Ugh. It’s all so depressing.
“Maggie?” Tolu says, nudging my knee. “Are you gonna go?”
“Oh,” I say. “Go? You bet. Um...” I look at the faces of my new friends, all eyes on me. Why not? “Never have I ever dated a guy who’s permanently sixteen.”
I take a long sip, and everyone laughs.
They think I was speaking figuratively.
Three of the others drink too.
November.
Carter
“Yo yo!” I say, immediately taking the FaceTime, even though I’m just leaving the soccer field and it’s already starting to get dark.
“Hey!” Lincoln says, sitting in his dorm lounge. “Are you... in the woods? Searching for Bigfoot?”
“What else would I be doing on a Tuesday?”
Lincoln laughs. “Seriously, though. I can barely see you.”
“I’m walking to my car. Just took photos of the last boys’ soccer game of the season. Got some good ones.”
“Oh man! Those pics you sent me from the skate park were unreal. Seriously, CT.”
“Thanks, Link. That’s... I’m really glad you’re into them.”
“Anyone would be. You’re so good at this.”
“Aw, stop.” I arrive at my car, but I don’t get into it yet. I’d rather keep talking.
“Look,” Lincoln says, “I’ve gotta get back to my reading in a sec, but I wanted to check in. Since, you know, we’re at the one-month mark. Are you doing okay?”
I stare at the high school, the soccer field, the parking lot. The tree I swung from when I shouted to Maggie. And thought her name was Lindsey.
All the moments I’ll lose. This moment right now. Gone.
“Oh, I’m fantastic,” I say. “Never been better.”
“Yeah,” Lincoln says. “It’s not the best.”
“You’ll be there, right?” I ask, my chest tight. “The night before my birthday? I mean, I know you’ll be home for Thanksgiving in a week. But then... You’ll be able to make it back in time. Right?”
“Of course, yes.”
I exhale. “Good. Hey, before you go, how areyou? What’s the latest with Terrell?”
“Oh, that boy.” Lincoln rolls his eyes and grins. “Honestly, I feel like he’s in touch with me more now than when we were together.”
“I told you those Spaniards can’t compete with you.”
“Well. We’ll see. I’ve been meaning to ask—have you reached out to...”
“Maggie? No.” The sun has completely vanished. “I’ve thought about it. A lot. But I can’t mess up her life again. The only messed-up life should be mine.”
The parking lot lights blink on.
