Textrovert

by Lindsey Summers

  Yes.

  And you’re positive this is what you want? You and me? No take-backs or second-guessing?

  100% positive. Will you jump with me?

  “What’s going on?” Nicky whispered on the way out of class. Concern was etched in every word. “What did he say?”

  “I’m just waiting.” Keeley gripped the phone. Waiting was going to kill her.

  “Waiting for what?” asked Nicky.

  As long as you’re with me.

  Keeley’s face broke out in a huge grin.

  “Keeley?” Nicky pressed. “Waiting for what?”

  “To take a leap.”

  Keeley took one look in the mirror and ripped out the bobby pins holding her brown locks back. Twenty minutes she’d been standing in the bathroom, curling and fidgeting with her hair, and what did she have to show for it? Absolutely nothing. If anything, her hair looked worse. Normally, she would put it in a bun and call it a day, but today wasn’t any day. In exactly thirty minutes, she would be meeting with Talon for the first time since sending those texts.

  Her skin tingled with equal parts excitement and nerves. The meeting felt monumental, even bigger than their first date. All the secrets, all the dirty laundry were out in the open. There were no more excuses for running away. This was it. They could finally build a relationship on an even playing field. Nothing was holding them back.

  Now if only I could tame this beast, she thought to herself. She grabbed a hairbrush and started untangling the knots.

  Ten minutes later, she headed downstairs with a sore scalp and what felt like ten pounds of hairspray. When she went into the living room to get her purse, she passed by her brother, who was parked in front of the TV, lying on the couch in the same position she’d seen him in since breakfast.

  “You going somewhere?” he asked idly, one hand behind his head, the other on a remote, flipping through channels.

  “The pier.”

  “How about I drive you?” He dropped the remote and sat up. “I need to get out of the house.”

  “I’m going to the boardwalk. You’re staying here.” Away from Talon.

  His eyes narrowed as he studied her face. Something must have tipped him off because seconds later he groaned. “This again? I thought he was over and done with.”

  “I know you don’t like him and that’s fine.” She’d accepted the fact they would never get along. “But your feelings do not factor into my relationship with him, just as his feelings do not factor into ours.”

  “It matters,” he argued. “How can it not?”

  She didn’t want to bring up a painful topic, but he left her no choice. “What if Claire wanted to get back together and I told you I didn’t like her?”

  His nose wrinkled. “You have no reason not to like her. She’s never done anything to you.”

  “But if I didn’t?” she pushed. “What then? Would you tell her no? Walk away?”

  He pressed his lips together.

  “See? It’s not that easy. I’m going after what I want. I love you, but I have to do what makes me happy, and Talon makes me happy.”

  He lifted his head and looked her in the eye, a sad smile pasted on his face. “I’m going to go walk Tucker. I’ll see you later.”

  “Wait, Zach —”

  But he was already out the door with the leash in hand. So instead she grabbed her purse and went to meet Talon.

  He was already waiting for her by the time she pulled into the parking lot. His posture was relaxed as he sat on a bench, quietly observing the waves, a pack of Peeps next to him. He didn’t look nervous at all. Maybe she was the only one who thought this was a big deal. As she walked up to him, Keeley noticed he kept glancing down at his hands and then rolling his shoulders.

  “Hey,” she said hesitantly, slowing her steps as she neared.

  His head jerked up at the sound of her voice and he exhaled. “You made it.”

  “I did.” She rounded the bench and stopped, not sure what she should do. What exactly was the protocol for seeing an ex-boyfriend when you were about to get back together? Should she hug him? Not touch him at all? Offer a polite handshake? Make a joke?

  He jumped out of his seat and shoved something into his pocket — her phone. Her eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of the screen. It was text messages from her. He’d been rereading their texts? He gave a sheepish smile. Suddenly the tight coil of nerves she felt eased and she knew everything was going to be okay.

  “Why are you way over there?” he asked.

  “Because I’m waiting for my hug.”

  He took two long strides toward her and scooped her up in his arms, leaving her breathless. “I thought you’d never get here,” he whispered.

  “I know the feeling,” she whispered back, blinking away tears.

  Finally, he released her and they decided to take a walk along the beach.

  “So what do we do now? Start over with a clean slate?” he asked, holding her hand.

  “I don’t think there is such a thing as a clean slate.”

