She stomps her foot. “Would you stop interrupting me? You make this so difficult sometimes.”
“Make what difficult?”
“I’m trying to apologize, you jerk,” she snaps.
“This is anapology? Goodness. I’d hate to see you upset.”
“You know what? Forget it.”
She goes to turn around, but I catch her wrist and spin her back to me. Her eyes take on a metallic sheen, her full mouth curled down at the corners. I’m probably two seconds away from having the rest of the milkshake dumped on my head.
“I’m sorry I interrupted,” I quickly say.
With that one phrase, her anger deflates like a balloon.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper.” She waits a beat before adding, “And for being rude to you at the bridal boutique.”
I whistle. “A double apology?”
“Don’t get used to it.” She playfully taps my shoulder and smiles.
The ground drops under my feet, her sweet smile catching me off guard. My mind returns to which flavor lip gloss coats her lips again.Does it taste like it too?
“Tristen?”
“Hmm?” I lean on my toes in her direction, catching ahint of watermelon mixed with the banana from her milkshake.So sweet...
“I asked where you parked.”
“Oh.”
What the heck am I doing?I turn around and start power walking away. “This way.”
“Wait up.”
Her boots crunch in the dirt in the parking lot, rushed steps as she falls in line beside me. I sense her curious glances, but I keep the pace brisk until we arrive at my beat-up white truck.
“Hop in.” I leap into the fabric seats, soft and conformed to my shape after fifteen years.
Reese opens the door, her eyes wide. “You didn’t lock it? I’m surprised someone didn’t steal this gem as soon as you walked away.”
I ignore her sarcasm. “Just get in.”
She climbs in next to me and rubs a hand across the fraying burgundy seats.
“Wow. I forgot how old this is. ’95 Chevy, right? It’s been a while since I’ve seen a cassette player.” She glances behind us at the bench seat. “Remember when I hid back here when you and Des drove to the movies that one time? Man. I hated it when you two left me behind.”
“That’s right. You nearly sent us careening off the edge of the mountain when you popped up out of nowhere. Almost as bad as when you and Nova snuck off to that boy band concert, and I had to drag you both home.” I rub my hand across the dashboard. “This gal has seen a lot in her old age and still has more life left in her.”
“Hold on—her? Are you still calling your truck that weird name?”
“Don’t talk about Agnes like that. She has feelings.”
Reese fights a smile and takes a slow sip of the drink to gain her composure.
“But before we go...” I say and lean behind the seat to grab a black t-shirt from the box and toss it onto her lap, startling her.
She picks it up with two fingers. “What’s this for?”
