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Like explosive heat from a backdraft, I’m slammed by sudden awareness that there’s one among us who isn’t amused by this.
I can feel Liv’s tension—I notice it without even looking at her. It’s sweltering. It’sroaringat me.
I do look at her, though, and see she’s staring at the floor. Her pretty face has completely closed off. Her tightened lips look like they’ve never formed a smile ever, and I hadn’t realized before that there had been any sparkle to her eyes, but I realize it now because her gaze is way cloudier than I remember it being just a minute ago.
My confusion is back in full force. Has this lady upset her? I mean, I guess this is atadbit awkward, but it’s nothing to be angry about.
“…believe how many couples look unhappy with each other,” the lady in question is saying, “especially with a child around! And did I mention how darn adorable she is?” Her voice shifts into baby-talk mode. “You awe such a wittle dawling!”
I look at her again and see she’s beaming at Rae, who is delighted.
Even though I’m still tickled by this whole thing, Liv’s discomfort is tangibly swelling.
I tell the woman, “You’re so right. And, listen, we thank you again, but we actually have to get going! Sorry about that!”
“Oh, of course!” She waves a hand. “I do, too. My sister and I just got done enjoying a couple of cones and she’s waiting for me in the car!”
I smile at her. “Awesome! Have a good night!”
“You three do the same!”
It’s hard to pretend I don’t have the sinking feeling that the good part of our night has already passed.
As I turn toward the exit, I see Liv and Rae doing the same, and it’s obvious the former is trying hard not to haul ass away. It only makes me feel worse because, horribly, I get the feeling she wants to get awayfrom me.
My stomach twists with dread as we step outside.
Liv doesn’t look at me once.
“Well, that was fun!” I try to say cheerfully.
Rae turns and nods at me in actual cheer. “Yeah! I had so much fun! My ice cream was so yummy!”
Liv remains silent until we reach our cars. Then, still taking care not to look at me, she clears her throat and says with forced, flat politeness, “Thank you, Landon.”
Rae echoes, “Thank you,” and she still sounds like her usual self, although I can see she’s starting to notice Liv’s mood has changed. She looks up at her with questions growing in her eyes.
Not really knowing what else to do, I clear my throat, too, and say, “Sure thing, guys. Thanks so much for all the stuff with Lolly.”
Liv doesn’t respond to that. She just opens the door to her backseat. Rae climbs in, gets buckled up, and then waves at me. I wave back as the door closes again.
Then, finally, Liv looks at me. Her eyes are even more distant than they were before we came outside.
God, what’shappened?Her attitude has changed so much—I haveneverseen her look like this, not even before my choking incident when she was basically a stranger to me.
I start to ask about it, but she speaks before I can: “It’s been fun.” Her tone is as swift as the wind that gusts up out of nowhere. “But we have to get going.”
She doesn’tsoundlike she’s had fun. I mean, I know she has because I was there for it, but…. “I—uh—”
Now she opens her door and swings into the driver’s seat.
I manage to rush out hopefully, “Well, I’ll see you guys later, yeah?”
She gives me a glance and a nod so slight that there’s no way she means it. Then she’s shut in and I’m shut out and they’re driving away and I’m left watching them go.
Left standing here in the wake of what feels like the abrupt shattering of my moment in their life.
But that can’t be right, can it? I didn’t do anything wrong. Why would Liv be upset with me? Rae sure isn’t.
