‘I guess I was feeling insecure because, let’s face it, you like me, but I’m way more into you,’ he continues, rolling his eyes self-deprecatingly. ‘But next time if I’m upset with you about something, like being late, I’ll just talk with you about it, rather than try to make you feel bad. I’m sorry I acted like that.’
‘I get it,’ I tell him, because I do. ‘And I appreciate the apology.’
I let Rob kiss me on my grandparents’ doorstep. I keep it short, but not because I’m not enjoying it. He’s a good kisser. Practised. But for some strange reason, I’m thinking about the wildboy and how his bare chest felt under my hand. How he shook when he realized I was touching him.
I say goodnight to Rob and go to bed, thinking about Wildboy chasing deer.
17 JULY
I go there again the next afternoon.
I lay out my blanket and wait, although I tell myself I’m not waiting. I’m just here to read and enjoy the sound of falling water. It rains. I pretend that sitting in the rain was part of my plan all along. I’m not waiting for Wildboy.
Wildboy doesn’t show.
I’m not disappointed, I tell myself. And why would he come back on the off chance that I would too, anyway? It’s not like I impressed him with my philosophy-lite reading choices or my pretentious poetry. We didn’t even tell each other our names.
When I get back to my grandparents’ house, there are two cars in the driveway. One is Rob’s and the other is a black Mercedes coupé I don’t recognize, but that just screams Liam to me.
I’m not wrong. I go inside and find Rob, Liam, Taylor, Mila, and Aura-Blue chatting with Grandma and Grandpa and drinking lemonade. Apparently, showing up at my house is now a thing.
‘Hi,’ I say, waving a desultory hand. ‘Did we make plans?’
‘We just stopped by to see if you wanted to come out with us,’ Mila says. She’s got such a sweet smile, I find myself smiling back at her.
‘I didn’t hear from you all day,’ Rob says, annoyed.
‘I was just hiking,’ I reply.
‘I love to hike,’ Mila croons. ‘We should go together someday.’
I pretend I didn’t hear her while I say, ‘I’m all sweaty. I’d have to clean up.’
‘We’ll wait,’ Liam says.
I look around for a way out and see Grandma’s eyes flash with worry that I’ll turn them down. I have no choice but to say, ‘Great! I’ll be right down.’
Another rushed shower, another sundress with a swipe of lipstick, and I hurry to join my uninvited guests.
‘Have fun,’ Grandma and Grandpa call out from the doorstep as Rob holds open the passenger door for me.
Rob gets in the car to avoid the faint drizzle that is left after the rain, but he doesn’t start the engine right away. He waits for my grandparents to go back inside and for Liam, Mila, Taylor, and Aura-Blue to pull out before he turns to face me.
‘Not even one text?’ he asks. He looks hurt.
‘I . . .’ I stammer, but he’s not done.
‘I thought after that kiss last night, you’d at least answer the phone and talk to me, but I would have settled for a text.’ He sits back and runs his hands through his hair. ‘There are a lot of girls who actually take my calls, you know.’
‘Rob, you’re a catch. I can see that. I’m a mess. Save yourself,’ I say through a laugh. Despite himself, Rob laughs with me.
‘Are you this hard on every guy who’s crazy about you?’ He taps the steering wheel in agitation. ‘I promised you I’d talk with you when something bothered me, rather than play head games, but are you just playing with me? You saw that I called, didn’t you?’
‘No. I usually switch off my phone unless I’m going to use it. Half the time, I don’t take it with me at all when I go hiking.’
He looks utterly baffled. The thought of being separated from technology is unthinkable. ‘Why?’
I don’t have to give him an explanation, but I decide he deserves one anyway. He’s really trying to be straight with me. I respect that. I respect him, I realize, because he’s earning it.