The top of this tower is huge. I mean, my living room could fit in here. We’re at the very top, so it’s all flat, with nothing but a picnic towel and a lot of pillows, and a basket.
“What is all this?” I ask, astounded.
He didn’t have to make all this effort. I could have lied to anyone who would have asked me how the date went. Just say,It was amazing, he’s just so caring, and he took me somewhere special, now back off, Lisa, without even being true. But all those things are. Itisgoing to be amazing, heiscaring, and hedidtake me somewhere special.
“I figured it was more believable if you didn’t have to lie about our date being great.” He says, looking at me with that familiar gaze. Weirdly and dangerously, I’m growing to like it.Worse, I’m feeling something. Like I’m warm inside, and my stomach hurts.Is that good?It doesn’t sound good.
I’m so freaking scared right now.
“How did you convince Mr. Jones to get us up here?” I ask, already sitting and peeking inside the basket. “Don’t say you kidnapped one of his chickens and blackmailed him?” I joke and turn serious. “You did?!”
“No, I’m just messing with you.” He laughs, and I throw him a pillow. “Let’s just say Patricia West has a very strong hold on men, and she can beverypersuasive.”
He could also have worked his way around it and asked his parents for advice. They’ve been together for almost 30 years. That’s a lot. But anyway, the basket is staring at me.
I lift the lid and gasp. It has Jakewiches, but this time I didn’t have to share them with five little kids.
He sits beside me and steals the one in my hand.
“I did your favorites.” He smuggly says.
I wish I could deny that, but I can’t. Since I tasted these, my favorite foodisthis.It’s like he can read my mind.
I dive right into the food, and five minutes later, I’m already finished. I lie on the ground and say, “Have you realized that radar spelled backwards is still radar?”
He hums and then takes another bite, and charmingly speaks at the same time.
“Why the random fact spilling? I mean, I know you’re anerd, but-” And he takes another bite on top of the food he already has in his mouth.
And he judges me for not having manners…
“I don’t know. I don’t know how to react to you being nice to me and also…“ I say it before I regret it. “I’m still overthinking what Allison said.”
“Understandable. Even though she didn’t mean it, it’s like she rubbed the salt in the wound.” He looks forward, towards thesun, green freckles in his eyes enhancing his features. “A wound that youreallytry to close, but it’s like, no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to. I get it.”
“You do a really good job hiding it, by the way.” I comment, and he turns his head my way. “Your wound? I could never guess it. And I’ve known you for my whole life. It’s kind of infuriating how you can always be on the bright side.” I tilt my head in his direction. “You know you can get angry, right? Or sad? Or nervous or any negative emotion whatsoever?” I spill, and he scoffs. “And I’m not projecting, it’s just, positivity can be toxic too, when handled in disproportionate doses.”
“I get mad.” He simply says, and I cut him off.
“You don’t. You joke about it, you flirt about it, but you don’t getmad.” Suddenly, the memory of him and his persona in front of his friends hits me. “You don’t have to be everyone’s emotional support all the time.”
“Just because I don’t turn into the Hulk within seconds after something inconvenient happens to me-”
“Funny.” I scrunch my nose at his callout.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t get angry.” He shrugs it off, visibly uncomfortable.
I sigh.
“When my mom left… I had a psychotic break and cut and then burned all the photos I could find of her.” I glance up to find him already looking at me intently, listening. “Your turn.”
“Look, I’m sorry your mom left, but I don’t think my problems can be compared to yours. I have both my parents, and they’re in love. It could be way worse.” He brushes it off, and I roll my eyes.
“I knew it.”
He turns to me with a puzzled look.
“You never told me about your problems because you think my problems are more important, somehow?” I cross my arms, and he scoffs.
