I pull him to Uncle Michael and Tim, who are standing closest to us. They shake hands and talk about golf. Turns out Tim played in college, too.
Leo and I are stuck together like glue. We even spend a little time talking to the Evil Joes, although I know I’ll hear about it from Charlie later.
I scan the crowd looking for him. He’s at a small table with Bianca. Their heads are bent close together and his hands are clasped in hers. I watch them for a few minutes and wonder if he’s rethinking his “free to mingle” plan.
“Olivia!”
Turning, I see Mia and Bailey have arrived. “Be back in a second,” I tell Leo.
I pull the two of them off to the side, where we can talk. “I’m so sorry I lied to you this week. There’s really no excuse. I’d like to tell you what happened.”
And I do. I go through it with them just like I did with my family. And when they’re just as understanding about it all, I realize I’m as lucky to have them as I am to have Sophie, Wes, and Charlie.
“We’ll just have to have another round of grad parties once you finish your summer-school PE class!” Bailey says.
“Oh God, no,” I moan.
“Are you taking something new?” Mia asks.
I smile and look back over my shoulder to where Leo is talking to Charlie and Wes. “I’m sticking with golf. I know this guy who can tutor me, so I should be all good.”
Leo and I are in the hammock in the backyard of my house, lyingat opposite ends so we’re facing each other. There’s a gentle breeze, and the shade from the giant trees makes the heat bearable.
I had a long talk with my parents last night. Mom was really upset when she found out we tricked her with the phone. And a little embarrassed that she couldn’t tell she was texting Wes and Charlie instead of me. I mean, Sophie she understood, but that the boys fooled her was more than she could handle.
It was a long night. Once the interrogation was over, I went upstairs and finished the stupid questionnaire. Even though the school won’t be looking for it, Nonna texted that I still owe her a copy for her box. And I gave myself permission to writeUndecidedfor as many of the answers as I wanted.
I felt really good.
“What’s the plan for today?” Leo asks.
I stretch my arms out wide. “Absolutely nothing! Isn’t it glorious?”
He squeezes my ankle. “Works for me.”
We swing back and forth, slowly. I don’t know what this thing is between us and for once I’m not trying to figure it out. He’s staying for the graduation ceremony and then he’ll head home the next day.
“Do you regret not walking in your graduation?” I ask him. His school held their ceremony this past Thursday, but he missed it for the tournament.
He shakes his head. “No. Like you said the other night, my friends were on the course with me. Most of them missed their graduations, too.” He shifts slightly, propping himself up on my legs. “And I made some new friends this week.”
My grin is ridiculous. It’s all teeth. I should be embarrassed but I’m not.
I tug on the blue baseball cap. “So what’s the story with this hat, and are you okay that I’m never giving it back?”
He pulls me a little closer and I let out a squeal. “First time I played golf after I moved to St. Francisville, I was wearing that hat. It was brand-new. Mom bought it since it was in the colors of my new school. A guy whose dad is friends with mine invited me to go play. And I fell in love with the game. And did surprisingly well for a beginner. From that point on, whenever I played, I wore that hat.”
I go to pull it off and hand it back to him. “I can’t keep it. Not when it means…”
He stops me, covering my hand with his as we both slide it back on my head. “I told you. I like knowing where it is.”
I’m saved from saying something cheesy when my phone rings. I lean to the side to pluck it off the ground and almost tip us over in the process.
I’m laughing when I answer. “Hello?”
“Miss Perkins?”
I recognize that voice. Mr. Spencer.
