Page 20 of This Kind of Forever

I’ll be down in a minute!

Tucking my phone into my crossbody purse, I leave my bedroom. I bound down the stairs and spot Pops in his recliner in the living room, half asleep. Crossing to him, I place a kiss on his cheek. He startles, waking from his nap.

“I’m heading out,” I say.

He smiles up at me. “Did you eat?”

I shake my head, forcing a smile of my own. “Not hungry. I’ll probably have something later.”

Pops reaches out and opens the drawer of the side table. He pulls out his wallet, which is secured with a rubber band because it’s falling apart and he refuses to get another. He carefully unwinds it and then fishes out a couple twenties.

“Here,” he says. “Buy yourself something at the fair.”

I thank him and take the money, knowing full well that I’ll just slip the bills back into his wallet when I get home later tonight. I don’t like taking his money, so I only buy things using what I make from my part-time job at Dockside. For now, though, I tuck the bills away in my purse.

“I’ll see you later, Pops.”

“Bye, Junebug. Have a good time.”

Outside, there’s a bit of a bite to the air, but it’s a relatively mild day for October. Still, I maybe should have grabbed a jacket. It’s too late now, though. I don’t want to keep my friends waiting.

Clara is hanging out the back window of her brother’s truck. I can see her boyfriend, Cooper, sitting beside her. I guess they’re not fighting today. That leaves the front seat, right next to Gabe, to me.

“C’mon, slowpoke!” Clara calls as I hurry down the front path.

I stick my tongue out at her as I pull open the door.

When Gabe’s eyes land on me, my foot falters on the running board. I catch myself before I fall and look like a total fool, but my cheeks still flame in embarrassment. The colour only deepens when Gabe’s lips stretch into a smile.

“Hey, Foster.”

I settle in my seat and buckle my seatbelt. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Clara says, poking her head between the front seats. “Let’sgo!”

“Why are you so impatient?” Gabe asks, but he puts the truck in gear and takes off toward the fairgrounds.

“Why are you driving like a grandpa?” she counters. “I think ouractualgrandpa could drive faster than you.”

I clap a hand over my mouth to stifle my giggle. Heisdriving kind of slow.

“I just got this truck, thank you very much,” he defends. “Excuse me for not wanting to wrap it around a lamppost a week after I bought it.”

The fair is busy tonight, so we end up having to park on a side street and walk to the entrance. Within minutes, we’re sucked into the fray. There are locals and cottagers alike, making our small town feel bigger than it really is.

It doesn’t take long for Clara and Cooper to ditch us. Knowing them, they’ve found a secluded corner to make out in. It’s been like that for the past few months since they started dating—them sneaking away and leaving me on my own.

Except tonight, I’m not on my own.

Gabe is walking beside me, hands in his pockets, as the midway lights dance around us. Kids scream as they’re flipped this way and that on the carnival rides, just asking for motion sickness.

“How come you aren’t with your friends?” I ask.

Then I immediately cringe.Great.Now he’s going to feel like I don’t want him here.

“Connor has the flu,” he replies. “And truthfully…none of the guys are as pretty as you.”

When he says this, he looks at me.Rightat me. One of his signature smiles graces his lips. I don’t know what to do, so I slide my gaze to the ground.