“All set.”
I doubt there’s anything left to fix on my car. Even this visit was a far stretch when I said I needed a tune-up, considering he just replaced a tire, replaced my brakes, and did an oil change. But hey, I’m driving it out to California soon, so it technically needed it. It makes me sad I won’t need to come back here. Won’t have any more excuses to see him.
Unless I suddenly get another flat…
I laugh at the thought, and that’s when I notice him watching me with an amused look on his face. He hands me my keys, and our fingertips brush like they always do, but this time it’s for a beat longer.
Ask if he wants to hang out again.
Friends can hang out, right? I mean, we already did once, so what’s the big deal if we do it again?
“Thanks again for all your help. I know you won’t let me pay, so I thought maybe I could take you out to dinner?” I feel like a fool for asking, but the question is out there now.
He can say no. Then you’ll go your separate ways. Friends who say hey occasionally until you slip into being acquaintances and then strangers again…
I scramble before he can answer. “Not like a date. You know, as friends. And it’s my treat.”
“I know what you meant, Lo. And sure, that sounds great.”
I breathe a sigh of relief I didn’t realize I was holding in.
My heart pounds, and my stomach twists because they know the truth, even if my brain doesn’t want to believe it.
I get to see him again!
ChapterFourteen
Tyler
One dinner turns into two and then three, and soon, Chloe and I are hanging out regularly.
It’s chill and casual, with all the initial awkwardness having faded away. But there’s no pressure—just two friends catching a movie or walking along the shore.
One night, her friend Cat and my friend Colby came along with us, and we spent the evening at a local fair, riding scary carnival rides and stuffing our faces full of fried dough and cotton candy.
And then came Carter’s Fourth of July party.
He invited everyone, including Chloe and Cat, so we planned a holiday weekend trip to the lake house. Colby was heading up with a few other friends, and I was to bring the girls.
The day before the Fourth, I picked them up, and off we headed to Upstate New York.
Carter’s family is well off. Family money for generations or something. The lake house is only one of his family’s vacation homes. I’ve been up here many times, having spent a week or two with Carter’s family during summer vacations growing up.
The large cabin sits right along the shore with a big wraparound porch. I’m excited for Chloe to see it. She seems excited too.
Her legs bounce against the seat, and I look over, happy to see her riding by my side again.
I wasn’t sure she’d want to come. I know my friends weren’t the nicest guys in high school, but they aren’t so bad now.
Cat and Colby seemed to enjoy each other a lot at the fair the other night. Maybe they’ll hit it off this weekend.
“How big is the lake?” Lo asks, dragging me away from thoughts of how I’d love to take her out on the canoe and bring her around the entire thing.
“It’s a good size. Maybe I can show you on the canoe.”
Lo smiles at me, and it’s hard not to get lost in it.That beautiful, deadly smile…But I reluctantly pull my eyes back to the road. “I’d like that,” she answers, her voice soft.
Suddenly, I have the urge to reach out and take her hand, to cover it with my own and give it a gentle squeeze. But I don’t, knowing it’ll only complicate things even more.