Silence falls in the car, and I hate it. I want to keep her talking, and not about past girls I’ve had. This isn’t going the way I’d hoped.
“Do you have a major yet? Alex told me you were undecided.”
“I still am.”
“You don’t know what you want to study?”
“Nope. I don’t have a clue. It’s hard for me to think of one simple thing to settle on for the rest of my life. How can anyone decide that at eighteen?”
“I know what you mean. It’s tough to find your path and accept it.”
Pulling into the diner, I hear her stomach rumble, and know I’ve brought her to the right place. Glancing over at Skylar, I see that her face is bright red. “You don’t need to be embarrassed.”
We find a nice quiet booth, and immediately Skylar is looking over the menu. Her index finger is slowly scrolling through the list, and I notice she is biting her bottom lip as she reads.
Looking away is impossible.
How did I not realize how cute she was growing up? Don’t get me wrong, I always knew she was sweet, and cute, but I never thought about it for myself.
“Why do you keep staring at me? Do I have a zit or something?”
“No. I was just wondering when you grew up.”
She smiles, and it lights up the whole of her face.
“A long time ago. Believe me.”
“You seem a little different from what I remember. Did anything happen back home?” I ask.
“Nothing, Holden. Believe me. You don’t have to worry all that much about me.”
The waitress comes to take our order. Before Skylar even orders, I know what she wants. Pancakes, bacon, maple syrup, with scrambled egg. It’s a dish I’ve seen her eat many times. Once, when I first heard it, I thought it was really gross. She made me try it, and guess what, it wasn’t gross at all.
“What the hell. I’ll take the same.”
“You’ve decided to live on the dangerous side, how will you cope?” she asks.
“You’re going to have to hold my hand, babe. Go on this wild ride with me.” Reaching out to touch her hand, I’m happy when she doesn’t pull away. Her skin is so soft, even on her hands.
“When can we expect my brother?”
“I’d say around lunch, and be prepared. He’ll order a big ass steak.”
She sighs. “He never could handle his liquor.”
“Or his girls.”
Skylar scrunches up her nose. “That’s what I’m worried about. I did want to go to a college in the complete opposite direction and stay away from you guys.”
I’m hurt. “Why?”
“My brother has always had girls falling at his feet, and I was worried. You know. Worried that I’ll end up at the bottom of the food chain with all of those girls you overlook. If my parents weren’t so dead set against me being on my own, that’s where I would have gone.”
Holding my hands up, I give her a face that I’m hoping looks somewhat innocent. “You’ve got no problems from me. There are no scary girls in my past, or anyone for you to be afraid of.”
She chuckles, and that sound is what it’s all about.
“I like this. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed being around you guys. Well, you. I’m sure Alex is still the same, and he can be a laugh.”