  Talon’s nose crinkled as he pulled away from her and kicked a seashell. “What are you saying? That what I did will always count against me?”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she told him, moving closer and linking arms. “I’ve forgiven you for keeping secrets from me. I just don’t believe we can go on acting as if it never happened. It did happen, but the difference is that we’ve moved on. Or at least I hope we have.” She felt a muscle in his arm jerk and her lips turned down. “Have we?”

  Talon opened his mouth and just as quickly closed it.

  “What?” she asked, casting him an anxious glance.

  He rubbed his jaw. “I think we need to discuss something before we can fully move on.”

  She took a deep breath and exhaled before replying. “Okay. What do you want to discuss?”

  “I know you said you trust me, but do you really? Do you believe me when I say I won’t ever betray you? Because I don’t want to go through this again, Keeley. I need to know that you’re not going to hold this over my head every time something comes up.”

  She tamped down the impulse to give a quick nod. He put a lot of thought into this and she needed to do the same. “I believe that you won’t lie to me again, but can I ask something first?”

  “Of course.”

  “I need you to promise you won’t make decisions for me again. I don’t appreciate the way everything came out about Claire. Can you do that?”

  He looked into her eyes and nodded. “I can. I’ll be upfront from now on.”

  She took hold of that promise and held it next to her heart. “Then yes, Talon, I trust you.”

  “Good,” he murmured, bringing them to a stop, “because otherwise this could have been a really uncomfortable conversation.”

  She laughed and looped her hands around his neck. “And what about you? Do you trust me not to walk away again?”

  He smoothed a strand of her hair and then let his hands drop to her hips. “I trust you, baby doll. You more than proved that when you stole my phone.”

  “I didn’t steal anything.”

  He tugged her till she was flush against his body. Leaning down, he whispered, “Then what do you call us having each other’s phones?”

  Tilting her head, she whispered back, “Great planning.”

  “Hmmm,” he murmured, capturing her lips in a kiss that made her stomach flutter. Stretching her body upward, she closed her eyes and let herself be swept away by him.

  A loud whistle pierced through the air, penetrating the fog that clouded her mind. Pulling her head away, she looked over Talon’s shoulder to see a group of middle schoolers watching them.

  “We have an audience.”

  “Who cares?” he muttered, trying t
o kiss her again. But she dodged his attempts.

  Stepping to the side, she scolded him. “They’re kids!”

  He rolled his eyes. “They could learn a thing or two.”

  This time it was her turn to roll her eyes. She grabbed his arm and moved them farther down the beach, far away from impressionable young children.

  “Uh, I think someone wants to get a hold of you,” Talon said. He held up her phone. There were three missed calls and four texts. She snatched it out of his hand. They were all from Zach.

  When are you coming home?

  Keels? You there? Need a time.

  You coming back any time soon?

  Stop making googly eyes at your boyfriend and pick up your phone!

  “What’s wrong?” Talon asked, rubbing his hands up and down her back. She shifted closer and he started to massage her shoulders.

  “Zach,” she sighed, leaning into his touch.

  His fingers tightened. “What does he want?”

  “Who knows,” she said, frustrated with her brother. Was he really going to resort to petty behavior? “He keeps asking when I’ll be coming home. Like he even cares. He just wants to ruin this moment ... and I won’t let him.”

  She didn’t bother to read the next text. Probably some type of insult about Talon. She was putting her phone away when Talon grabbed her arm.

  “You should text him back,” he told her.

  Surprised, she angled her head back so she could look at him. “Really? You want me to respond?”

  “He might be worried.”

  “He knows I’m with you. He’s only doing this to bug us.”

  “Probably,” he acknowledged with a nod.

  “There’s no probably about it.”

  “But,” he said, stressing the word, “there could be a small chance it’s something else?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you being so nice about this?”

  He turned her around so they were facing each other. “Because if I’m going to be with you, he’s going to be in the picture. Just text him back and then we can forget about him.”

  I don’t know when I’ll be home. Why?

  Are you going to be past curfew?

  She glanced over at Talon, who was a few feet away rolling up his jeans. He looked up and gave her a goofy grin, pointing to a plastic pail and shovel someone had left behind.

  I don’t plan on it.

  Do Mom and Dad know who you’re out with?

  Before she could respond, he sent her another message.

  I need to know what to tell them if I’m going to cover for you.

  She blinked and then reread his text.

  Cover for me? You’d do that?

  Well, yeah.

  He would be willing to help her spend time with Talon? His one text said it all.

  I don’t think I’ll be late but I’ll let you know if I am.

  And thanks … it means a lot.

  You’ve had my back plenty of times. About time I repay the favor.

