A startled silence. “Is this a serious offer?”
“Dead serious. The tour’s coming up soon.”
“And it would just be the two of us?”
Suddenly, she realized how the invitation sounded. It was forward. Very forward. But she didn’t regret it either. “Well, us and the rest of Barnett. But if you don’t want to go, no biggie.”
“No. I think it would be fun. I look forward to it.”
Interestingly enough, now she did, too.
Two days later, Keeley shuffled into Nicky’s house with two duffels and a sleeping bag. She dropped the bags to the ground and rotated her shoulders. “That feels so good. I brought hair, makeup and my entire nail polish collection. I couldn’t narrow it down.”
Nicky clapped her hands. “I’m so excited for Monday. First day of school is always the best. We have to look killer. Never know who’s going to be in our classes.”
Keeley lined up the nail polishes on the coffee table. “Hopefully we’ll have classes together. Last year sucked. I love that you went to the office and complained.”
“No harm in trying, right?”
Keeley held up the pale pink and the navy blue. “Which one? I plan on wearing my jeans and that blue tank Mom got me for my birthday.”
“You always wear that. You should dress up a little. Wait. I have the perfect skirt for you.” Nicky showed her a white floral skirt. “Before you say no, you could wear it with some sneakers to make it less fancy.”
It wasn’t her, but it was cute. And the beginning of a school year was the perfect time to try something different. “Okay, let’s do it.”
While they were painting their nails, Nicky confided about one of the guys in her study group. “He totally sees me as a little sister. It sucks. He’s smart and hot and everything I want in a guy. I’m in love and I don’t know what to do.”
Keeley couldn’t take her seriously. “You say that about a different guy every month.”
“I’m not that bad,” protested Nicky.
“What about Alec Davidson? You were convinced you were soul mates till he came out as gay. And remember David Gaston? You thought he was the ‘one,’ so we volunteered at the animal shelter … and so did his girlfriend.”
“Okay, okay!” Nicky interrupted. “I admit I may have been a little boy obsessed, but I’m older now. Wiser.”
“And you have polish on your cheek.” Keeley giggled.
Sheepishly, Nicky wiped it off. “So what about you? Any summer crushes?”
Keeley thought of Talon. Then shook her head. “I’m barely leaving the house,” she complained. “Well, I’m driving Zach but that doesn’t count.”
“I still don’t get why you bail him out so much.”
“Not you, too,” Keeley muttered, slumping down. “You sound exactly like Talon.”
“It’s a valid question.” Nicky stretched out on the couch. “Speaking of Talon, I bet you’ll be happy to get rid of his phone. Tomorrow’s the day, right? Have you guys set up a time and place?”
She didn’t know what she was feeling but it wasn’t happy. She was used to talking to Talon every day. Would that disappear when they switched back phones? “We’re going to meet at Java Hut. I don’t know what time, though. I texted him this morning, but he has practice till five and then dinner at six, so I probably won’t hear from him till later.”
Nicky raised an eyebrow. “You know his schedule?”
Keeley flushed. “We’ve been forwarding texts and voice mails all week. Of course I know his schedule.”
She knew a whole lot more than just his schedule. She knew he was a math wizard. That he loved old Western movies. She knew what made him laugh on YouTube and that he told really corny knock-knock jokes. And judging from the number of texts he got, Keeley was pretty sure he talked to her more than to his friends. She was trying to convince herself this was normal.
“I’ll be happy when you get your phone back from him. Feels like we haven’t talked in forever,” Nicky grumbled.
Keeley knew it wasn’t Talon’s fault, or his phone’s. Nicky was just too busy with her other plans. Luckily, a text from Talon kept her from having to respond. Very carefully, she tapped the screen so her nails wouldn’t get messed.
I’m bored. Tell me a joke.
Did you get my text about meeting up tomorrow?
Java Hut @1 is good for me. Now tell me a joke.
Not everything is about you.
That’s not a joke. Fine. I’ll tell you one.
If you already know a joke, then why are you asking me for one?
Knock, knock.
Knowing he wouldn’t budge, she played along.
Who’s there?
Honey Bee.
Honey Bee who?
Honey Bee a dear and tell me a knock-knock joke.
She giggled, and Nicky glanced over. Why did she feel like she’d been caught? “Talon,” she explained apologetically. A small wrinkle appeared between Nicky’s brows as she continued painting.
You really do have a one-track mind.
I’m waiting …
Hey you wanna switch to calling instead? I don’t have afternoon practice.
I’m at the BFF’s house.
I’m more fun to talk to.
He was fun but she couldn’t let him know that.
Too bad there isn’t a vaccine against narcissism. I think it’s just what you need.
It was a good thing Nicky couldn’t see these texts. She’d be shocked. Keeley never acted like this. Not even with Randy.
