“I was on the playground, and this boy got hurt.”
Marvin’s lips make an oval. “Is he okay?”
“Oh yeah, only a scrape. But there was blood. And dirt.”
“Typical.”
“And mud. And it was gross and germy, and I took this other boy’s filthy hand and walked them to the nurse and stayed with them the entire time.”
“How many napkins and wipes?”
“None!” My cheeks rise, and my face absorbs the sunlight, bright and warm.
Marvin’s eyebrows shoot off like fireworks, retreating behind his curly mop.
“I know. Kent said it’s adrenaline. But after, I was so … ” I pause, glancing at Illona, pull my lips in, and shake my head.
“Use pig latin.”
“Excuse me?”
“Pig latin. My mother always used it on the phone when she didn’t want me to understand. Take the first sound off the word and add it to the end with an ‘ay’ after. So I’m Arvin-May, and you’re Incent-Vay.”
“Marvin Block, from the first moment we met, you’ve confused me. You still do.”
“Just try it … ” he says. “The adrenaline. You were so … ”
I look around, wondering if anyone at the nearby tables understands pig latin, and quietly, through clenched teeth, say, “Orny-Hay. For Ent-Kay.”
Marvin nods, a smirk on his lips.
“You wanted his ock-cay, right?”
My ears burn, and warmth creeps over my head.
“Up-yay. In my … oat-thray.”
Marvin’s smile erupts into laughter, and I join him. Illona, sipping her milk, never breaks contact with her tablet. I’ve come so far in the last year since we’ve become friends. Talking. Sharing. Opening up. The smiles and laughter we share make my heart so damn happy.
“You like him. A lot. I can tell,” Marvin says.
“How can you tell?”
“You have a look on your face.” He nods slowly. “I can feel it in my bones. You’re bashert.”
“I do. I like him. A lot. That’s what worries me.”
“Stop worrying.”
“Says the self-proclaimed King of Worrying.”
“It’s my crown.” Marvin mimics placing a crown atop his curls. “You can’t have it.”
I smile at my ability to volley so playfully with Marvin. But how did Kent and I get to this place? “Sure, it started with … ”
“His ock-cay in your outh-may.” Marvin winks.
“Yes, but there’s more. He’s sweet. Patient. But also, clumsy. A mess. And kind. Sweet. And yes, hot. I thought we’d just be friends. Then the benefits kept showing up.”
