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“Hey to him, and that’s cool. Want to know something else?”
“What?”
“I read it.”
I gasp. “You read this book? The one that’s been signed?”
“I was in line for four hours, Sydney. I needed to do something and you like this dude, who seems a bit like a weirdo in person, just so you know, so I figured I’d give it a shot. It’s a pretty good book.”
I lie down next to Logan. “I don’t know if I can handle this. First, the book is signed, and now, you’re telling me that you read and liked a book.”
Ian laughs, and goodness, I’ve missed that. We haven’t talked on the phone in about a month or so. “Sounds like I made your birthday.”
“You have.”
“Good.” He’s quiet for a moment. “I’ve missed talking to you.”
Logan snorts and I point for him to leave since he can obviously hear our conversation. “You talk to her every day!” he says loud enough for Ian to hear him before I turn and push him with my feet off the bed. He glares at me as he leaves, making a show of rubbing his side.
“You know what I mean,” Ian says.
“Yeah, I do. If you’ve missed me, why haven’t you called?”
“Just been busy.”
That’s such a bullshit answer. How can someone have time to text with little to no delay between responses, but doesn’t have time to actually talk on the phone? I don’t say that, though. He probably has a new girlfriend if he isn’t calling. Or maybe he’s busy with hockey or something. “Well, thanks again for my present.”
“You’re welcome. Happy birthday, too. Go read your new book and text me later.”
“Oh, I will.”
“And tell that guy you’ll go on a date with him.”
“I’ll think about it.” There’s a lull and I wait for him to make the move to end the call as usual.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think...” His voice trails off. I sit up on my bed, feeling nervous as I realize that he sounds nervous. “Do you think you’d be able to come up for Christmas? I’d love to see you.”
See? How can he tell me to go on a date with a guy and then ask if I can come see him this year for Christmas?
“Maybe. I’ll probably have to convince Mom that I want to be there, but I can try. You won’t be busy?”
“Not for an entire week. You can come, stay at your dad’s, but spend all your time with me.”
“What does your dad say?”
Ian is quiet for a moment. “Well, when I mentioned it, I made it sound like you might be coming up to see your dad, not me, though I don’t think he believes me. But you still don’t really get along with your dad, so he can fuck up like he usually does and that’s the perfect reason for you to be with me the whole time.”
Yeah. I turn seventeen tomorrow. It’s not like my mom will let me go halfway across the country to see an eighteen-year-old who will graduate high school this year. Let’s not even talk about how I’m already nervous about him going away to college and meeting college girls. It’s irrational in many ways, but I can’t help it.
“Will you try? Try until she says yes?”
How do I say no to him?
Over the next two months, Ian calls me a few times a week, and I answer, pretending it’s my dad. There’s no way my mom will let me go if she thinks things are still strained between my father and me. When my dad does actually call me, I make sure to be as nice as possible to him. Things aren’t always bad between us, and I’m working hard to keep things good.
