“Right?”
“Maybe we can go together,” Sam says. “I’m sure they’ll sell tickets at the door.”
“I’d love that.”
“Cool.”
I glance at Mika. She smiles to herself as she sips her milkshake, appearing very pleased.
It was at this moment that I decided to like her. I started looking forward to those days she would tag along with us. I especially loved it when she’d send Sam on random fetch quests to give us a moment to chat—often about him. Like that time we were at the Wenatchee Valley Museum, looking at the Ice Age exhibit, and she made Sam go get her jacket from the car.
Mika leans her nose to the glass case, examining a mammoth bone. “How was your weekend in Seattle?”
“It was fun. It rained most of the time, though. What about yours?”
“Sam and I rewatchedAvatar: The Last Airbender,” she says. “One of his favorite shows. He asked me about you.”
“Oh?”
She taps the glass, even though we’re not supposed to. “About what I thought about you, that is,” she says.
“And what did you say? If you don’t mind me asking…”
“I said I liked you better than other girls at school,” Mika says. “Which, frankly, isn’t saying too much, considering where we live.”
“I’ll still take that as a compliment.”
“As you should,” Mika says, nodding. “My approval is very important to Sam. He knows I have very good intuition. Especially about people.” She looks at me. “I hope I’m right.”
Eventually Sam returns from the car.
“You never brought a jacket,” he says.
Mika slaps her forehead. “I totally forgot.” She checks her watch. “Anyway, I’m late for work. I should really go.”
“What do you meanwork?” Sam asks. “It was your idea to come here.”
“It slipped my mind,” Mika says. “You two can finish the exhibit without me.”
“How are you getting back?” I ask.
“My mom’s picking me up. She should be here any second now.” Mika checks her phone. “Gotta go. Have fun, you two.”
This isn’t the first time she’s done this. Makes plans for the three of us to hang out, then finds a way to leave us alone.
Sam and I turn back to the mammoth bones. It’s my favorite thing in here.
“Sorry about Mika,” Sam says with a sigh. “She tends to… get involved.” I hold back a knowing laugh. “Just to be clear. I’m not behind this.”
I turn to him. “Does that mean you don’t want to be here?”
“What? No! I only meant—” Sam stops, takes a deep breath, then calmly starts over. “What I mean is, as much as I love Mika… I don’t need anyone’s help to ask you out.”
“That’s fair,” I say.
We turn back to the glass. After a moment, Sam’s phone chimes. A second later, mine does, too. We look at our messages.
I look at him. “Is yours also from Mika?”
