“It’s okay.” The nurse shook her head with a kind smile. “We’ll put her on something different. It’s times like these when we really wish dogs could communicate with us, huh?”
While I was sure Gracie would sound exactly like she did in my head if shecouldtalk, I was also pretty convinced she wouldn’t be able to keep a secret (like Lady Whistledown) and let everyone know how in distress I’d actually been over everything lately. Nobody needed to know that.
“I’m going to go see how Nikki’s doing.” Mom turned to me and gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. Her eyebrows lifted as her eyes darted between Brooklyn and me, and I could only hope that only I could see her curious suspicion because I knew her well.
I heaved out a sigh after she retreated down to the exam room. “Now you really don’t need to stay.”
He snorted. “Damn, you really want me gone, huh?”
“No,” I blurted, feeling my face flush. “No, I—”
“I’m kidding.”
I let out a wry chuckle and pulled at the worn-down bottom hem of my T-shirt. As all the adrenaline began wearing off, I noticed the cold dampness weighing down my body. But he radiated warmth, and without consciously trying to, I inched closer to him just to feel it.
“You were right, you know,” I told him.
“I know.” His smirk widened, and then faltered. “About what?”
“About everything being okay.”
“Oh, well.” He gave me a one-shoulder shrug, and dug his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “No point in thinking otherwise.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you.”
It only took him a split second to realize the gravity of his words, but thankfully he seemed too preoccupied with fumbling to redeem himself that he didn’t notice my cheeks flush.
“I wanted to say, um.” He gave me a sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re a good friend.”
That was the reality check I unfortunately needed. Because that was exactly what we were—good friends. And that wasfine. That was how it should be. I didn’t need to be worrying about what had happened the night before, or anything else he wasn’t willing to share. Friends didn’t try to fix each other.
I pinched my lips together and nodded. “So are you.”
“Anyway.” He took a very intentional step backward. “The state fair is next weekend. Me and my sister and our friends usually go every year, so, if you need something to do, or something. I mean, you and Nikki.”
“That sounds fun.” I offered him a smile. “As good friends, of course.”
“Of course,” he echoed. We shared a laugh, holding each other’s gaze for what felt like a bit too long forgood friends. A large family came bursting in pushing a cat in a wagon, shattering whatever moment we had.
“Excuse me! My cat’s in labor!” one of the younger girls cried as they sped past us.
“I am actually gonna go now,” Brooklyn said as he turned his attention back to me. “But I’ll text you.”
He took a few steps backward to leave, stumbling over a garbage can by the front desk.
“Shit,” he hissed as he collected himself, his face flushing bright red. Endearing, as usual.
I chuckled and shook my head at him, watching him back out of the glass double doors and jog out to his Jeep, dodging puddles and raindrops with a gracefulness nobody of his size should have.
Sure we laughed, and sure it was funny for now, but I did need to remind myself of the reality of the situation, because the more I realized how much I liked being around him, the easier it was to forget that we should be just friends. Maybe in another life, we wouldn’t be.
June 7
Hey Dad,
It rained all day today, and it was one of those king tides that makes everything on the coast flood more than usual.
