The Boy on the Bridge

by Sam Mariano

  That’s the thought in my head—and the look on my face—when Hunter’s gaze swings in my direction. He loses his easy smile and pushes back his chair, then he walks over to my side of the table. “Hey. You good?”

  I force a smile, glancing down at the table instead of at him. I can’t look at him when I’m about to lie to him. “Yeah. I’m good. Um, I just… my mom’s on her way, so me and Sara won’t be able to go to the movies with you guys.”

  He scowls. “Already? Didn’t you tell her we were all gonna catch a movie after—?”

  “Yeah, but it’s—she got called in for an evening shift, so she won’t be able to pick me up later.”

  “My mom can give you a ride home.”

  I shake my head, offering up an apologetic smile. “We’re leaving. Sorry.”

  Seeing right through my excuse, he looks me dead in the eye and asks, “You’re not having fun, are you?”

  I shrug, not knowing what to say. “I like spending time with you…”

  “But you don’t like my friends.”

  Still avoiding his gaze, I try to explain it without placing all the blame on Valerie. “I just don’t really have much in common with them.”

  “You haven’t spent enough time with them to know that.”

  “I don’t like seeing you with Valerie,” I admit.

  He rears back a bit, clearly stunned to hear that. “What? Why?”

  “She likes you,” I say, so uncomfortable I want to crawl out of my skin. “And maybe you like her, too—”

  “I don’t,” he says, not letting me finish. “Not like that.”

  “Well, it’s hard to tell,” I say, flushing with a mix of pleasure and embarrassment. “You kinda… I don’t know, flirt with her a little.”

  “I flirt with her?” he asks, breaking into an amused grin as realization dawns on him. “You’re jealous.”

  Oh my God. A blast of burning heat rushes to my cheeks. I wish I could crawl out of my own skin like a snake and slither away into some clever hiding spot where Hunter Maxwell could never find me.

  The closest thing I can do is explode up out of my chair, so I do that. My face is on fire as I gather my bags and slide my purse strap up over my shoulder. “I did not say that.”

  “Didn’t have to.” He grins at me, his brown eyes dancing with amusement. “You sure you want to bail? Leave me here alone in a dark theater with Valerie? Maybe you should tag along and make sure I behave myself.”

  I know he’s only ragging on me, but I scoff at him anyway. “Please. I’d never babysit a guy. My mom taught me better than that. If you like Valerie, there’s no way you like me. If you don’t like me, then—”

  He stands just as abruptly as I did, moving so close he’s practically on top of me.

  My words halt and my amusement fades. His handsome face is so close to mine, my heart sinks. I can’t think straight when he stands so close to me.

  “Then what?” he challenges, looking down at me and holding my gaze.

  Stampeding wild animals stomp through my chest as I look back at him. I can see from the glimmer in his eyes, he knows exactly how he’s affecting me.

  “Don’t torture me, Hunter.”

  “This isn’t what it feels like to be tortured by me, Catnip.”

  My heart seizes again at his response and that nickname. He’s toying with me, but he means no harm. I’ve given him enough insight that he knows my weak spots. It might be silly, but when he calls me that, he turns my brain into celery juice.

  If this isn’t what torture feels like, I don’t think I could bear it. My heart is already in the palm of his hand, his fingers positioned around it so perfectly, the faintest squeeze is unbearable. I can only imagine the damage he could do if he wanted to break it.

  I like him way too much. Part of me thinks maybe Mom was right about spending time with him, but mostly I don’t care. It might be a really bad idea to fall for him, but I’m probably gonna do it anyway.

  As if he can sense how close he is to winning the war waging inside me, Hunter reaches out and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. His touch is so casual, so seemingly harmless, but it lights up every nerve ending above my neck and sends a jolt of awareness down my spine.

  Heat suffuses my face—not from embarrassment, but something else altogether. I look down, no longer able to hold his gaze. I know this casual little touch probably isn’t anything to him, but it’s a lot for me. I’ve never had a guy touch my face this way—or at all.

