I give her a thumbs-up. As I walk inside, my cell chimes with a text.
JAY: how was the show
Jay. Jay is texting me. It’s a little surprising, considering he’s with Whitney. I debate on texting back right away, but ultimately I end up crafting a reply.
ME: should’ve come to see for yourself! but they were great.
JAY: yeah, really should’ve. the movie blew.
JAY: where you at? meet at Sonic?
I pause, uncertain if I want to hang out with Whitney and Jay right now. It’d be one thing if Whitney was the one reaching out since things are still off between us, but on the other hand, the two of themare3 and 6 on my twelve-steps list. At this point, I can’t afford to say no if I really want to make progress.
ME: not too far. see you in a few.
Since it’s 11:30, I send another quick text to my dad, assuring him I’ll be home within the hour. But when I drive up to Sonic, I spot only Jay sitting on a red plastic picnic table. Hesitant, I pull my car into an empty space, then get out to meet him.
“Where’s Whit?” I ask as I walk up.
“Hello to you, too,” he jokes, slurping on his drink. “Took her home after the movies. Said she had a headache.”
“Oh,” I reply, suddenly feeling weird. I don’t want Whitney to think I’m hanging out with Jay behind her back and get mad. I mean, Ididassume she’d be here. It’s not like I can be at fault for that, can I?
His finger hovers over the order button on the menu board. “Want anything?”
On the other hand, Jay asked me to come here specifically because he knew we’d have one-on-one time. Since I’m trying to reconnect with him, I should at least see where it goes.
Right?
I sit down next to him. “Fries?”
As Jay places the order, a few freshmen at another picnic table catch my attention. They’re wearing Cedarville colors, and one of the guys hooks an arm casually around a girl wearing a festive red ribbon in her hair. He whispers something to her, and she bursts out laughing.
It reminds me of my freshman year with Jay. The unexpected wave of nostalgia hits me hard and fast.
“So,” he says. “Colton’s on the road to fame and glory?”
“Seems promising.” I spare a quick glance at him. He’s wearing a simple white shirt and basketball shorts, and his hair looks slightly neater than the day before. “Is that a blue raspberry slush?”
He shakes his cup. “Nope, got tired of those. It’s a chocolate shake.”
“Oh.”
It’s odd, but the slight change of his drink option feels like a betrayal. I tell myself it’s all in my head. Jay’s welcome to order whatever he wants.
But still.
The fries are delivered, and I set the carton between us so we can share. We eat in silence for a few moments. When the breeze shifts, I catch a faint scent of the body spray he wore when we dated. Even though he’s changed so much since I left, I can’t help replaying the good moments over in my head. Our kisses in dark theaters. Thethinking of youtexts.
Jay shakes his empty milkshake cup, gesturing to a garbage can sitting a few feet away. “Think I can make this into the trash?”
“You’re on the basketball team. Ihopeyou can make it.”
He grins. “Rude.”
“How is that rude? That’s a fact.”
Jay aims, then glances over at me. “How about a little support?”
