Page 89 of Let's Talk About Love

“You are,” she challenged.

“I’m trying not to.”

“You’re not trying very hard,” he said. “You haven’t told me to go away.”

“I already have plans tonight. Sorry.”

“What about some other time? An hour’s not that far,” he said.“How about this: I give you my number and if you feel like it, call me sometime?”

“Um,” Alice said, trying to stall. She wanted to say no, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Asking people out washard. It took a lot of confidence (at least it did for her). Maybe he’d take it in stride. Or maybe he wouldn’t.

(Maybe he’d call her ugly or fat or something else that didn’t seem to matter to him two minutes ago.)

(Maybehewas the serial killer.)

(God,whydid she think that? She wouldn’t be able to unthink it now.)

Take his number, she reasoned.No pressure.

She set down the bag and umbrella, exchanging them for her phone. “Okay. What’s your name?”

“TJ.” He recited his number to her. When she looked up to say good-bye, he was staring over her shoulder.

Takumi. He picked up the bag and umbrella. “Ready?” is all he said.

“Yeah.” She turned back. “Bye.”

“Hold on,” TJ said, smiling. “Don’t you think you’re taking this mermaid thing too far? Are you really not going to tell me your name?”

“I thought I was a siren?”

“Same difference.” He shrugged.

“Not really.” She shook her head. “If I call you, I’ll tell you.”

“If.”He began to walk backward. “If.” He waved once, smiling bright as the sun, and began to jog back down the beach.

In the car, Alice turned her phone over in her hands, thinking. She had three missed calls from Aisha. None from her parents.

The day had been both awful and surprising. For a few hours she was able to forget her parents potentially hated her. The guilt for indulging in those few stolen moments of joy tethered itself to her ankle, dragging her further into sorrow.

Nothing else was supposed to matter except the Call of (Ill-Fated) Destiny.

“Did you just delete his number?” Takumi smiled as if he were happy to see her doing it. A shiver of possibility ran through her.

She winced. More guilt latched on. She wasn’t supposed to think about Takumi either.

“Eyes on the road. You’re driving precious cargo,” she said. “And yes. Why would I keep it?”

“If you weren’t interested, why did you take it?”

“It’s easier that way. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

“I’d rather not.” She sighed. Her chest felt heavier than normal. That was always so strange—how her emotions could seemingly change her body chemistry. “Besides, I’m very selective about who I date now. I made a new rule.”

“Which is?”