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“Who are you calling boring?” I ask in mock affront
“You.” She raises her eyebrows in challenge.
“What do you do for fun that’s so exciting?”
“I read, and write, and try to find ways to get my favorite books signed. In fact, I checked out the website for the bookstore you mentioned. Andre Dubus is coming there tonight. I want to get my copy of House of Sand and Fog signed and find out about the group you told me about yesterday.”
“Who’s that?”
“He’s just my favorite author. It’s his first book, and it’s amazing and he’s kind of my hero. Worth riding my bike all the way over there to get it signed.”
She gets this dreamy look in her eyes, and I feel a pang in my chest that smacks of jealousy.
“I can take you.” I find myself saying before I think better of it. I promised my grandfather this is the last thing I would do. But, that was before I knew it was the girl from the library. I’ve been waiting years to spend more time with her.
She blinks in surprise. “You don’t have to do that. I’m fine riding my bike,” she dismisses me.
But I’m nothing if not persistent. Especially when I’m right. “It’s not close and you can’t get there without crossing the 610. If you’re going at seven, that means you’d be riding at the tail end of rush hour, it’s kind of busy. I’ll take you.”
“You’re bossy,” she says grudgingly, but with a smile.
“Yeah, ’cause I’m in charge.”
“Not of me, you’re not” She shakes her head for emphasis.
“You live here now, and Rivers Wilde is my neighborhood. So, I am. I’m taking you.”
She raises her eyebrows and I can’t tell if she’s surprised or annoyed.
“I mean… if you really want to, I won’t say no. It’ll beat getting there all sweaty. You’re going to stay and drive me back?” She eyes me like she’s expecting me to say no.
What kind of friends does she have that this is even a question? “Yeah. Of course.”
“Thanks.”
“Cool, well, sounds like a date.”
“Oh, no,” she stammers when I grin.
“Not a date date. Just an appointment.”
“Yeah, of course.” I keep my expression light and fight the urge to pump my fist. “So, I’ll see you tonight?”
“What time do we need to leave?”
“Be downstairs at six o’clock. I just have to run an errand for my mother right before that, and then I’ll stop by.”
Her smile falters and when she recovers, it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
She clears her throat, and she fidgets with one of the books she’s holding. “Your mother’s made it really clear she’s not happy about my hanging around you guys. I’m not trying to piss her off. Any more than I do just by existing.”
My hackles rise, but not at her. My mother can be such a bully.
“How did she make it clear?”
“It’s okay… It’s just that I haven’t had a place to call home… in a while. I like it here and I don’t want to rock the boat. You’re nice, but maybe not.”
