Hey.Thad texted me as I unhooked the leash from Frankie’s collar. We had returned from our long walk. I refilled Frankie’s water bowl with ice water and ran to my room to reply to the message. My heart was pounding, mind was racing. This was it. He was finally ready to talk to me.
Heyy, I replied.
Can I call you?he asked.
Of course. You of all people can.
There was an awkward silence when I first answered. We were both nervous. He was probably still unsure of how he wanted to be with me. While I was terrified that he was calling to end everything.
I broke the ice. What did I have to lose? Everything. “I hung out with my twin brothers today. Imagine how that was?”
“You rolling your eyes. That’s what I imagine.”
I recounted my day at the pool with the boys and how I was able to show off my swimming skills and then relax in the sun. I left out the part about his friend Heather. Our conversation needed to be positive. And I didn’t want that interaction to discourage him.
“I wish I could have come,” he finally said.
You wish you could have been with me? That’s a good start.
“I had practice today with my hockey club. But I didn’t go to skating lessons.”
“Why not? Do you not like it anymore?” I asked, knowing he wouldn’t quit skating lessons unless he had to.
“No, I do. I actually really like it. My dad won’t pay for lessons anymore.”
“Why not?” I bit my lip. I knew why.
“I guess it’s punishment.”
“That’s not fair. It helps you with hockey, doesn’t it?”
“It sucks. But whatever,” he said, then sighed before perking up and adding, “My parents aren’t going to be home tomorrow night. Want to hang here?”
Yes. You don’t even have to ask.
His parents planned on going to a baseball game that night and decided to get a hotel room at one of the casinos in downtown Detroit, leaving the house to him and his sister. He mentioned, though, that his sister wasn’t going to be home either, not that I think she would have cared. I didn’t know her, but I’d hoped she wasn’t as uptight as their parents.
“That’d be cool,” I responded.
“I’m sorry about the other day. That wasn’t fair.” He lowered his voice.
“It’s totally fine. I can’t be mad. Who knows what I would have done if it were reversed?”
Actually, I did. I would have spotted him from a mile away and hid. It was being with my brothers that distracted me from seeing him, forcing me to continue my forward motion that day in the mall.
“I was thinking of maybe inviting two or three people.” He gulped loud enough for me to hear it through the phone.
“Are you sure? You don’t have to do that if you’re not ready.”
He hadn’t even met my friends yet, though I was unsure if I still had any. Kayla and Samantha weren’t mad at me. At least I didn’t think they were. I hadn’t heard from anyone after Dana’s party.
“I like you, Étienne. I think as much as you like me. Maybe it’ll work out.”
SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2008
25
I ASKED THE MOON