He curled his fingers into a fist. “I’m not.”
“And this is the longest you’ve spoken to me since…” I pretended to think. But what was the point of beating around the bush? We were both adults now. No need to pretend like what happened didn’t happen. “That night at the pool.”
“We’ve had plenty of conversations after that,” he assured, looking like he was thinking hard himself.
I placed my hand on my chest. “Oh, sure, I have. But you haven’t really taken part in them.”
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”
“Is it?”
He stared at me, accepting the challenge. “It’s not like we’re exactly friends. We don’t have much to talk about.”
“I agree, wholeheartedly.” My jaw was tight with disagreement. And when I thought he was done dismissing our relationship, he continued to dig a little deeper.
“Good. Because we’re more like associates. And I don’t know about you, but I only talk to my associates when I have to.”
Ouch. “Same here.”
He looked a little surprised by my comment and frowned. “Glad we’re on the same page.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” I crossed my arms over my chest and scanned the party. I was done with this guy. Most of my high school memories centered on him and my silly crush.
I’d fantasized a concerning amount of times about what-if scenarios, where he’d actually showed up to the pool that summer to teach me like he’d promised. In an alternate timeline, we’d laugh at the idea of being “associates.”
“Wait.” I turned to him a little. “So you’re sitting here because you have to?”
He opened his mouth, hesitating for a second before answering, “Yeah. I was looking for your folks. Odds are you know how to track them down.”
My shoulders sagged. “Nate’s somewhere by the drinks.”
“And your dad? I gotta talk to him about something.”
My curiosity got the better of me. “Talk to him about what?”
“It’s kind of between me and him,” Leo said. “Is he here or at your house?”
The dismissal made me furious. I stood up, tired of letting his presence affect me so much. “I don’t know. Maybe the house. Maybe in line for more pie. Your guess is as good as mine.”
He stood too, with confusion on his face. “Are you okay?”
“Not when you’re around, unfortunately.”
He scoffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, I’m done trying to figure out whatever game you’re playing.” I turned to head in whatever direction he wasn’t going.
Leo followed me in an instant. “What are you talking about?”
“You know, for a guy who just called me an associate, you really want to keep the conversation going,” I said without stopping. I weaved around people in the crowd. Ms. Louis offered me some of her iced tea and the Ryland sisters nearly knocked me over while chasing one another. Leo was quick to steady me and my drink. His hold of my elbow was feather-like but the most I felt in years.
“Okay.” His lips were close to my ear as he leaned in because of the loudness of the crowd. “Using the word associate was a weird way to explain our relationship.”
“I’ll say.”
His forehead wrinkled. “Still, you agreed to it. Wholeheartedly.”
I laughed, humorlessly. “What else was I supposed to say, Leo?”