  It makes me wonder what it would be like if he kissed me. Would he touch my face and draw me close? Would it be slow and sweet and so tender my heart would explode?

  He drops his hand and takes a step back, leaving me here with my head in the clouds.

  “All right,” he says, the lightness of his tone relaying that he’s gonna let me off the hook—for now, anyway. “I guess we’ll catch a movie some other time.”

  I look up just long enough to catch his gaze, but then Mark calls out for him. Hunter needs to head back to his kingdom, so he spares me one last charming little smile, then he moves past me and goes back to his friends.

  I’m feeling a little floaty, my heart so light in my chest, I’m surprised it doesn’t lift me off the ground. A tiny smile plays around my lips—at least, until I look up.

  Valerie is standing just a few feet away, her feet cemented to the ground. I can see by the look on her face that she just witnessed Hunter touching me, and if blue eyes could kill, hers would be roasting me alive.

  “Huh. Guess I won’t be able to squeeze all of Hunter’s trash into that tiny receptacle,” she says, her eyes moving up and down my body with the sharpness of a blade.

  Since she wants to cut me so badly, I offer her a little smile to show her I’m unscathed. “Aw, don’t feel bad. Keep eating those salads and I’m sure eventually you’ll fit.”

  It takes a moment for my barb to land, but when she gets it, her eyes narrow and she glares at me. “Watch it, Riles. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.”

  I don’t bother to mean mug her back. “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “You should be,” she states.

  “Why?” I challenge, cocking my head. “What exactly are you gonna do to me?”

  Her eyes narrow even more, but she doesn’t seem to have an answer for me.

  I’d say she’s all bark and no bite, but she’s not—Sara’s social isolation is proof of that. But that’s the thing—Valerie reigns over a kingdom I don’t care about. She could cut me down socially… but I’m already in social Siberia with Sara. Hunter’s the only socially relevant person who pays me any attention, and she can’t take him away from me. As much as she’d obviously like to, she doesn’t have that power.

  She can’t do anything to me, and I can see her simmering as she realizes it.

  Finally, she says, “Stay away from Hunter.”

  I don’t know why she thinks she’s my boss, but I derive great pleasure from telling her, “No.”

  Her eyes widen slightly like she has never heard that word before in her life, but I don’t wait for a response. I take my bags and go over to find Sara so I can tell her my mom is on her way.

  Chapter Seven

  Since hanging out with his friends didn’t go so well, I’m not sure what to expect when I go back to school on Monday. All morning as I get ready I think about Hunter. I don’t want to set myself up for disappointment, so I tell myself we probably won’t even get a chance to talk today. And that’s okay. My relationship with Hunter isn’t a status thing for me, I don’t care if I’m not seen talking to him.

  With my expectations adjusted, I prepare to start my day. Mom can give me a ride to school on her way to work, but I’ll have to walk home. That’s perfectly fine with me. Hopefully I’ll run into Hunter.

  Mom’s frowning lightly as she waits by the door, keys in hand. “Hey, that’s a snazzy jacket. Where did it come from?”

  “My genie.”

  “Ah. What did I tell y
ou about wishing for clothes? Dream bigger, kid.”

  I flash her a smile and head out the door, adjusting my backpack strap over one shoulder as I head for the car.

  Mom locks up behind me and follows me out. “Seriously, though. Where did you get the jacket?”

  I sigh, walking around to the passenger side door and pulling it open. I shouldn’t have worn the jacket. When I got home from the mall, Mom asked to see what I bought—not to check up on me, she just likes shopping and was excited to see what I picked up at the “awesome sales” I mentioned to explain how I had two bags full of stuff when she sent me to the store with only $20. I managed to get out of showing her, and I hoped she just wouldn’t notice when I started peppering the items Venus bought me into my regular wardrobe.

  The jacket is too obvious, though.