  Does that mean you accept Talon as my boyfriend?

  Don’t get ahead of yourself. Let’s just say I’ll tolerate it. For now. Have fun.

  As she made her way over to Talon, who was already starting to build a sand castle — or attempting to — she wondered if her brother’s new attitude extended toward girls. Hopefully, he could put aside his ways and finally find one he really liked. She wanted him to have the same happiness she felt right now.

  “Everything okay?” Talon asked, plopping a handful of wet sand onto another huge blob of wet sand.

  She briefly told him about her conversation with Zach. He seemed as surprised as she was, but when she suggested they might turn into friends, his surprise gave way to a fierce glower.

  “It could happen!” she said, winking at his dismay.

  Suddenly, he picked her up by her waist and twirled her around. “Talon,” she laughed, holding on to his shoulders, “what are you doing?”

  “I thought it was obvious,” he said, spinning her some more before gently setting her back down. “I’m celebrating.”

  “That my brother gave us his approval?”

  “I could care less about that. No, I’m celebrating us.” He dropped his forehead onto hers and clasped her hands, drawing them up to his chest. “We made it, Keeley.”

  Her brow furrowed. “We could have problems ... you never know ...” Edgewood and Crosswell would always be enemies. And what about college? She would be leaving. So would he.

  He pressed her hands over his heart, letting her feel the steady beat. “But we can get through whatever comes our way.” His tone dared her to disagree.

  A surge of affection coursed through her. She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Come on,” she said, tugging his hand. “Let’s go finish building your sand castle.”

  “Sand castle?!” His cheeks colored. “That’s not a sand castle.”

  She looked at the misshapen mound and sighed with relief. “Good, because I wasn’t sure how to break it to you that it looked like something out of a horror story. What were you trying to make, anyway?”

  “It’s a fort!” he exploded, his eyes flashing with indignation.

  “Oh! Oh …”

  “It’s clearly a fort! That’s the watchtower.” He pointed over to a small lumpy pile with rocks stacked on top. “And see? The barracks are over here and the —” While he continued to point out all essential features of the so-called fort, she silently laughed, wondering how he ever passed an art class.

  “Are you listening to me?” he asked.

  “Of course,” she told him, managing to put on a straight face. “The barracks. How could I not see it before? It’s so obvious.”

  A glint entered his eyes as he took a step toward her. “You, baby doll, are trouble.”

  “Never,” she teased, taking a step back.

  He started advancing, the sun bouncing off his blond hair. “Maybe you should be put in the dungeons.”

  “You’ll have to catch me first,” she taunted, running off down the beach. She heard him call her name as he started to follow, his long legs chasing her down. Laughing, she blew him a kiss and then let the boy who owned her heart catch her once and for all.

  I want to personally thank the following people without whom Textrovert would never have seen the light of day.

  To my Wattpad readers, your enthusiasm for The Cell Phone Swap kept me going when I wanted to throw in the towel and stop writing. Thank you for always encouraging me. You guys are the reason I write.

  To the Wattpad team — especially Ashleigh Gardner, Caitlin O’Hanlon and Aron Levitz — thank you for believing in my story. You worked hard to make my dreams possible. I couldn’t have done it without you.

  To my editor, Kate Egan, I will never forget one of the first comments you made: “More Peeps!” I think that’s when I knew you “got” my story. Thank you for showing me the ropes and making me a better writer. Your input has been invaluable.

  To Lisa Lyons, you read the first draft on Wattpad, full of errors and mistakes, and still saw something worth publishing. Thank you for taking a chance on my story.

  And finally, to my parents, Kollin and Joann. Your continual support has been the anchor that holds me steady. The best part of being published is seeing the pride on your faces. Thank you for everything. And no, Dad, you can’t have ten percent.

  Praise for Just a Normal Tuesday

  “There is grief and there is grace, and this book is full of both. A look at love, loss, and learning to live with questions that have no answers. Kim Turrisi is an exquisite new voice.”

  — Martha Brocken
brough,

  author of THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH

  “You’re the drummer,” she said to herself. “It’s your job to keep them on beat. To hold it all together.”

  But how the bloody hell was she supposed to do that?

  The more I touch someone, the more I can see and understand, and the more I think I can help.

  But that’s my mistake. I can’t help. You can’t “fix” people like you can solve a math problem.

  Lindsey Summers is the author of the wildly popular Wattpad title The Cell Phone Swap, on which this novel is based. Lindsey lives just outside Los Angeles. Textrovert is her first published book.