Page 38

I forgot I was dealing with Señor Stress Monkey. You probably just called 911

Me:

I did not call 911

Me:

But my finger is hovering over the speed dial

Callie:

lol

Me:

So…all good?

Callie:

Yes, except I wasn’t sure whether it had to be seedless watermelon, and the seeded ones looked better, so I bought both. Hope you don’t mind if I drop off 2 huge extra watermelons at your house

Me:

I don’t mind. Thank you for covering all the bases

Callie:

Oh, one more *small* thing. By the time I got there, Scout had told everyone at school about you having a special friend. The teachers were definitely intrigued

I close my eyes, imagining Scout running around the small preschool yard like the town crier, telling everyone about Callie. I guess it was absurd to expect anything less. And the teachers at that school are as bad as any of the gossips in town, so I have to imagine the news will circulate pretty quickly.

Maybe it’s a good thing. The more people around here who can vouch for me having a girlfriend, the better.

Me:

Okay

The dots bounce. Then they stop. Then they bounce again. And stop. I wonder about the things Callie started to say but didn’t. Even though she seems to have time on her hands and a shocking lack of urgency to leave town, I have to remember that she has a life outside of Willow Springs, and Scout and I are not part of it.

Finally, the dots bounce again, and she responds.

Callie:

Okay.

Callie:

Lmk when you want to do our photo shoot

Me:

Tomorrow?

Callie:

Done

Everything about her is easy and accommodating. It’s something I never experienced with Elizabeth, who always had rules and requirements for where she wanted to go and how I needed to make it happen. Meanwhile, Callie’s clothes were covered in blue paint this morning when she left, and I have no idea if that shit stains.