She snatches the cookie up and takes a bite. “Oh my gosh!” She yells through a mouthful of cookie. “These are incredible! You were right. Theyarebetter than the dough!” With her mouth still full, she asks, “What are you waiting for? We need to get you one too before I eat the rest on the tray.” She pushes pastme and snags a warm cookie for me. She places it on a napkin and shoves it into my hands. “Cheers!”
We both take a bite, and I can’t help the memory that comes flooding back with the swirl of cinnamon and chocolate on my tongue. I’m sitting at my grandpa’s kitchen bar, having “life talks” while we eat two cookies each. For the first time today, the memory doesn’t make me sad. I’m happy to have the memory. It’s just like Rebecca said earlier. Now, because of Grandpa, I get to make new memories with these cookies. I’m going to remember today as a good day. Not only did Rebecca discover the magic of my Grandpa’s cookies, but our friendship grew a lot stronger today too. I whisper a silent, “Thank you, Grandpa,” and finish my cookie, happily grabbing a second.
CHAPTER 9
Summer 15
“He finally let go!” Rebecca yells to her dad. He slows to a stop as Rebecca throws up the orange flag, and I begin pulling Andrew back to the boat. “He’s such a showoff. Why does he have to go for so long and do all those jumps?”
Mr. Martin chuckles. “He’s a fifteen-year-old boy, honey. I’d expect nothing less.” Brushing some of the fly aways along her hairline, he quickly adds, “Don’t worry, you looked great out there too!” Watching Rebecca’s facial expression, I can tell the compliment doesn’t do much to soothe her.
Andrew reaches the back of the boat and climbs up the ladder, dripping all over the custom upholstery. As he unzips his life vest, I try not to stare at his broad shoulders, strong biceps, and traces of a six-pack. As a result of throwing javelin and doing the triple jump for his high school track team, Andrew started weight training this spring, and it has done miracles for his body.
Focusing on anything other than his taut muscles, I say, “You looked good out there. You’re getting pretty good at jumping the wake.”
He’s been working on that since the beginning of the summer. At first, he would wipe out every time, but now, to Rebecca’s dismay, he’s basically perfected it. “Thanks! When are you going to try getting out on the wakeboard?”
“Ummm probably around never,” I deadpan.
“Come on! The summer is almost over, and you still haven’t tried it.” Rebecca buts in. “You’re great at water skiing. Why won’t you try wake boarding?”
“I think you mean I’m mediocre at water skiing on a good day. I just don’t want to go out there and follow that.” I motion to Andrew.
He smiles. “Em, no one cares! It’s just us.”
I shake my head. “I can hardly water ski! What makes you think this will be any different? Let’s just face the fact that I’m not good at water sports.” I add, “It doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying being out on the boat with you.”
“You promised me you’d try something new this summer! You have to follow through on your promise.” Rebecca gives me her best puppy dog look.
“I did say that. I’m not breaking my promise by not wake boarding. I’m just choosing to try something else.”
“Do it for me!” Andrew begs. “Please. You’ll love it! It’s way more fun than water skiing.”
He must still see the hesitation on my face because after a beat he adds, “If you go, I’ll convince one of my parents to drive us to the bookstore I told you about. I’ll buy you a book of your choice, and we can get ice cream from the place across the street. I hear it’s homemade.”
Ihatethat he knows me so well! How am I supposed to pass up an offer like that? A bookandice cream? Not to mention a day with Andrew all to myself.
“Fine. For the record, I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for the free book and ice cream.”
Rebecca is already grabbing me a lifejacket out of the storage compartment underneath one of the seats. “That’s what it takes? I’ll keep that in mind.” She hands me the life jacket. “I’m so proud of you!”
“What do I do?” My stomach churns as the nerves build.What am I getting myself into?
“You’ll pretty much sit in the water with your knees bent, just like skiing only different,” Rebecca begins.
My shoulders slouch. “This is why I didn’t want to do it. You’re awful at explaining things, Becs!”
She pretends to be hurt, but I know it takes a lot more than that to break through Rebecca’s thick skin.
Andrew turns from shortening the rope hanging off the boat and asks his dad, “Why don’t we get closer to our dock to start, and then I can get in the water with her?”
“Sure thing.” Mr. Martin nods and turns the boat around to head back toward their cabin.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” I ask uneasily.
“Did you not see me out there? I know what I’m doing.”
“I mean do you know how to teach wake boarding.” Exasperation begins to build. “Your ability to teach me can make or break this experience. I’m doing this once for a free book and dessert, but don’t think I’ll be bribed again.”
