Kalista’s head popped up. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”
Viv gave her a sweet smile, one that made Kalista warm inside. Like she was loved. “Not at all. I think you’ve acclimated faster to Clementine than I did. I was just wondering if you were feeling homesick.”
She thought about it. “Not really.” She went back to writing.
“You don’t miss home? Your friends?”
“A little. I miss the beach.” But even as she said that, it wasn’t the beach parties or being seen at them. She missed the sound of the waves, the sand in her toes, the salt in the air.
“I like the beach too.” Viv picked up her pen. “But I’m glad everything is going well for you.”
Kalista was about to nod, then stopped. “There is, um, one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Do you know Tyler Hernandez?”
“April and José’s boy? Yes, he’s a very nice young man.”
If she had to hear one more time how nice Tyler was... “I think... I think I kinda like him.”
“Ooh.” Viv put down her pen and rested her hand on her chin, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Do tell.”
Nowthiswas the Viv she remembered—the one who liked a little bit of drama. She told Viv about how she was rude to him at the hoedown, and ever since then he wouldn’t talk to her. “I even tried to pay him back for the funnel cake. Twice. He wouldn’t accept my money.”
“That sounds like Tyler.”
“But he acts like I don’t exist.” Her mood was deflating. It was hard to admit she wasn’t appealing to him. “He even said it’s hard to be around me.”
“He said that?”
“Uh-huh.”
She sat back up. “Thatdoesn’tsound like him. Are you sure he said those exact words?”
“Yes.” Why was she pushing this point? “He doesn’t want to be around me. Ryan didn’t either. Daddy definitely doesn’t—”
“Your father loves you.”
“He sent me away.”
“To learn how to be an adult. And you’ve made a lot of progress.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled. But that still didn’t change the truth. She was unlikable.
Viv got up to get a glass of tea.
Kalista resumed her calligraphy. What else was there to say? She couldn’t make Tyler like her. Which was a shame, because she really, really liked him. Everybody else at work did too, and he seemed to like them. The only person he had a problem with was...her.
When she sat back down, Viv said, “Have you tried talking to Tyler?”
“Yes, a couple of times. I gave up, though.”
“Maybe you’re giving up too soon.”
“Viv—”
“I’ve got an idea. It’s a little sneaky, though. And you’ll have to tell him everything that’s on your mind... and heart.”
