“Hey, Gus,” I greet, leaning down and resting my elbows on the door. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” he replies, usual grin on his face. “Big date tonight.”
“Oh, that’s right! What’d you settle on?”
“Drive-in movie,” he answers. “They’re showingJawstonight. Summer classic. I packed blankets and candy, like you suggested. Cap is letting me borrow his truck.”
That makes me especially glad I didn’t vomit in it last night.
“That sounds perfect,” I say.
Gus nods, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel a few times. “You, uh, you doing okay?”
“I’ve been better. Apologies if I said or did anything incredibly embarrassing in front of you last night.”
“Nah, you didn’t. Besides, we’ve all been there.”
“Oh, you’ve vomited repeatedly in front of your ex? Cool club to be a part of.”
He laughs, wincing a little. “Uh, not that exact scenario, no. I didn’t know … Cap didn’t mention, um, details.”
I break eye contact, studying the array of baseball caps littering the passenger seat instead. “He has his non-asshole moments, I guess.”
“Hey.” Gus’s voice lowers, compelling me to meet his gaze again. “You were wrong yesterday. I don’t hate you, Wren.”
“You should.”
He shakes his head. “We all tried to get him to come out last night. He didn’t show up to Lucky’s until I told him you were there. And he had to be at work at seven this morning, but he stayed until closing.”
“That was my fault too,” I admit. “I guilted him into staying.”
“Cap is impossible to manipulate, Wren. What does it say that you were able to guilt him into anything? I could never hate anyone my best friend felt that way about.” He clears his throat. “Anyway, I know you didn’t come here to talk to me. I just wanted to let you know Cap went to pick his mom up from the base, so he might not be back for a bit. He left work early, but with summer traffic … you never know.”
“Oh.”Fuck. “Okay. Thanks.”
“You in town for much longer?”
“Uh, no. I leave tomorrow.”
Gus smiles, but this one doesn’t reach his eyes. No matter what he says, he must resent me a little. I certainly haven’t made Sawyer’s life any simpler since I entered it.
“Safe travels.”
“Thanks. I hope the date goes well.”
“I’ll update you … next summer, I guess?”
“Sounds good.” I fix a smile on my face, attempting to ignore the implication.
Gus will tell Sawyer how tonight goes, no doubt, and he doesn’t seem to think Sawyer and I will be in communication after I depart. Which is probably the correct assumption, but doesn’t lend me much confidence, coming from Sawyer’s best friend.
“Bye, Wren.”
“Bye, Gus.”
I step back, and he continues driving down the street.
I didn’t think to ask why he was here, but I get my answer when he pulls into a driveway a few houses down, waving once before walking inside the house. I wave back, then return to my same spot on the steps, deliberating my next move.
