Jones:I did, too.
Charlie:Text me tomorrow and let me know if you still want to meet up for the race.
Jones:Okay, sure.
I was in so much trouble.
Chapter Two
Jones
It was stifling hot in my room when I woke up the next morning even with the box fan in the window. Sweat slicked over my skin, causing my boxers to stick to me. I wasn’t ready to get up. To deal with the morning or the cheerfulness that Mama was going to give me. How happy she was that we were going to be moving out of the trailer, how excited she was about me meeting her future husband, and how thrilled she was about living in an actual house.
Well, she might be right about that last part. I wondered if it would have central air. It would be nice to not wake up covered in sweat.
I glanced over at my phone to see I had a few text messages. Mostly from Ollie and Travis, but the ones from Charlie were the reason I grabbed my phone to unlock it.
Charlie:Good morning, Jones. I hope I’m not being too forward by texting you so soon. I know I said I could go to your race with you tonight, but something came up. What time does it finish? Can we meet at our spot on the beach later instead?
Charlie:Saw this and thought of you. Since, you know, you’re a big picture guy.
Charlie:Just realized you might be sleeping. Hope I didn’t wake you up.
He had attached a photo of a balloon tied to a fire hydrant. It was pink with white dots on it. My face broke out into a smile so big it hurt. The texts had only come in a few minutes ago.
Jones:Thanks for the picture. Don’t worry, you didn’t wake me. Are you one of those annoying morning people?
My heart raced in anticipation when I saw the bubbles appear for his reply, and I quickly climbed from my bed as my nerves got the best of me. Was that rude of me to say he was an annoying morning person? I didn’t know what I was even doing.
Charlie:Oof, already wounding me before nine in the morning! Is our relationship doomed before it’s even gotten started?
I stared at the message like it wasn’t even real. Was Charlie flirting with me or was he just joking? I was so confused. Instead of messaging him back, I pulled on a pair of shorts before I stepped out of my room. I freshened up in the bathroom before I found Mama sitting at our small two-person table as she drank her coffee and ran one hand through her dark hair. She smiled when she saw me, lifting her head and waving me over.
“Mama, I have a question.” I swallowed nervously, afraid of what she would think when I told her that I liked a boy. Scared she would hate me or think less of me.
Mama nodded. “You’re so serious for so early in the morning. Is it a girl that’s got your knickers in a twist?”
“Mama...” I hoped she thought the flush was from the warm morning.
She laughed softly. “Come sit with me, honey.” She motioned for me to come closer, and I gripped my phone in my hand. When I sat down, Mama’s hazel eyes searched my face. “Jones, you know you can always tell me anything. I would never, ever think less of you.”
I ducked my head. “Mama, how do I know if a boy likes me?”
I was absolutely terrified to look at her face. To see if she was disgusted with me. Afraid she would tell me that boys shouldn’t feel that way about other boys. But when Mama didn’t say anything, and the silence got to be too much, I looked up from under my lashes to find her smiling at me.
“Tell me about him first. What’s his name? Where did you meet him? What does he look like? Oh, my sweet boy, love is in the air,” she gushed as she placed both of her hands on the table. “Jones, God made you the way you were supposed to be. There is nothing to be ashamed of. You’re perfect.”
I wanted to burst into tears. I had been so miserable since my mother told me she was going to marry some stranger, and now she was telling me she accepted me just the way I was.
“He’s handsome and has brown eyes and dark hair. I met him on the beach last night when I was taking pictures.” I was blushing again. “I just... Mama, how do I know? Maybe he just wants to be friends.”
She shook her head. “Nonsense, Jones. You’re beautiful, funny, and smart. He’d be a fool not to realize that.”
“Oh fudge!” I hadn’t texted Charlie back. He said something about not making the race tonight but meeting atthe beach and probably thought I was mad. “Mama, may I be excused?”
“Of course.”
I rushed back into my room to respond to Charlie in private.
