When he saw me, Gage grinned. “There you are. Did you get your shoe fixed?”
I swallowed. “Uh, yeah. Sorry. It took me a minute.” I turned toward the line of graduates. “We better get back to our spots in line.”
Gage captured my hand and pulled me to a stop. “Wait. I still need to talk to you.”
“But they’re going to walk us onto the field soon,” I protested desperately.
He cocked his head. “I think we still have a minute.” He paused to clear his throat and reached up to rub the back of his neck. “I … I feel like I’ve been in a dream since prom, because that’s the only place I ever thought I’d get to hold your hand and kiss you. The only place I ever thought you’d feel the same way I do.”
Oh … oh, no. My chest tightened as I realized where he was going with this.
“I regret that it’s taken me this long to get here,” he continued, grinning quickly, “and I regret that this is happening in front of the bathrooms, but not as much as I know I’d regret not seizing the moment now.” He took a deep breath. “Olivia Delaney, will you be my girlfriend?”
It was everything I wanted to hear and a nightmare at the same time. I squeezed my eyes shut until spots blurred together in my field of vision. I suddenly felt all ninety-two degrees of the Texas summer heat standing there in the open-air hallway with a heavy polyester gown over my breezy dress. I needed to say something.
I opened my eyes and focused on the space over Gage’s head, ready to give him any reason but the truth. “I don’t think … it’s probably not a good idea. Annie might feel weird about it—”
Gage’s eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “But I already talked to—”
“And we’re going to different schools in the fall—”
The pressure of his hand over mine increased. “But they’re not that far—”
I grasped at one more plausible excuse. “And long distance is so hard especially when we’re meeting all sorts of new people. It’s better if we stay friends.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Uh, I don’t understand. Olivia—”
I wriggled my hand out of his and stepped back. “So, friends, okay?”
Gage studied me, his gaze so intense that I turned my head to escape its heat.
“It’ll be better this way,” I said quietly.
“Okay,” he finally said, his eyes clouding over. “If that’s what you really want.”
I nodded. “It is.”
I was lying. I was a lying liar who lied.
“I better go find Annie. Get back to the line.” He shook his head and turned away. He took a few steps and then called back over his shoulder, “Congratulations, Olivia,” in a toneless voice.
“You, too,” I whispered to his retreating form.
Good. Friends. That’s how I needed it to be. But how could I go back to being friends with Gage now that I knew how his lips felt?
Chapter eight
Olivia
Thenextorientationsessionis held in what looks to be the arts and crafts cabin. Judging by the creepy manikin torsos lying on the tables, we’re going to review CPR. The camp requires staff to get certifications in CPR and first aid before starting work, but I guess they want it to be fresh in our minds.
The instructor, a serious-looking woman in khaki pants and a collared red shirt, hurries Gage and me through the door.
I look around the room and see that everyone else is already here. I glance at my watch. We’re right on time.
“Since you two are the last to arrive, you’ll need to work together at this table here.” The instructor points at the table closest to the front of the room—and closest to her.
Gage and I exchange a look heavy with reluctance and hesitation. We chatted fine through lunch, mostly avoiding awkwardness, but can we continue the streak through partnering up for this activity? Doubtful.
