Page 8

Chapter Eight

“Gotcha something.” I hand Ava the wrapped book. I figured since I got it for her, I might as well present it like a gift. I chose pink wrapping paper decorated with heart-shaped bubbles. The bow is also pink.

Summertime is the best because Ava and Bek can spend the night even though it’s Sunday. They both work tomorrow, but I’ll drop them off together. I miss having them around on the weekends. Responsibility sucks!

“What is this for?” Ava eyes the package suspiciously.

At first, her caution irks me, but when I think back, I realize I don’t give presents often. Especially when there isn’t a holiday or birthday.

Bek giggles. “Just open it.”

I give Bek an appreciative smile while Ava carefully tears the paper open.

“Oh my god, Sam. This is amazing. How did you know?” She looks at Bek. “Have I said something about this book, or something?”

I perk up. “So, it’s a good choice? ”

“Yeah, it’s great!” She fans through the pages. “I don’t get it…”

She comes to the gift receipt stuck into the book at the beginning of chapter one, along with a bookmark for Beckett’s. And she grins. “Oh my gosh, Sam. You went to see Bookstore Boy!”

I bury my face in my hands and squeal. “I’ve been twice.”

“What!” Ava cries. “Why am I just now hearing about it?”

I slap my hands into my lap and whine. “You’ve been so busy!”

“Hello. Text.” She waves her phone in the air.

There’s a knock on my bedroom door just before Mom and Dad push through.

“There was a pizza delivered for you.” Dad holds the box over his shoulder, balanced on the tips of his fingers like a waiter with a tray.

Mom carries an actual tray ladened with three tall glasses filled with ice and sparkling water. From the fruit garnish, I’m guessing they are raspberry-flavored waters.

“Very fancy, Mrs. Jones,” Ava says. “Thank you.”

“There aren’t any anchovies on that pizza, are there, Mr. Jones?” Bek asks.

I point at Bek and look at Mom with wide eyes. She chuckles.

“Never, Bek. No anchovies can enter this house. We had a special anchovy ward installed years ago by a local wizard when you discovered your fish allergy.”

“You did?” Bek’s eyes are wide with wonder.

Indecision crosses Dad’s face and I laugh out loud. “We did, Bek.”

She looks at me. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Uhhhh…” I shrug.

Now Ava, Mom, and Dad are laughing too.

Bek looks at Dad in all seriousness. “Thank you, Mr. Jones. That means a lot to me.”

His laugh fades into an unsure smile. His brow is knit. He clearly has no idea if Bek is serious or not. Welcome to my world, Dad.

Mom unloads some paper plates and napkins from the tray. “We’re going out with the Houstons tonight. We’re trying that new Asian fusion restaurant.”

Dad looks at Bek. “They definitely serve fish there.”

She shrinks into the ball chair like he held an anchovy in front of her face. “I won’t be visiting that place, thank you.”

“Girls?” Mom looks from Ava to Bek. “Do you have anything to wear to the wedding? It’s formal, you know.”

Bek nods but Ava bites her lip.

“I realize it’s still months away, but if you’d like for me to take you shopping, I’m happy to,” Mom offers.

Her generosity makes my heart swell. But the shuttered expression on Ava’s face makes me bite my lip.

“I can’t take you up on that, Mrs. Jones,” my friend says. “Thank you, though.”

I look at Ava. “You should wear one of my dresses. I have so many and honestly, I’ll never wear them again.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Sam,” Mom says.

Ava nods. “Thanks, I would love to do my part in making sure your wardrobe is used sufficiently.”

I can see the wheels in Mom’s head turning, trying to figure out how she can pay to get the dress altered to fit Ava without offending her. I catch her eye and wink, letting her know I’ll help her out. She relaxes and turns toward the door. “You girls enjoy your evening.”

“You too,” we chorus together.

Dad winks and waves.

As soon as they pull the door closed, Ava pounces on me .

“Tell me all about Brent. What did you think? Is he totally smitten? Oh my gosh, you two would have beautiful babies.”

“Gross, Ava.” I laugh.

Bek pauses in her quest for pizza and looks at Ava with concern. “I’m not sure I agree with that. What color would their hair end up? Would it be somewhere between his brown and her blond? What if they got his square jaw and her prominent cheekbones? Would that make their features too sharp to be appealing?”

My mouth hangs open. I can’t believe she’s talking about how our kids might be ugly. Ava has the same shocked expression on her face as I do.

Then Bek’s breezy smile lights her face. “Just kidding.”

Ava and I make noises of protest at the same time.

We crawl off the bed to get our own pizza. Ava’s foot tangles in the bedspread somehow and she falls forward onto the cushy carpet.

“You okay?” I ask, offering her a hand.

“Of course.” She sighs.

When we’re seated again, I tell Ava about my first visit and then tell them both about my second.

“Bridget says next time I go in I should talk to him about things that aren’t book related to see if we have anything in common.”

Bek leans her head back against the bubble wall and stares up into its black depths. “That’s a good idea. Even though he seems suspicious about you suddenly showing up, he likely hasn’t considered it’s because of him.”

Ava nods slowly. “Why don’t you just ask him out? Isn’t that what you’ve done with the other boys?”

I wag a hand back and forth. “Kind of. They showed interest, so it didn’t seem strange for me to ask them out. Brent is giving me nothing.”

“When do you plan to go back? ”

“This week. The new copy of that magazine we both like will be available.”

“Oh, that gives you something to talk about,” Bek says.

“But it’s reading. So, it isn’t telling me anymore about him than I already know.”

“Oh, that’s true.” She sounds like a fairy who lost her wings.

“At least it could get a conversation going, though,” Ava says. “And from there, maybe you can ask what else he likes to do when he isn’t reading or selling books.”

I brighten. “That sounds logical.” I pound the back of my head against my headboard. “Why am I having such a difficult time talking to this boy?”

“It sounds like he matters a little more than the others.” Ava’s expression questions if that’s true or not.

I rub my lips together. “I don’t know if it’s the challenge of getting him to show interest in me, or the fact that you suggested him in the first place, or what, but I get tongue-tied and giddy when I’m around him, and it isn’t like me. I don’t like it!” Mostly. But I don’t want to admit that a part of me enjoys the challenge and the thrill of anticipation.

“You’ll figure it out, Sam,” Bek says. “I believe in you.”

I look from Bek to Ava, and I realize they both believe in me. I take a deep breath and nod. “I believe in me, too. Now, what do you want to watch?”

I pick up the remote and start browsing.