“It was pretty incredible. Now that everyone in our world associates me with this place, it’ll be impossible for Dad to try to steal it or otherwise ruin things for me without tarnishing his reputation.”
I reached for my cider and took a long, satisfied swig.
“Today was a good day. Tomorrow will be even better.” Davis worked his brows. “How are you feeling about your big date?”
“Thankful that you agreed to go with me,” I said. “Everyone back home is worried I’m walking into the next episode ofUnsolved Mysteries.”
He snorted and stretched his long legs out before the fire. “You’re safe with me, Rini. Any guesses about who you’re meeting?”
I took another wing from the pile. The hot and spicy sauce burned my tongue and throat in a gloriously savory way. “Assuming he doesn’t stuff me into an unmarked van and drive away, I’m sure whoever it is will be fine.”
Davis arched his brows. “Finedoesn’t sound like you’re very excited to meet this mystery man. Are the letters creepy? Does he give stalker vibes?”
“No.” I bristled, ready to defend my admirer, even to my clueless crush. “He’s sweet,” I said. “Kind and genuine. He’s compassionate and bookish. He sees me, and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt seen by anyone other than Cecily.”
“I see you,” Davis said, setting his bottle aside and fixing me with the full weight of his smoldering gaze.
My breath caught, and I swallowed hard. Suddenly the silly thought I’d had in class about dating Paul seemed downright absurd, and the possibility my longtime friend and current admirer might be Michael made me want to cry. The only man I wanted sat right in front of me, close enough to hold and beg to see things my way.
The flicker of hope diminished as a new thought came to mind. Davis was right here. He’d confessed all sorts of personal things to me. We’d regained a strong footing after an earlier fallout. If he had feelings for me, why not say so? I’d kissed him once, so he knew I wouldn’t reject him, if that were his fear. But I couldn’t imagine Davis fearing anything. Look at all he’d overcome.
I wet my lips as the silence grew suffocating. What I’d told Mom was true. I couldn’t force what I wanted into reality. “You claim to know everyone,” I said, refreshing my smile. “Help me figure out who he is.”
He relaxed by a fraction, lips twitching on one side.
“We can make it a game,” I suggested. “I’ll guess too.”
Davis twisted the cap off a new bottle. “Pretty sure you have the advantage here, because I have no idea who you talk to every day.”
I fought the urge to ask “Is it you?” How ridiculous would I feel if I were wrong? How awkward would I make things for Davis?Wait!I scolded internally.Stop forcing.“You have hometown advantage. You start.”
He heaved a laborious sigh, attention jumping to the television as refs argued a penalty on UMass. “He writes in calligraphy, right?”
I nodded, thrilled by his willingness to play along.
“So, he’s clearly a giant nerd.”
“What?” I wrinkled my nose in faux offense. “Be real.”
The slow slide of his eyes in my direction made it clear he was being very real.
“There’s nothing wrong with perfect penmanship,” I argued. “I think it’s nice.”
“It’s calligraphy,” he said. “You be real.”
“You’re trying to make it sound dumb.”
“Didn’t have to try,” he said, taking another pull from his bottle.
I watched him, trying to puzzle out a solid comeback to defend my admirer’s honor. “I think uncommon interests are cool. It probably means he’s deep.”
“Agreed. Right now, for example, he’s probably deep in his mom’s basement, watching documentaries.”
“No.” I laughed, and it doubled me over. The silly, rumbling laughter kept coming until I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t stop and my lungs cried for air.
Davis’s lips twitched, but he refused to smile. “Your turn to guess.”
I wiped tears from my eyes and set my plate aside. “Fine. I think there’s a small chance it’s Michael, but I’m not sure.” I held my breath as I waited for his response.
