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“No, it’s okay. It’s just that I’m kind of sick of this topic being brought up. I don’t understand why she can’t see how young we are. That there are still so many things for us to do before settling down… like our careers, traveling. Are you sure you don’t want anything to drink or eat?” he asked politely, changing the subject.
I was starting to feel awkward being here, not with him, just in this place—her house. The feeling tormented me, the voices in my head telling me to let it go, walk out, and not look back. “No, I’m fine. We probably should head back. It’s getting darker outside.”
He grabbed his keys and the jumpers, turning all the lights off before we headed back out to the car. I climbed in, this time the music was low, playing a Bon Jovi ballad. We were awkwardly quiet. Had I done something wrong? I wanted to look at him but was afraid he’d catch me in the act.
“I never got to thank you for helping me out with the whole prom-dress thing. It was quite funny watching Adriana’s reaction. Unfortunately, she was a pain in my backside all day, but I’d take that over trying on dresses.”
“So, it worked? I’m guessing you’ll eventually have to go shopping for one, though, right?”
“Yes, unfortunately, I do. Stupidly, I agreed to go with some guy at school a few months back. I’m still kicking myself for saying yes, but hey, there’s always online shopping.”
“Who?” he asked, his voice changing tone.
“Who what?”
“Who are you going to prom with?”
“Oh... Carter. He’s just a guy I’ve known pretty much most of high school.”
“As in the Evans kid? Good luck with that. The jerk can’t even pitch a ball right.”
“Wait, are we talking about baseball or sex? Number one, I don’t care for sports. Number two, I don’t plan to have sex with him. Not every prom needs to end in a cheap rented hotel room, except for your sister.”
Whoops, wrong person to bring that subject up with.
“Please don’t go into my sister’s sex life. In my eyes it doesn’t exist nor will it ever.”
“It’s not that bad. You’ve got to get used to them being a couple. Sex is no big deal. At least she’s with one person. Most girls our age change partners more regularly than underwear.”
“Do you change sex partners more often than underwear?”
“Okay, this conversation has now hit an all-time high in awkwardness,” I tell him, unable to stop my face from flushing in embarrassment. “No, I don’t, but I’m not like all the other eighteen-year-olds. You said that yourself.”
We finally arrived at my car, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. He opened up the hood and connected the leads on the battery, attaching the other end to his car.
It finally started.
Hallelujah!
Alex removed the cables and shut the hood.
“All done. Sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” I smiled, relieved I didn’t have to call Dad to come help since I knew he was on the road today and wouldn’t be home until late. “Thanks for all your help.”
Tilting my head upward, I kissed him on the cheek. I caught him by surprise, lingering more than I should have, lost in his scent and the feel of his skin. I pulled away, the loss of contact unbearable.
Alex sighed.
Had he felt it too?
Think of something else, Charlie, anything else. Why is the sky blue? What’s the square root of pie? It’s working. My inner self high-fived my brain.
“Don’t forget, eight tonight. It’s the continuation of the hitchhikers who went missing along Route 66.”
“You’re a twisted little one, Miss Mason,” he replied, smirking as he shut my door.
The first thing I did when I got home was jump into a steaming hot shower. I stayed in there for like half an hour allowing the water to relax my muscles. I felt extremely tense, the kind of tense that would usually be eased with a massage. My thoughts drifted again, so I quickly turned off the water. How was I going to get through the night?
