“Ready to go?” he asks.
“Don’t you need to say goodbye to your mother?”
He shrugs. “We said goodbye last night.”
I can see him chewing the inside of his lip. “Anyway, it looks like she left already.”
She didn’t wait to wave him off for college.
“Great.” I say, a forced cheerfulness in my voice. “Maybe on the way back, you can find a shop we don’t have in Germany and rub it in my face.”
He smiles. “Sure.”
And maybe someday I can take you to Germany and show you what real beer tastes like and introduce you to my family … no, stop it.
He tosses his phone onto my lap as soon as we get inside the car.
“Put some of your music on. I want you to introduce me to new things.”
He manages to hold my gaze for one seductive second before looking away. I’m glad I went with the cargo pants.
Ben Harris, do you realize how many new things you’veintroducedmeto?
While I’m scrollingthrough Ben’s Spotify account for songs to add to the playlist I’m making him, a WhatsApp message from Nate pops up.
“You have a message from Nate.”
“Oh.”
“I didn’t read it. I did see the beginning though. It sounds like he’s in a hurry to reach you.”
“Let me see.”
I hold the phone close to my chest.
“You focus on driving, you can read it when we stop.”
Realization flashes across his face and he apologizes. “It must be hard for you?—”
“I’m not scared of driving, if that’s what you mean. I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt. Not when it’s avoidable.”
“Sure.”
We’re silent until Ben has to stop for gas. I get out to stretch my legs and take a piss in the disgusting gas station bathroom. Ben’s leaning on the car, grinning ear to ear when I come out.
“What?”
“Nate’s message—we’ve been invited to play a tournament at Indian Wells.”
“You’re kidding?”
He shakes his head.
“Ha!” Before I can think about what I’m doing, I’m scooping him up and spinning around. He’s heavy, so I quickly put him down. He looks flushed, but happy.
“It’s amazing, right?” Ben says.
“Of course. Do you know all the champions who have played at Indian Wells?”
