Page 56 of Say My Name

“No. You haven’t.”

She lifts the strap of her bag onto her shoulder and walks toward the door.

“Elena.”

She turns.

“I wanted to kiss you before the barbecue. Now I know I want to do it again.”

Her fingers tighten around the strap.

She leaves without answering.

I wait until Elena has been gone for twenty minutes before picking up my phone.

Elena said she wants company at a bar full of friends. After a few days of calling our kiss inconclusive, she may also want to see what happens when her brother isn’t standing twenty feet away.

Whatever she decides, I want to pick her up if she’ll let me.

I open our messages.

Dominic: What time should I pick you up?

Her reply arrives less than a minute later.

Elena: We can meet there.

Dominic: We can.

Elena: Well, that was simple.

Dominic: I’m still picking you up.

Three dots appear immediately.

Elena: That isn’t what agreeing means.

Dominic: I agreed we can meet there. Not that we should.

Elena: Of course you didn’t.

Dominic: I’ll have my driver take us. No worrying about parking, and we can both relax.

Elena: I can arrange my own ride.

Dominic: I know.

She doesn’t answer. I picture her staring at the screen, irritated because I haven’t questioned her ability to take care of herself. I simply want to be the one who arrives with her.

Dominic: You invited me to your birthday. Let me pick you up.

The response takes longer this time.

Elena: Seven-thirty.

I smile.

Dominic: I’ll be there.