How can you be sure I have anything? I’d be happy to strip down so you can perform a complete examination.
No need. I already know what my diagnosis would be. You suffer from Enhanced Genetic Obtuseness. Otherwise known as EGO. The symptoms include delusions of grandeur, lack of intelligence and an overabundance of confidence.
Ha! And what do you prescribe for this condition? Is there a cure?
Acute cases like yours need immediate treatment. I think a dose of reality and a shot of humility should do the trick.
If I agree, do I get you as my personal doctor?
She bit her lower lip, trying to stop the goofy grin from spreading.
Depends.
On what?
If you’ll behave.
“You know, for someone who claims to hate Talon so much, you sure like talking to him,” Nicky remarked.
“I don’t hate him.”
“Since when? All I’ve heard you do is complain.” All Nicky heard were voice mails, and Keeley hadn’t left one in days.
“He’s not that bad,” Keeley found herself saying. “He can be funny.”
“If you say so.” Her brown eyes glinted as she gazed at the phone in Keeley’s hands. “Do you want to go to the pier with me after you switch phones? I have some extra tokens from the arcade.”
“When did you go to the arcade?” Keeley had thought her friend was too busy to have fun.
“I don’t know. Couple days ago, I guess. I was with my study group and we decided to blow off some steam.”
Keeley’s immediate thought was no. She didn’t want to limit her meeting with Talon. But she hadn’t seen much of Nicky, and Nicky’s expression was so hopeful ... “Uh. Sure. We can do that.”
A wide smile spread across Nicky’s face. Then a text from Talon lit up the phone, and Nicky’s lips flattened as she turned her attention back to her nails. Was she jealous? She had no right! Not after blowing her off all summer. Keeley gazed at the skirt Nicky was lending her. Maybe Nicky had a point. Tonight
was supposed to be about them. About senior year. Keeley stashed the phone under her chair so she wouldn’t be tempted to text.
When they finished painting, she and Nicky binge-watched a string of movies until they couldn’t keep their eyes open. Then, just as Keeley was about to drift off to sleep, a buzzing noise woke her up. Her phone was vibrating. Talon. Since Nicky was curled under the covers, snoring, Keeley lifted the blankets and rolled out.
“Hey,” she answered in a soft whisper. “What’s up? Is something wrong?”
“I couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d see if you were awake.”
“Hold on.” She carefully got to her feet, glanced at Nicky again and padded to the bathroom. Closing the bathroom door, she leaned her hip against the sink. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you,” he said, his voice strained.
“No,” she rushed on, fearing he would hang up. “I don’t mind. I was in bed.”
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t. I wasn’t sleeping yet.”
“I should let you go …”
“Talon, when I say I don’t mind, I mean I don’t mind. So what’s going on?”
“You know you’re too nice for your own good. That’s why people take advantage of you.”
“I know something’s bothering you.” She could just tell.
“I just … I …”
“Hey,” she said gently. A need to comfort him took hold. “You can tell me. Seriously.”
“It’s not — I just don’t think I can …”
It was obvious he wasn’t ready to tell her. She changed the subject, going on and on about her night with Nicky. He seemed more relaxed, but his tone changed when she said, “Hey, I have a question for you.”
“What?” he asked warily.
She’d been meaning to ask for a while. “What’s up with the pictures on your phone? You know, those weird Peep things that are dressed up as characters.”
“You mean the Peep-O-Ramas?”
“The Peep-a-what?”
“Peep-O-Ramas. They’re dioramas made of Peeps.”
“Wait. This is actually a thing?” She thought he was joking.
“Yeah, there’s a yearly contest and everything.”
“And you have this on your phone, why …?”
“Because Peeps are possibly the greatest invention in human existence.”
Keeley didn’t quite agree. “They’re not even the best candy.”
“You know what? I don’t think we can be friends anymore.”
“I didn’t know we were friends.”
“Keeley, I’ve been through your phone. To some people, that’s as good as being married.”
She laughed at that. “Okay. So we’re … friends.”
“I’ll have you know that being my friend is an honor. One I don’t bestow on many people.”
“Please. I’ve seen your phone, too. You’re friends with more people than I even know.”
He made a scoffing sound. “Those aren’t real friends. They’re more like people I’m forced to know because of football. I’m talking about the people you call when you need someone to vent to.”
“So if your teammates aren’t your real friends, then who is?”
For a couple seconds, all she heard was him breathing. Then, in a quiet voice, he admitted, “Honestly, no one here. I had better friends back in Texas.”
That explained something. “Texas, huh? I thought you had an accent.”
“Yup. Born and raised. I moved here the summer before freshman year.”
“I bet California was a huge change.”
“You have no idea. I’m used to it now and I love being so close to the beach, but I miss the wide-open space. And the barbecue. God, I miss the barbecue.”
