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Manning took out a cigarette. “I have to go back to work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Fine.” Frustrated, I walked back along the curb toward my house. I’d have to trust him. He’d been good to me so far. He’d won me a pelican. He made eye contact with me. He didn’t talk over me like a lot of people did. Whatever his reason was for wanting Tiffany there, I’m sure he was looking out for all of us.
When I reached the front door, I turned and looked back. Manning still leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a lit cigarette hanging between his lips.
Tiffany parked her car with a sigh and stared out the windshield at the YMCA.
“You don’t have to do this,” I reminded her.
“Manning asked me to.”
“So you like him again?”
She looked over at me. “I never stopped.”
“After dinner last week, you acted like you weren’t sure about him.”
“And yesterday I hated overalls, but this afternoon, I went to the mall and bought two pairs because I saw them on Heather Locklear. It’s not a crime to change my mind.”
Thankfully for her. Tiffany changed her mind about a lot of things, like outfits and friends. She’d do the same with Manning, too.
I got out of the car and looked around the parking lot, half-expecting Manning not to show. But there he was, leaning against the side of his truck, smoking. I waved, but it was dusk, and I couldn’t tell if he’d seen us, so I started over toward him.
When I was close, he put his cigarette out on the ground. “You’re late,” he said.
He didn’t talk much, but when he did, my heart dropped into my stomach. All the time, when we were apart, I thought about his deep, rumbling voice and wondered when I’d hear it again. “I told you six-twenty,” I said. “It’s six-nineteen.”
“Your clock’s slow.”
“No it’s not,” I said. Actually, I didn’t know who set the clocks in my house, but I’d always been on time for school. “Is it?” I asked. “Are we really late?”
He lifted one corner of his mouth.
When he smiled, I smiled. “Are you teasing me?” I asked.
His expression changed when he looked behind me. “Hey, Tiffany.”
“Hi.” She brushed by me and opened her arms.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m trying to hug you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do I look like a ten-year-old girl?”
“Please?”
With a sigh, he opened one arm. Tiffany snuggled into his side, wrapping herself around his torso.
My stomach soured like I’d eaten rotten seafood.
“I missed you,” Tiffany said.
I turned away. If they were hugging, he might kiss her again—and I was certain I’d puke if he did. “We should go in,” I said, walking off.
There was no time to introduce Manning to the director before the meeting. Gary was already standing at the front of the small, crowded room, trying to get everyone to settle down. There was a podium in the center, but Gary never used it. I’d know him anywhere just by his thick, black curly hair that would’ve been down past his ears if it didn’t grow straight out. A beach bum his whole life, he had a perpetual tan and bloodshot eyes, and he was the only person I knew who’d rather have a conversation with kids than adults.
There was only one pair of seats left, and the rest were singles. Fine. Let Tiffany and Manning sit together. I took a seat near the front so I wouldn’t have to see them hug.
“Welcome to the first Young Cubs counselor meeting,” Gary said. He must’ve been at least thirty. He’d been running the program since I’d attended as a camper. “I’m happy to see familiar faces and some new ones.”
Throughout the meeting, I refrained from looking back at Manning. He probably thought all this was childish, bored out of his mind. Being a counselor was fun, though. Last year, I’d been in charge of one of the younger cabins, and the girls had been endless in their love and affection. They’d thought the world revolved around my co-counselor and me. There was no feeling quite like a group of little girls all arguing over who got to be the one to hold your hand.
The meeting lasted a half-hour and after, I found Manning and Tiffany seated at the back of the room. “What’d you think?” I asked them.
“Outdoors for up to eight hours a day?” Tiffany asked. “Sounds awful. And dirty.”
I shrugged. “Don’t bring nice things, and you’ll be fine. Manning?”
He gave nothing away. “Let’s find out if they have any openings first.”
As if on cue, Gary wandered down the aisle between the seats, a big smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Well, well. Lake Kaplan. We’re lucky to have you for another year.”
“Thanks. This is my sister and her friend.” Manning didn’t even look at me as he stood. I’d done what he’d asked by introducing him as Tiffany’s friend, and that was my reward—nothing. At least if I’d called him my friend, I would’ve gotten a warning glance.
