, but instead, I see her confused look. “What’s wrong, Bek?”

“I thought you went out with Josh last night, Sam?”

Sam lets her head fall back against the headrest and growls. “Josh is Barista Boy, Bek!”

“Why didn’t you just call him Josh, then?” Bek stares dreamily out the passenger window.

Sam and I make eye contact in the rearview mirror, and I laugh when Sam’s eyes bug out.

“Where did you go?” I attempt to get Sam back on target.

“First, he showed up with a single rose.”

I sigh. “How romantic!”

“Then we went down to the Riverwalk for dinner. Afterward, we wandered across the street to the park and watched a jazz band that was playing.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Wow, that’s a great date!”

“I know!” Sam grins. “It helps that he works down there and always knows what’s going on.”

“When do you see him again?”

Sam sighs. “Tomorrow afternoon.”

“So soon. Must be serious.” I wink at Sam when she glances in the mirror.

“Don’t be silly, Ava,” she says, pulling into the parking lot at Philly’s. “I’ll never get serious.”

An unexpected thrill races through me at the thought that Dylan might show up again. I immediately scold my errant thoughts. I do not need to see him again so soon. Then I grimace. I hope Rex Diller doesn’t show up either. If he does, he’ll probably stay far away from me.

We claim the same three seats we sat at last week and order the same three dinners. We really are creatures of habit.

“I’m thinking about getting a job,” I blurt. I hadn’t planned on telling the girls anything about my potential job search until after I’d secured one. I’m not sure why it suddenly spilled out of my mouth.

“Are you sure?” Sam looks concerned. “Won’t it be hard to work and go to school?”

I shrug. “Joel does it and he was in soccer.”

“Why do you want to work?” she asks.

“I want to be able to move out right after graduation. Joel is moving out with a couple of friends on July first, and it made me realize he’s been working toward this goal for a year now.”

“You could always move into my house,” Sam says. She looks at Bek. “You both could! Mom and Dad wouldn’t mind. Heck, they probably wouldn’t even know.”

“That’s nice of you to offer, Sam. But you’re planning to go to college, and I’ll be lucky if I can squeak out some classes at the community college.” I pick at the corners of my napkin. “Whatever I do, I’ll have to do it on my own. I want to do it on my own.”

Bek’s usually distracted air suddenly becomes laser-focused on me. She does this from time to time, but it’s always unnerving. “I admire that you’re thinking so far ahead. You’re so strong, Ava.”

I blush. “Thanks. I’m thinking about trying the pet store down the street from my house. I can walk, which is better than having to figure out a bus schedule, and my experience at the shelter should help.”

Sam’s smile looks despondent.

“What’s wrong?” I ask .

My beautiful, amazon friend shrugs and looks between Bek and me. “I guess I’m just sad that we are moving into this phase. You two are my world and I’m not really good at the whole “sharing” thing.”

Bek reaches across the table to clasp Sam’s hand. “We may have less time together as we start working and dating, and stuff, but we’ll always be best friends.”

“Dating?” I bark out a laugh. “Sam’s the only one who does that. I don’t see that changing for me in the future.”

Sam waggles her eyebrows. “Bek, is there something you want to tell us?”

The poor girl looks mortified as we wait expectantly. “No! I’m not…I don’t…No.”

I chuckle. “You’re right though, Bek. Eventually , it’ll probably happen for us. At least that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Bek cocks her head, her usual dreamy expression back on her face as she smiles at me. “I was actually thinking about you and Dylan. You’ll get a job and then want to see him when you aren’t working. Sam and I will barely see you.”

I rock back in my chair. “I do not know where you’re getting the idea that anything will ever happen between Oak Grove High’s bad boy and me. Bad boys do not date clumsy girls.”

But as I talk, my skin heats with the memory of the water fight and how sexy Dylan looked with his shirt forming to his muscles and his long bangs dripping over his intense gaze. At first, I was caught up in the hilarity of the fight. Then, embarrassed by the awkwardness of it, but thinking back now, I realize it might be the most sensual moment of my whole life. I have to fight to keep from fanning myself.

An unexpected quiet draws my attention back to the restaurant and my friends, who are both staring at me expectantly. “What?”

Sam smirks. “Oh, I think something is going on, for sure. It looks to me like you have a story to tell.”

I blush even harder and know I’ll never convince them that nothing is going on, so I share the highlights of the day, starting with Dylan leaving the gate open and ending with the water fight.

Halfway through the story, Bek props her chin on her hand, and I can tell she’s soaking up every word. “That’s so romantic,” she sighs when I finish.

Sam scoffs. “Romantic, shmomantic. That’s hot! Dang, girl, I’ve never had that hot of a moment with anyone I’ve dated.”

“Oh, come on, Sam. I find that hard to believe.” I point around the room at three boys who stare longingly at her.

Sam sighs. “I’m not saying I don’t enjoy my dates. But they are always trying to make something crazy sexy like that happen, but in the end, it’s just a staged event. Singing outside my window, a locker stuffed with rose petals, a promposal on the screen at the movies.”

“The car cover promposal,” Bek adds. “That was clever.”

Sam shrugs. “They’re all romantic gestures, but only because of the thought and planning that went into making them happen. A steamy water fight where you end up in his arms? That’s hot.”

I squeal and bury my face in my hands. “It really was!”

We giggle together, and Sam claps her hands excitedly. “Do you think he’ll ask you out?”

I sober then. “No. I really don’t. We have nothing in common. We’re stuck working together for however long he has to do his community service.” I slap my hand over my mouth, realizing what I just admitted. The girls laugh. It’s obvious they knew that’s why he was there. I clear my throat to continue. “Anyway, he has zero interest in me. And if I’m honest, I think he’s really good-looking, but he kind of scares me.”

“He scares you because he makes you feel things,” Sam says. “Like butterflies and heart palpitations.”

I groan. “It’s more like drones and heart attacks.”

Sam pats my hand. “You just go ahead and have a crush. It’s fun, doesn’t hurt anyone, and we’ll help you through it.”

“What do you mean?”

Bek leans forward with interest as well.

“I love the crush stage so much.” Sam sighs with pleasure. “Before the guy knows that you like him, and you anticipate what might happen when you see him next. The thrill when he touches your hand or brushes past you. The crush stage is absolutely my favorite.”

“Wow, you make it sound great.” I grimace. “Why do I feel so miserable?”

“Trust me.” Sam nods. “It is great. Don’t anticipate that anything will ever develop between you, just enjoy your secret feelings whenever he’s around. It’s the best. Promise.”

I raise my eyebrows at Bek. “What do you think?”

Bek giggles. “I think I want to find someone to have a crush on.”

Sam winks. “You know it, girl.”

I look around at all the boys who probably harbor their own crush on Sam in that moment. They all appear slightly miserable. Maybe Sam’s advice to not anticipate that anything will come of it is the key to just enjoying it. I absolutely love the feel of my pulse racing and the anticipation of seeing Dylan.

I sit back in my chair with a decisive nod. “Okay, I’m gonna do it.”