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“Maybe.” We walked through the hallway and outside the building. “So, what’s on the agenda for tonight?” I asked.
“Besides cheering on my ‘Sexy Surfer’ boyfriend at his football game?” Her cheeks instantly flushed. “I mean. I—I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to use the b-word, I...”
I set our bags on the sidewalk and held my hand to her mouth, stopping her stream of nervous words. Her eyes anxiously searched my face, but I only smiled.
“Are you done?”
She nodded.
I slowly lifted my hand away, and when she opened her mouth to speak, I covered it again, stepping closer.
“Let me go first.”
She nodded, but I kept my hand in place, loving the feel of her lips on my palm.
“We don’t have to play those games,” I said. “I’m crazy about you, April. I’d love to be your boyfriend. As long as you’ll let me call you my girlfriend.”
I felt her lips twitch under my hand, and I moved it away.
She lifted her arms, linking her fingers behind my neck. “Of course I’m yours. I’ve been annoyed with you or infatuated with you from the moment I first met you.”
“Same here, but mostly just in awe.” Her eyes flicked to my lips, and I took the invitation, lowering my mouth to hers. She tasted sweet, like she usually did. But the way her body molded to mine, the way she fit in my arms, it was everything.Everything.
“Get a room,” someone from our class called, and I broke apart from April long enough to say, “Ignore him.”
Thirty-Nine
April
Sadie’s carpulled up to the house at exactly six o’clock. She didn’t honk this time, but Dad still saw her out the window.
“Who is that?” he asked skeptically.
Mom and I exchanged a glance behind his back. He sounded irritated.
“My friend Sadie,” I answered cautiously. “We’re going to watch the football game.”
Dad lifted his hand and waved. “Have fun, monkey,” he said. “Your mom and I will enjoy some kid-free time.”
Mom let out a startled laugh. “I guess we will.”
Something felt off, even though the exchange seemed positive. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
“We should rent a movie,” Dad said. “One of those romances you like so much.”
“That sounds great, honey,” Mom replied, her eyes glassy.
Maybe it was the way Mom responded, like this was both healing and breaking her heart.
I tugged at the edge of my Emerson Drafters T-shirt. It pulled tight around my broad hips. “I don’t want to keep Sadie waiting.”
“Go ahead,” Dad said.
Risking a change in his mood, I went to Dad and hugged him tight. “Love you, Dad.”
He put his arms back around me, and I let myself savor the feeling, let myself pretend everything was the way it used to be. He still smelled like he always did, like his spice cologne and the soap Mom used to wash his clothes. “I love you, April girl,” he said.
When I pulled back, I noticed Mom sniff. “Here,” she said, “why don’t you wear my bracelet? I saw you eyeballing it earlier.”