  “I don’t remember which store it was,” I tell her, shoving my backpack into the space between my legs in the floorboard. “It’s not very warm, but it’s just a little chilly today, so I thought I might as well take it for a spin.”

  She’s still frowning, looking me over as she drops into the passenger seat. “You managed to get this and something else in the other bag? And you bought food? Do you actually have a genie? If so, can you pass the lamp to me when you’re done with it?”

  “I didn’t pay for my food,” I explain. “I was going to, but—” The prospect of mentioning his name trips me up, and I pause awkwardly before admitting, “Hunter bought my dinner. He was in line ahead of me and he got the same thing, so he just… paid for both orders.”

  Mom gets that look on her face like I’m talking about having a tea party with the antichrist yet again. “Ah. Good old Hunter.”

  “I really don’t understand what you have against him,” I tell her as I fasten my seatbelt. “I wish you’d give him a chance. I honestly believe you’d like him if you did.”

  “I’m not not giving him a chance.”

  “You hate him for no reason,” I state, cocking an eyebrow at her.

  “I do not hate him. You’re putting words in my mouth,” she says, watching in the rear-view mirror, then looking over her shoulder as she backs out of the driveway. “I just think you’re too young for a Hunter, that’s all. I was prepared for all this to start in a couple years—I’ve ordered the blueprints for the tower I’m going to have built in the back yard and everything. But now here you are, liking a boy before I’m ready. It’s so rude.”

  I crack a smile. “A tower, huh?”

  “The brick and mortar is already stashed in the garage. I got a good deal buying bulk.”

  “I guess I better start growing my hair out then,” I tell her.

  “Nope. That won’t work. I’m going to cut your hair every six weeks to make sure no stupid boys can climb it and thwart my crafty thinking.” She taps her temple. “See? I’ve thought of everything.”

  I shake my head at her, turning my attention to watch out the window. I still think she’s being close-minded about Hunter, but I’m glad we’re not fighting over him this time. My mom has always been my rock, and there’s nothing worse than being in a fight with her.

  ___

  After a long day of not seeing Hunter, I finally spot him in the cafeteria. He’s not looking my way and we don’t get a chance to talk, but I just like being near him. Sara talks my ear off about going to the mall with them this weekend, and even though Wally hasn’t paid her any attention either, she is not discouraged.

  We go outside for recess and Sara takes a break from her Wally chatter to admire my new jacket. I told my mom it was faux leather, but it’s the real thing—black and slim cut. I feel really pretty in it, and it reminds me of what Hunter’s mom said about makeup. I haven’t worn any of the stuff she bought me yet. I did slather on some moisturizer after my shower this morning, but I thought my mom might notice if I put on mascara.

  Our post-lunch break passes quickly and then it’s back to class. The rest of the school day drags and then it’s finally time to go home. I look around for Hunter as I’m making my way toward the woods, but I don’t see him.

  I’m just a little past the bridge when my phone vibrates in my pocket. When I draw it out, I see a message from an unknown number on the screen.

  “What are you doing tonight?”

  I scowl at the screen and type back, “Who is this?”

  I can almost sense the casual impatience in the response. “Who do you think it is?”

  “Someone who’s about to be blocked?” I shoot back.

  “You like me, so that would be unfortunate. How about I give you clues?”

  “How about you tell me who gave you my number?”

  “It was Sara,” he answers.

  A grin splits my face. “Hunter.”

  “Damn, you got that one fast.”

  “That dirty rat, giving out my number to sketchy dudes.”

  “Right?” he shoots back. “Don’t worry though, I told her not to hand it out to any OTHER sketchy dudes, so I’m the only one you have to worry about.”

  Every step I take feels a little lighter now that I’m texting him.

  “Back to my original question,” he types. “What are you doing tonight?”

  “Homework and then watching movies with my mom,” I answer. “What about you?”

  “Lame. Can’t you blow off your mom?”

  “No?” I quickly add, “Why, did you have another idea?”

  “You owe me a movie,” he states.

  “Oh, do I?” I ask, barely able to contain my pleasure that he wants to go to a movie with me.

