There was a pause. “Well, your dad told me about what happened. Where are you right now?”
I stood in the middle of a dark room, a timeline of ancient animals circling me on the walls, lit dimly. “I’m looking at ancient history.”
“Huh? They said you guys were in Mid-City somewhere.”
“Yeah, I ended up at the Tar Pits.”
I heard a car turning on. “Please stay there. I’m coming.”
“Hamlet. I don’t need saving.” I watched a group of little girls press their faces up against the timeline on the wall, gaping at the illustrations of saber-toothed cats being sucked into the tar.
“It’s a billion degrees out. Are you going towalkhome?”
Good point. “I can get a car.”
“That would cost fifty bucks or something, give me a break. I’m coming—I’m actually not that far. Don’t leave, okay?”
I sighed. “Fine. I’ll be here.”
We hung up, and suddenly I was very tired. I stepped outside into the lush atrium, found a bench next to a small waterfall, andlay down. Kids’ voices mingled with the sound of tumbling water, and I took a deep breath. My eyelids fluttered once, twice.
“Clara?”
I woke up with a start. My neck hurt, and I was totally disoriented.
Hamlet’s face appeared over me. “Hey.”
Right. I sat up slowly, my legs stiff. “Hey.”
He sat down next to me, his shoulder hitting mine. “Good nap?”
“Yeah, I give this Airbnb four stars.”
He smiled. “I don’t think you give stars for Airbnbs.”
“Oh God, whatever.”
His expression more serious, Hamlet looked at me. “What happened? Your dad didn’t really tell me much.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Kind of seems like a big deal. Like, this was verydrama.” He held up jazz hands.
“Well, you know how I entered us in the food truck competition?” He nodded. I continued, “Rose told my dad about it because he was bummed that an investor backed out of his restaurant plans. She thought he’d be excited, and instead he was atotal dick.”
“How so?”
Anger built up inside me, seeping out in tiny, toxic increments. “He gotmadI entered the truck and said he didn’t want to do it!”
Hamlet was quiet for a second. “Did he say why?”
“Just something about it being a hassle. I was so freaking disappointed.” My voice trembled, and my eyes filled with tears.
He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, a gesture that instantly soothed me. “I understand.”
The tears fell before I could wipe them. “Do you, though? He got me to care about this stupid truck, this stupid job—and then he let me down. So hard.”
Holding my hand, he said, “Well, I don’t think he meant to let you down. He must have his reasons…”