“Why did you move?”
“My dad took a new job out here. He wanted to live someplace different. Plus, we have family ’round here.”
“But you didn’t want to go?” she asked. She was pretty sure she knew the answer.
He gave a short bark of laughter. “No, I sure as hell didn’t. I wanted to stay, but after Gramps passed, the farm went to my dad. He didn’t want to pay for the upkeep so he sold. Gramps promised it would be passed down to me. It was my inheritance. My dad had no right to sell.” Anger infused his words. “He said the taxes were too expensive. But you know what? He didn’t even try to come up with the money.”
“I’m sorry,” Keeley said, not knowing what else to say.
“I didn’t mean to go off like that. I —”
“It’s okay. I’d be upset, too.” Was this why’d he called her?
“Yeah.” The one word said it all. “Ma wanted to stay, too, but once Dad gets an idea in his head, he won’t budge.”
“Your mom is hilarious.”
He groaned. “You don’t have to live with her. I love her. It’s just that she’s a little …”
“Over the top?” She suppressed the urge to yawn and hopped on the sink’s counter, resting her back against the medicine cabinet.
“She still makes me school lunches. She even has a rotation of lunch boxes. You know, those square metal ones with the handles? Yeah, she uses those. Puts little notes inside with a juice box and a PB&J in the shape of a dinosaur. Won’t stop doing it. So I eat the sandwich on my way home from school so she doesn’t find out the box never leaves my car.”
It was sweet he didn’t throw the sandwich away. “So do you plan on going back to Texas?”
“I’m hoping after college I can move back permanently. But you never know. Life’s weird like that.”
Her eyelids were getting heavy, and a jaw-popping yawn escaped. “I better go.”
Her yawn set off his own. “Yeah, me too.”
She slid off the counter and said good night. Before she could hang up, he called out, “Hey, Keeley?”
“Yeah?”
His voice suddenly became rough. “I ... uh … thanks.”
“Did it help?”
“Yeah.”
A rush of satisfaction warmed her. Then she said a first for them. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She could almost hear the smile in his voice. “Tomorrow.”
Keeley was sweating as she drove to Java Hut. She turned up the air-conditioning but nothing helped. God, she thought, I’m a wreck. She wiped her palms on the steering wheel and ordered herself to calm down. After parking the car, she grabbed a tissue from her purse and dabbed her face and underarms. She could just drop the phone off at the front counter. Have an employee give the phone to Talon and keep hers until she could pick it up some other day. Except that would be pathetic, she told herself. Gathering what little courage she had, Keeley took a deep breath and went inside.
She fiddled with the ends of her shoulder-length hair, pulling and twisting as she scouted the area, but she was pretty sure he wasn’t here. Needing something to do, she walked up to the counter. “A small iced coffee, please.” She handed the employee her card and waited while he rung her up.
“They’ll call your name when it’s ready,” he said.
Keeley grabbed an open seat. She checked the phone, but no text. She didn’t want to seem like a loser, so she played a car racing game on his phone. It was pretty good. She’d have to tell Zach about it. Then, there it was:
I’m here.
A tall, blond boy was coming through the door. Even from a distance, Keeley could tell he was an athlete. He turned around, like he was looking for someone. He had high cheekbones, a strong jaw line and full lips. Almost perfect, except for a slight bend in his nose, like it had been broken.
“Keeley! Your order is up!” a voice cried out from behind the counter.
At the sound of her name, Talon snapped his head around. His eyes t
racked her to the counter, where she picked up her drink. Feeling self-conscious, she lingered, taking an inordinate amount of time to add a straw, pretending she didn’t see him.
“Hello, baby doll.”
She’d recognize that voice anywhere. Deep tones with a slight drawl. Bracing herself, she turned around. His eyes were absolutely stunning. A vivid, cobalt blue that shimmered in the light.
He broke out in a grin. “You’re not what I expected.”
A customer bumped into her as he tried to reach the counter. Talon took hold of her arm and moved her to the side. “Let’s get out of the way. Where’s your table?” For some reason, her mouth wasn’t working, but it didn’t matter. He was so tall, he could easily see over the crowd. “Never mind. I see it,” he said, pulling her along to the table against the window. It gave a perfect view of the beach and the pier jutting out into the water.
She wasn’t usually this awkward. Moving to take a sip from her drink, she completely missed the straw. Talk about cringeworthy. And she wished she’d taken more time with her appearance. Her jeans and top were nothing special and she wore no makeup. It was a deliberate choice. One to remind both of them that this was no big deal. Just like any other day. But being here, looking in his eyes … it didn’t feel normal at all.
“I thought you were going to be more the girl-next-door type. Not so …” She frowned, and he didn’t finish his sentence. A slow smile reached his eyes. “I like it. You can stop looking like you want to punch me.”
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