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“Val!”
“Wha—?” I ask, finally registering that A) I’m holding a phone, and B) I’m talking to Ivy on it.
“Did I lose you?”
“Sorry, no. Still here.”
“I was asking how long you and Ethan have known each other?”
“Since we were kids.” I’m still staring at him. “We basically grew up together.”
“That’s sweet. I love childhood friends.”
I smile. “Yeah. I’m happy we’re friends again.”
At that moment, Ethan looks up at my window. He gives me a strange look, and holds up a hand in a hesitant wave. I wave back, still smiling away. Only then do I realize that he doesn’t know I’m on the phone. So it looks like I’ve been staring out the window and smirking while he walks around shirtless.
Cheeks burning, I slink back so he can’t see me anymore. I cannot be feeling this way, I can’t go back to thinking Ethan’s attractive. We all know where that led last time, and New Val doesn’t go backwards. She only marches onwards.
Besides, he surely isn’t feeling the same way about me. I may be working hard on my confidence, but anybody can see that Ethan’s out of my league. It’s an objective fact that I am completely comfortable with.
“I should let you go,” Ivy says. “I’m sure you have another fun day planned.”
I take in Ethan’s perfectly defined abs, slightly mesmerized.
“It’s definitely gonna be… something.”
17
Val
Four Years Ago
Ethan has something big planned for tonight. He keeps giving me shifty eyes and long glances, and I can feel it… something’s coming.
“What?” I ask as I catch him looking at me again. We’re in the backyard of his grandparents’ house, spread out on a couple of blankets. I just got off the phone with my friend Megan about her crush on Noah Jackson. To be fair, every girl in our grade likes Noah Jackson. Except his best friend Dee. And me, of course.
I’m finally almost finished with my chapter, but my focus is completely on Ethan. Maybe because his focus is clearly so completely on me.
“Nothing.” He turns away, squints against the sunlight. “Thinking about how cute you are when you’re reading.”
I flush a little. “Nuh, uh,” I say, oh-so-modestly.
“Yeah, you get all frowny and your lips move with the words when you’re really into the story.”
“Look at you, stalker.”
Ethan laughs, wraps an arm lazily over my waist. “Maybe I’m bored.”
“You need a book.”
“Or we could talk.”
After a moment of true deliberation, I sigh heavily like I’m annoyed, put in my bookmark, and place my book next to me. Lie down so my side presses against his, and I interlace my arm with his. “Okayyyy. What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know… Why is the sky blue?”
“Now that’s boring.” I giggle. “How about if we talk about what you have planned for tonight.”