  “Yep. My mom’s going out with the asshole tonight, so I thought maybe we could grab some food and see a movie.”

  I would consider blowing off my mom for that, but I’m 90% sure she won’t go for it. “The problem with that plan is that if I told my mom about it, she would insist it sounds like a date.”

  “It would sound like a date because it would be a date,” he informs me.

  My heart just about rockets out of my chest. I stop walking in the middle of the dirt path and barely fight the urge to squeal so I can type back, but my fingers are shaking now with excitement. “The problem with that is my mom won’t let me date. She thinks I’m too young.”

  “I see,” he texts back. “Well, in that case, it’s definitely not a date. Tell her I’m an idiot and you have to help me study. Tell her we’ll be at my house.”

  “Lie to my mom?”

  “You’re killing me, Bishop. We’ve gotta find a way to get that halo off your head.”

  “I do not have a halo on my head, but I can’t lie to my mom. I’ve already bent the truth enough after that shopping spree your mom took me on.”

  “Ok, new plan,” he says. “What time does your mom usually go to bed? Maybe you can sneak out and we can watch a movie at my place instead. My mom won’t care what time it is. We hang out on different levels more often than not anyway, so we won’t keep anyone awake.”

  “I can’t sneak out of my house!”

  “Not with that attitude you can’t,” he shoots back. “It’s not technically lying. What are the chances she will ever ask you what you did tonight after you both went to bed? See? This can work.”

  “You’re a bad influence,” I tell him, despite smiling so much my face is beginning to ache. “I’m going to block you just for being a deviant.”

  “Do it, I’ll just show up at your house. Your mom will really be happy then.”

  I snort with laughter, grinning at my phone as I text back. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Watch me.”

  He probably would, so I text back, “All right, I’ll back down this time. I want my mom to like you, and if you showed up on my doorstep because I blocked your number she would definitely think you're a psycho.”

  “So when we meet, I SHOULDN’T tell her about my nighttime hobby of peeking in your bedroom window. Got it.”

  “Creep,” I answer.

  “Your creep,” he sends back.

/>   I nearly drop my phone. My heart skitters. I want to respond so he doesn’t think he spooked me, but I don’t know what to say. I’m elated—definitely not spooked.

  Fortunately, Hunter has enough self-confidence that he does not doubt my interest just because he struck me momentarily speechless.

  “Movie. You. Me. Tonight. How are we doing this?”

  I have no idea, but while I may have started this conversation thinking a movie definitely wasn’t in the cards for us tonight, now I want it more than air.

  Hunter called himself mine.

  Maybe he was joking, but even if he was… you don’t just tell a joke like that if you’re not seriously into someone, right?

  “Let me talk to my mom when I get home and figure it out,” I text back, finally breaking my silence. “I’ll text you in a bit with a better answer.”

  “I’m looking for ‘yes,’ so just assume I’m going to talk you out of all your excuses until you land there.”

  I roll my eyes indulgently even though he can’t see me. “I’m already looking for a way to give you a yes, don’t worry.”

  “That’s what I like to hear,” he answers.

  I sigh with pleasure, sliding my phone back into my pocket and resuming my walk home. Everything that just happened has thrown me so off balance, but in the best way possible. I was floored that Hunter even had my phone number and he opened the door to being able to talk to him whenever I want, but to ask me on a date and then talk like we’re already together? I may not be an angel, but I’m definitely in heaven.

  My mind races with possible scenarios as I make my way home. First, I run through all the ones that don’t involve lying to my mom, but none of those end in a sneaky date with Hunter tonight. I don’t agree with him that a premeditated deception that doesn’t require vocally lying is any less shady than outright lying, but I already know my mom’s stance on me dating, and I know it won’t change for Hunter, who she has already decided she doesn’t like. I’ll find a way around that in time, but I’m not a miracle worker; I can’t pull it off tonight.

  If I want to see him tonight, I’ll have to be sneaky.