“Huh?”
He scoffs, like I’m the one asking weird questions. “On the roller coaster. Are your hands tied?”
“It was a metaphor, dude.”
“Obviously. But to, like, visualize, if your hands aren’t tied, then you can take the blindfold off. Or ask her to get off it with you. Just … you’re not stuck on it, you know?”
I know Gus is trying to help, but he doesn’t know everything. Doesn’t know I asked her to stay and she left anyway. Where am I supposed to invite her next? Six Flags?
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Gus knows me too well. He smiles ruefully. “It was your metaphor, man.”
“I know. That helped.”
“You’re a worse liar than I am.”
“I’m definitely not.”
“You are!” he calls, jogging away.
I shake my head, then return to my room. Stack the boxes that I filled, then get ready for bed.
Mom still isn’t home by the time I shut off the light and climb under the covers. Gus must be getting grilled.
I chuckle, then reach for my phone. Scroll down, down, down, until I find our text exchange. It’s only two messages. The photo of us that she sent and theYou should cometext that I sent her a few days later. I’d had lengthier virtual conversations with randomly assigned lab partners in high school.
Gus’s date went well, I type, then delete.
She’d care about that since she helped plan their night, but I don’t want to send her something about my best friend.
I toss my phone down, then pick it up again.
Hangover gone?
Stupid. She was functioning fine earlier. I erase that message too.
I love you too.
I stare at that text the longest. I’ve never told anyone I love them before, aside from my family—my mom now.
What would Wren reply if I sent this? I’m fairly certain she has no recollection of the semi-conscious moment last night. She appeared nonplussed earlier, when she thanked me for helping her into bed. If she recalled what she’d mumbled, I don’t think that would have been the case.
I don’t know if she meant it, and she definitely didn’t mean to say it.
This isn’t howIwant to say it, type it, in the second text I’ve ever sent her.
I’ll probably never say it.
So, I delete the four words, tapping the backspace button so it disappears letter by letter.
Sawyer:Send me the taco recipe, please.
45
September
Wren:How’s college?
